Burgh Hall

A prominent building in the centre of Dunoon, the Burgh Hall was designed by Robert A Bryden, a gift to the people of Dunoon by Mr Macarthur Moir. The hall was formally opened on 25 June 1874. Built on a corner site in Scottish Baronial in style, its imposing facade is grey-green rubble with cream sandstone ashlar dressings. The building's purpose was to provide municipal offices and a hall that would accommodate 500. It served these purposes until it closed in the 1960s, when the Queens Hall took over its role. Left empty and decaying, the building was sold to a housing association in 1993 - and again in 2001 to another housing company. Conversion to accommodation was prevented by local objections, and the building suffered further dereliction until early 2009 when it was purchased by the John McAslan Family Trust. Working with the Friends of the Burgh Hall, the Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust and the local community, the McAslan Trust committed £75,000 to carry out essential repairs, including works to the roof, replacement windows, combating dry and wet rot, plumbing, heating and electrical work, cleaning and painting as well as seeking funding opportunities and developing strategies for future use of the building. In 2013 ownership of the hall was transferred to the Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust, which continues to work on the refurbishment of the building.