Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum

About the museum

Sanquhar Tolbooth stands on the High Street of Sanquhar. It was built between 1735 and 1739 to replace an older tolbooth, using stone from Sanquhar Castle, and was designed by the architect William Adam in the Baroque style. It is a Category A listed building.

For most of the twentieth century it served as the town hall and meeting place of the burgh council. That role ended in 1975, when Nithsdale District Council was formed, and in 1989 the building was converted into a local history museum, now run by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

The displays cover the history of Upper Nithsdale, including the knitting tradition for which Sanquhar is known, the local lead and coal mines and the people who worked in them, and the town jail. One highlight is the story of the Napoleonic prisoners of war held nearby, which includes a ship model made from bone. A small audio-visual room shows short local history films with English subtitles, and a children’s activity area has trails and quiz sheets.

Highlights

• Tolbooth of 1735–1739 designed by William Adam
• Sanquhar knitting tradition
• Local mining and miners
• Town jail and Napoleonic prisoners of war, including a ship made of bone
• Audio-visual room with short local history films
• Children’s activity pod and Lego hunt

Permanent exhibition

• Sanquhar and Upper Nithsdale – Displays on Sanquhar knitting, the mines and miners, life in Upper Nithsdale, the town jail and Napoleonic prisoners of war.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance is at the top of a flight of stone steps through a small porch and there is no lift. Inside, the displays are well lit and have plenty of room to move. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside. Public toilets are about 150 metres away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

There is a children’s activity pod, trails and quiz sheets, and a hunt for Lego minifigure versions of people from Sanquhar’s past.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the High Street in the centre of Sanquhar.

Amenities & dining

Public toilets are about 150 metres from the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit