Girvan Steeple, city hall in Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK
The Girvan Steeple is a neoclassical building completed in 1827 on Knockcushan Street, combining a two-story town hall with a four-stage steeple. The tower features decorative bands between sections and is topped by a clock, bell chamber, weather vane, and spire.
A small watch tower originally stood in 1787 at the corner of Knockcushan and Dalrymple Streets before being replaced with the new town hall in 1827. The tower survived the 1939 fire that destroyed the later McMaster Hall, remaining as a monument to the town's civic past.
The tower earned the local nickname 'Auld Stumpy,' a name rooted in Gaelic that hints at its past role in justice and governance. The bell in the tower, cast in Glasgow, was essential to daily life, marking time and signaling community gatherings and important occasions.
The tower sits centrally on Knockcushan Street and is visible from throughout the town, making it an easy landmark to find. The best view of the structure comes from street level, where its full height and clock face are clearly visible.
The tower's clock was a gift from a local nobleman and the bell was specially cast in Glasgow, showing that quality materials were chosen for the project. An inspector of prisons noted in 1835 that the presence of the jail on the ground floor helped bring peace to the town.
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