THE OLD TOWN HOUSE

In this year, Old Aberdeen ceased to exist as a separate Burgh and was incorporated into the City of Aberdeen. The Old Town House was no longer needed as a civic administration building and so it went on to be used as a grammar school, a Masonic Lodge, and a public library.

There is a Scots word 'perjink' that means 'just right'. The Old Town House is definitely perjink. In miniature it represents distinguishing features of the best of Scottish architecture – pleasing proportions, rugged stonework, dignified civic patronage. For these reasons, it has been chosen as the logo of The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and its distinguished profile appears on all their publications connected with the conservation of Scottish architecture.

Most importantly, the Old Town House was made by and for the community. The Burgh motto, inscribed above the front door, is Concordia Res Parvae Crescunt : Through Harmony - Small Things Increase; this is certainly manifest in this small building that represents something more than the administrative aspirations of small-town burghers.