Two storey classic facade with Doric portico and 150 ft spire designed by David Hamilton. Originally Port Glasgow Town Buildings, construction cost: 12,000. The ground floor was originally laid out as shops, and the upper storey, in addition to the council chambers and town clerk's office, contained a large reading room and several apartments which were occupied as counting houses for mercantile businesses.

Also situated within the buildings were the court house and police station, which at one time had its entrance right next to the harbour. This was changed after a prisoner was released one morning following a drunkenness offence, and fell into the harbour and drowned!

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