SMR 1743 / NS 8562 7319
By 1860 Slamannan had all the appearances of a small town. Two churches, two doctors, plenty of shops, and two public houses. It even had a police officer – James Simpson Stewart. A second policeman was sanctioned in 1864. Building of the police station and lock-up at Slamannan was begun in 1877 on Castle Hill (now Calton Hill) and it opened in 1879. It is a stone building with crop-stepped gables and vaulted prison cells and cost £1,004. The architects were A & W Black, Falkirk.
The police station was sold for conversion to a private dwelling in 1958 and came to be called Ardtalla. In 1998 it was up for sale having three bedrooms and double glazing for £99,500.
The new police station was on the High Street (NS 8553 7310) a little west of the St Laurence Inn. It was a two-storey brick building typical of the period.
Bibliography
| Waugh, J. | 1977 | Slamannan Parish through the Changing Years. “For about the first 20 years of policemen in Slamannan there was no Police Station, but in 1877, the Commissioners of Supply built one on Castlehill which was in use till the new Station was opened in 1958. The old Police Station on Castlehill is now owned by Mr. Clark. The Police in Slamannan still uphold the old tradition of service and help to the local community.” [p.94] |
| Newspapers | Various, listed and quoted below |
Falkirk Herald 3 May 1877, 2:
“A lock-up had been built at Lennoxtown at a cost of £750 1s 11d. At a meeting on 26th January it had been decided to erect similar building at Slamannan, and plans had since been forwarded to the Secretary of State for approval, and when returned the work would be proceeded with immediately…”
Falkirk Herald 17 May 1877, 1:
“WANTED, ESTIMATES for the MASON, JOINER, SLATER, PLASTER, and PLUMBER WORK of a POLICE STATION and LOCK-UP to be erected at Slamannan, in the County of Stirling, according to Plans and Specifications to be seen in the hands of the Architects, Messrs A. & W black, Falkirk, and from whom schedules of quantities may be obtained…”
Bridge of Allan Reporter 3 May 1879, 4:
” The new lock-up and station-house at Slamannan and the station-house at Dennyloanhead, referred to in last report had been finished, and were now in full occupation. The former cost £1004 14s 1 ½ d, and the latter £165 2s 6d, all of which has been paid..”.
Falkirk Herald 28 November 1900, 5:
“Hector M’Neil, miner, Standburn, was charged with having on 5th November (1) in and near the shop in Main Street, Slamannan, occupied by Remulds Pieri, ice cream dealer, committed a breach of the peace, and (2) in a cell at the Slamannan Police Station wilfully and maliciously smashed and destroyed part of the wood lining of the cell and a zinc pail. Accused, who pled guilty, was mulcted in 10s, or seven days. Falkirk Herald 28 September 1940, 2: SLAMANNAN POLICE STATION. The Clerk reported that he had been correspondence with the agents for Mr David Nimmo, garage proprietor, Slamannan, over whose grounds the County Council has a right of access to the Slamannan Police Station. Mr Nimmo was troubled with members of the public making use of the access, which was not a right-of-way, and had suggested that he be allowed to erect a gate across the access and to provide to the Police Authority the necessary keys to open the gate. The Chief Constable reported that he had no objection to the proposal. The committee approved, and agreed to the erection of the gate suggested.”
Falkirk Local History Society 