Monday March 16th 2026
North Berwick Chamber or known locally as the Town House
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Former council chambers held in Common Good in North Berwick could be available for lease if proposals from East Lothian Council are approved through public consultation.
Known locally as the Town House, 1 High Street is a category B-listed building located on the corner with Quality Street, dating from circa 1724 with a distinctive bell-shaped clocktower. It was previously a gaol, custom’s house and the former Royal Burgh’s Offices. The chamber is on the first floor accessed from an external staircase with shops below unaffected.
The council is consulting on a proposal to lease the first-floor chamber as an office and reinvest the income into the town’s Common Good Fund. The space is currently empty.
The premises include a chamber with recess, waiting room, office, kitchen and toilet. Refurbished around 1972 they are considered in fair condition with the building’s exterior in a good condition. The council would continue to be responsible for the maintenance of the town’s clock.
By law, public consultation is required under section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 for Common Good assets before any new lease or sale can be progressed. The income would be reinvested into North Berwick Common Good Fund.
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “1 High Street is a distinctive building on the town’s High Street rooted in North Berwick’s history. While surplus to our own requirements, we believe the first-floor chamber space offers an opportunity to contribute to its future by offering office premises in the heart of the town and income for its Common Good Fund that would benefit the community.”
East Lothian has four Common Good Funds: Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh and North Berwick which are administered by a Common Good Committee. The Funds’ main function is to allow for the maintenance and repair of Common Good assets. They can also provide money to support activities and events which will benefit the inhabitants of the former burghs. The area of each common good fund is defined by Burgh maps from 1973 and only residents or organisations that live or operate within these areas can apply for common good funding.
The consultation is available at www.eastlothianconsultations.co.uk until 6 May 2026.
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