Strichen Town House

At the edge of Strichen a viaduct carries the Line over the River Ugie and gives an excellent view over the village roof tops. The prominent embattled tower and spire belong to the Town House

The town hall building was gifted to the community by Mr Fraser of Strichen House in 1816, around the time he came of age  and succeeded to estates in Inverness and Ross-shire. McKean (Banff and Buchan, an Architectural Guide, 1990) describes the tower and spire as being of 16th century Scots Tollbooth inspiration, whilst the adjoining hall block is classical. Originally the hall had an open arcade on the ground floor which was used as a covered market. The steeple contained a bell. Mrs C. Thomson,( 'Around the White Horse'), records that prior to the steeple being fitted the inhabitants of Strichen were woken at 5 each morning by the Town Crier sounding a drum or, in foul weather, a horn. Once the Town Hall bell was operational the day began an hour later.The bell became the signal for the Town Crier, resplendent in his uniform, a red coat with blue piping, to begin his rounds announcing events of local importance such as the availability of a cart of fresh herring at the Town House or that an ox or sheep had been killed. For a time during the late 19th century a female school was held in the lower part of the building.

The plainer spire of the former Free Kirk, (1893) now the parish church,  at the far side of the village may also be seen from the viaduct.