Ye Old Dunbar Building

This is the old Dunbar's Hospital, situated on Church Street in my home town of Inverness, Highlands, Scotland and it dates from 1668 when it was built as an almshouse and hospital. It was built by Alexander Dunbar of Barmuckety and Westfield, it is believed to have replaced an earlier hospital.

It is said to be built from the stone of Oliver Cromwell's dismantled citadel. The building has three storeys and has been used for various roles throughout the years.

The right section of the ground floor housed the Grammar School until 1792, when Inverness Royal Academy was built. The left section of the ground floor housed the weighhouse. Above the arched doorway is a tablet containing the Dunbar coat-of-arms, and an inscription recording that the rent of the weighhouse was payable to the hospital's treasurer.

In later years, the building was divided up to serve as a parish library, a female school and a female work society. It is believed that the ground floor once housed fire engines.

When cholera raged in the town of Inverness, part of the building was again used as a hospital.

The building currently houses a day centre for senior citizens and a shop with a cafe.