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Former bank, built in 1801, now Aberdeen Sheriff Court Annex and High Court of Justicary. Designed by architect James Burn, with addition to Marischal Street circa 1859 designed by William Smith. An earlier house, Pitfodel's Lodging built in 1530 (NJ90NW0210), was removed to enable this addition. The bank as built by the Aberdeen Banking Company which was acquired by the Union Bank of Scotland in the mid 19th century. It is a classical 5 by 5 bay building, of grey granite ashlar, channelled at the ground floor, with grey slate piended and platformed roof . There is a balustraded parapet with a blocking course to the east. The ground floor openings are set within round-arched recesses. Shallow steps lead to the recessed entrance door with semi-circular glazed fanlight above. Giant order Doric pilasters separate the upper storey bay to the Castle Street elevation. Internally the impressive entrance hall remains, with fluted Corinthian columns and pilasters and a sectioned ceiling with deep decorative plaster cornicing, and there are some vaulted cells in the basement. It was the first fully dressed granite ashlar building to be built in Aberdeen. Otherwise the building has been comprehensively modernised into courts and offices in 2004-5. A plaque on No. 53 commemorates the poet John Barbour (1316-1295), who was author or 'The Bruis' (a life of Robert the Bruce) and who lived nearby.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW0562 - 53-4 CASTLE ST AND 2 MARISCHAL ST, ABERDEEN