Forres Heritage Trust hope vandalism of Bobbies' Bow will stop following renovation historic alley under Tolbooth

A BURGESS of Forres and MBE awardee is calling for more respect for the town’s buildings.

Former Moray Council leader and current chairman of Forres Heritage Trust, George Alexander, has spoken of his disappointment following the defacing of historic town centre alleyway ‘Bobbies’ Bow’ after volunteers spent months restoring it.

He said: “I watched our volunteers spend hours preparing the surface then applying the paint so I’m somewhat irritated, but also saddened, that anyone should defile our environment in such a way.”

Police are appealing for information in relation to the vandalism which occurred between 8.37pm and 8.47pm on Wednesday, January 31, when the walls and door were spray painted. Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101, quoting reference CR/0038398/24.

Bobbies’ Bow was the main entrance to the police office at the Tolbooth before the mid-sixties when the new station was built at Victoria Road. The passageway passes between the Tolbooth jail and the municipal part of the building. The ‘bow’ likely refers to the curved or bowed ceiling.

However, it was referred to as ‘Balaam’s Passage’ according to a report on the monthly meeting of Forres Town Council in the Gazette of Wednesday, December 12, 1900 stating: “Bailie Munro, in terms of notice given at last meeting, moved that the council provide a site for a public convenience within the precincts of the municipal buildings. The place he proposed was the part of the Courthouse on the north side of Balaam’s Passage, under the Courtroom.”

The motion to have a public convenience at the site failed but over the years since, Balaam’s Passage has frequently been used as a public toilet by some.

George said: “Fortunately, it is very well covered by CCTV cameras now so any misdemeanours will be recorded!”

FHT tries to keep the Tolbooth in top condition with its available funds. The paintwork in the passage had become shabby so volunteers on Friday mornings completed the revamping last year.

“The main cost was the volunteers’ time,” said George. “We were fortunate to receive paint and advice from a local decorator. If the work had been done by a contractor then the cost would have been many hundreds of pounds.

“Since it was repainted, there have been two separate incidents of vandalism.We still have high hopes of identifying the most recent culprit.”