Saltcoats Town Hall

Last updated

Saltcoats Town Hall
Countess Street and the Town Hall (geograph 7073998).jpg
Saltcoats Town Hall
LocationCountess Street, Saltcoats
Coordinates 55°38′00″N4°47′06″W / 55.6332°N 4.7851°W / 55.6332; -4.7851 Coordinates: 55°38′00″N4°47′06″W / 55.6332°N 4.7851°W / 55.6332; -4.7851
Built1826
ArchitectPeter King
Architectural style(s) Scottish baronial style
Listed Building – Category B
Official nameTown Hall, Countess Street
Designated26 February 1980
Reference no.LB40489
North Ayrshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in North Ayrshire

Saltcoats Town Hall is a municipal building in Countess Street, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The building, which is used by North Ayrshire Council as hub for the delivery of local services, is a Category B listed building. [1]

Contents

History

The first municipal building in the town was a medieval tolbooth in Girnal Close; it had deteriorated to such extent that it was abandoned by the early 18th century. [2]

The earliest part of the current complex, the town house, was financed by public subscription. [3] It was designed by Peter King in the Scottish baronial style, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1826. [1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing onto Countess Street; the central bay, which slightly projected forward, featured a five-stage tower. There was an ogee-shaped doorway flanked by pilasters supporting a cornice with acroteria on the ground floor, an oculus flanked by swags and surmounted by a pediment on the first floor, niches on the second and third floors and a clock on the fourth floor, with an octagonal lantern and spire above. [1] The outer bays contained shop fronts on the ground floor, sash windows on the first floor and canted dormer windows on the second floor. [1] Internally, the principal rooms were a courtroom on the first floor and a prison cell on the second floor. [2] In the 1870s, the artist John Lavery spent part of his childhood living in the town house. [3]

In the late 19th century, the burgh leaders decided to augment the town house by erecting a public hall on an adjacent site to the south which was occupied by the parish school. [2] This part of the complex, the town hall, was designed by Howie and Walton of Glasgow in the Renaissance style, built in ashlar stone and was officially opened on 22 October 1892. [1] [4] [5] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing onto Countess Street with an additional bay to the left: the central bay, which slightly projected forward, featured a round headed doorway with a fanlight flanked by pilasters supporting a balcony. There were three rounded headed windows on the first floor and a large open pediment above. The main pediment contained a panel decorated with swags, bearing the inscription "Town Hall" and surmounted by a smaller pediment containing a cartouche in the tympanum. [1]

The town was advanced from the status of burgh of barony to small burgh in 1930, [6] but, because of the limited space available in the town house, the burgh leaders chose to establish the town clerk's office in Montgomerie Cresent. [7] Meanwhile, the town hall became a cinema in the 1920s: it continued in that role until the demand for cinema seats declined and it closed in 1972. [8] The condition of the complex was allowed to deteriorate in the early part of the 21st century and the building closed completely in July 2010. [9] An extensive programme of refurbishment works was initiated in 2015 to restore it for use by North Ayrshire Council as hub for the delivery of local services. [10] The works were undertaken to a design by McLean Architects and Wellwood Leslie at a cost of £3.7 million. [11] [12] The building was officially re-opened by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on 14 March 2016. [10] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr Town Hall</span> Municipal Building in Ayr, Scotland

Ayr Town Hall is a municipal building in New Bridge Street, Ayr, Scotland. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Ayr Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airdrie Town Hall</span> Municipal Building in Airdrie, Scotland

Airdie Town Hall, also known as the Sir John Wilson Town Hall, is an events venue in Stirling Street, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airdrie Town House</span> Municipal Building in Airdrie, Scotland

Airdie Town House is a municipal building in Bank Street, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town house, which was the headquarters of Airdrie Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Townhouse</span> Municipal building in Irvine, Scotland

Irvine Townhouse is a municipal building in the High Street, Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The townhouse, which was the headquarters of Irvine Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musselburgh Tolbooth</span> Municipal building in Musselburgh, Scotland

Musselburgh Tolbooth is a municipal building in the High Street in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. The tolbooth, which was the headquarters of Musselburgh Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building. At right angles and attached to it is the Musselburgh Town House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grangemouth Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Grangemouth, Scotland

Grangemouth Town Hall is a municipal structure in Bo'ness Road, Grangemouth, Scotland. The structure was the meeting place of Grangemouth Burgh Council and remains the main events venue in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestwick Burgh Hall</span> Municipal building in Prestwick, Scotland

Prestwick Burgh Hall, also known as Prestwick Freeman's Hall and Prestwick Freemen's Hall, is a municipal building in Kirk Street, Prestwick, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Prestwick Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troon Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Troon, Scotland

Troon Town Hall is a municipal building in Ayr Street, Troon, Scotland. The structure, which serves as the meeting place of Troon Community Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelso Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Kelso, Scotland

Kelso Town Hall is a municipal building in The Square, Kelso, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Kelso Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardrossan Civic Centre</span> Municipal Building in Ardrossan, Scotland

Ardrossan Civic Centre is a municipal building in Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The building, which is largely used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forres Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Forres, Scotland

Forres Town Hall is a municipal structure in the High Street, Forres, Moray, Scotland. The structure, which was the meeting place of Forres Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirriemuir Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Kirriemuir, Scotland

Kirriemuir Town Hall is a municipal structure in Reform Street in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justiciary Buildings, Glasgow</span> Judicial building in Glasgow, Scotland

The Justiciary Buildings is a judicial complex in the Saltmarket in Glasgow, Scotland. The complex, which operates in conjunction with similar facilities in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, is dedicated for the use of the High Court of Justiciary, which is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. It is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart</span> Municipal building in Newton Stewart, Scotland

The McMillan Hall is a municipal building in Dashwood Square in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumnock Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Cumnock, Scotland

Cumnock Town Hall is a municipal building in Glaisnock Street, Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Cumnock Town Hall</span> Municipal building in New Cumnock, Scotland

New Cumnock Town Hall is a municipal building in Castle, New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darvel Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Darvel, Scotland

Darvel Town Hall is a municipal building in West Main Street, Darvel, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a library and a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invergordon Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Invergordon, Scotland

Invergordon Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Invergordon in the Highland area of Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beith Townhouse</span> Municipal building in Beith, Scotland

Beith Townhouse is a municipal building in The Strand, Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is currently used as an information and heritage centre, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Memorial Hall, Kilbirnie</span> Municipal building in Kilbirnie, Scotland

The Walker Memorial Hall is a municipal building in Main Street, Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure is currently used as the offices for various local community groups as well as for the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Historic Environment Scotland. "Town Hall, Countess Street (LB40489)" . Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Historic Environment Scotland. "Saltcoats, Countess Street, Town House (112380)". Canmore . Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Saltcoats Town Trail". Three Towners. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Saltcoats Town Hall". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Close, Rob; Riches, Anne (2012). The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran. Yale University Press. p. 603. ISBN   978-0300141702.
  6. ↑ "Saltcoats Burgh". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "No. 18945". The Edinburgh Gazette . 18 December 1970. p. 1096.
  8. ↑ "Countess Picture Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon joins her mother Joan for the reopening of Saltcoats Town Hall". The National. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Saltcoats Town Hall set to open next week as North Ayrshire Council services move in". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Saltcoats Town Hall". Rudd Consult. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Saltcoats Town Hall Restoration". Wellwood Leslie. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Saltcoats Town Hall re-opened". First Minister of Scotland. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.