Basic Site Details

Name: Ayr Town Hall
Town, district or village: Ayr
City or county: Ayrshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Archibald Johnson of Glasgow was the mason for the Thomas Hamilton building.

The new town-hall at Ayr, which has been erected at a cost of £30,000, was opened on Monday evening by the performance in the principal room of Handel's " The Messiah." The organ has been built by Messrs. C. T. Lewis and Co. [Building News 23 September 1881 p411]

1901 competition assessed by John Burnet.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Town hall  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 21-9, High StreetYes 
Item 2 of 221 and 29, New Bridge StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 818271832 Original building
Item 2 of 818771881 Alterations, including extension to High Street
Item 3 of 818781881 Meetings held between these datesby the Town Council and Hall Committee
Item 4 of 81878  Date of Sellars's plans
Item 5 of 8September 1881 Opened 
Item 6 of 818981903 Reconstruction after a fire
Item 7 of 815 February 1901 Competition results announcedJ Kennedy hunter awarded first premium in competition for reconstruction
Item 8 of 81937 Addition 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 10Thomas HamiltonArchitect 18271832Original building
Item 2 of 10John MurdochArchitect 1877 Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed first in competition but job went to Campbell Douglas & Sellars
Item 3 of 10Campbell DouglasArchitect, ValuerA18771881Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job
Item 4 of 10Campbell Douglas & SellarsArchitectural practiceA18771881Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job
Item 5 of 10James SellarsArchitect, ValuerA18771881Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job
Item 6 of 10Clarke & BellArchitectural practiceB1877 Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition
Item 7 of 10George Bell IArchitectB1877 Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition
Item 8 of 10William ClarkeArchitectB1877 Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition
Item 9 of 10James Kennedy HunterArchitect 18981903Reconstruction after fire
Item 10 of 10James CarrickArchitectC1937 Additions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp133-4
Item 2 of 4Cunningham, Colin1981Victorian and Edwardian Town Halls London: Routledge & Kegan PaulAppendix II: Competition Statistics
Item 3 of 4New Statistical Account of Scotland New Statistical Account of Scotland  v, p23
Item 4 of 4RCAHMS1996Tolbooths and Town-Houses: Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833 London: The Stationery Office 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 10Architect and Building News1937Jan-June p20
Item 2 of 10Ayr Advertiser3 April 1828   
Item 3 of 10Ayr Advertiser31 March 1904   
Item 4 of 10British Architect15 February 1901  p108
Item 5 of 10British Architect2 August 1901  pviii - contracts
Item 6 of 10British Architect8 April 1904  p272
Item 7 of 10Building News23 September 1881  p411 - opening
Item 8 of 10Building News2 August 1901  p162 - contracts
Item 9 of 10RIAS Quarterly1926no 20Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Preliminary design
Item 10 of 10RIBA Journal1910v17London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 6Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA website Sent August 2009
Item 2 of 6Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register21692 
Item 3 of 6National Archives of ScotlandAyr Town Council MinutesB 6/18/26-7 
Item 4 of 6National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Ayr Burgh Records Town Council Meetings and Hall Committee meetings 1878-1881
Item 5 of 6National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Photographic Archive Copies of Kyle & Carrick distrcit plans AYD 113/31-37 (Sellars plans); AYD 113/25 (Carrick plans)
Item 6 of 6RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers James Kennedy Hunter: F v17 p21 no1107 (microfilm reel 12)