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 ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Town hall | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 1-9, High Street | Yes | | | 21 and 29, New Bridge Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1827 | 1832 | | Original building | | 1877 | 1881 | | Alterations, including extension to High Street | | 1878 | 1881 | | Meetings held between these datesby the Town Council and Hall Committee | | 1878 | | | Date of Sellars's plans | | September 1881 | | Opened | | | 1898 | 1903 | | Reconstruction after a fire | | 15 February 1901 | | Competition results announced | J Kennedy hunter awarded first premium in competition for reconstruction | | 1937 | | Addition | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | Thomas Hamilton | | | 1827 | 1832 | Original building | | John Murdoch | | | 1877 | | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed first in competition but job went to Campbell Douglas & Sellars | | Campbell Douglas | | A | 1877 | 1881 | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job | | Campbell Douglas & Sellars | | A | 1877 | 1881 | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job | | James Sellars | | A | 1877 | 1881 | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed third in competition but secured job | | Clarke & Bell | | B | 1877 | | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition | | George Bell I | | B | 1877 | | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition | | William Clarke | | B | 1877 | | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition | | James Kennedy Hunter | | | 1898 | 1903 | Reconstruction after fire | | James Carrick | | C | 1937 | | Additions |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Close, Rob and Riches, Anne | 2012 | The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran | | New Haven and London: Yale University Press | p133-4 | | Cunningham, Colin | 1981 | Victorian and Edwardian Town Halls | | London: Routledge & Kegan Paul | Appendix II: Competition Statistics | | New Statistical Account of Scotland | | New Statistical Account of Scotland | | | v, p23 | | RCAHMS | 1996 | Tolbooths and Town-Houses: Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833 | | London: The Stationery Office | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architect and Building News | 1937 | Jan-June | | p20 | | Ayr Advertiser | 3 April 1828 | | | | | Ayr Advertiser | 31 March 1904 | | | | | British Architect | 15 February 1901 | | | p108 | | British Architect | 2 August 1901 | | | pviii - contracts | | British Architect | 8 April 1904 | | | p272 | | Building News | 23 September 1881 | | | p411 - opening
| | Building News | 2 August 1901 | | | p162 - contracts | | RIAS Quarterly | 1926 | no 20 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Preliminary design | | RIBA Journal | 1910 | v17 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Courtesy of Neil Darlington | Information sent via DSA website | | Sent August 2009 | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 21692 | | | National Archives of Scotland | Ayr Town Council Minutes | B 6/18/26-7 | | | National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO) | Ayr Burgh Records | | Town Council Meetings and Hall Committee meetings 1878-1881 | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Photographic Archive | | Copies of Kyle & Carrick distrcit plans AYD 113/31-37 (Sellars plans); AYD 113/25 (Carrick plans) | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | James Kennedy Hunter: F v17 p21 no1107 (microfilm reel 12) |
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