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Basic Site Details

Gaiety Theatre
Ayr
Ayrshire
Scotland
Plans for a new theatre at Ayr to be erected by Messrs Pierce and Bolton at the Carrick Oval have just been passed by the Dean of Guild Court. [British Architect 22 February 1901 p142]

A new theatre, the first real theatre that there has ever been in Ayr, with all modern improvements is being erected for a company on the site of a previous wooden structure in Carrick Street by Mr J McHardy Young, architect, Ayr, at a cost of over £7,000. The structure is of red brick and it has been set back with a view to the eventual widening of the whole street. [British Architect 17 January 1902 p52]

The theatre for Ayr, which has been erected in Carrick Street and is to be known as the New Gaiety Theatre, is now all but completed and it is proposed to open it on the 8th September. The theatre is the first fully equipped house of the kind that has ever been built in Ayr, and it is in every respect a thoroughly modern theatre. Outwardly it is a red brick building, the front elevation faced with red terra cotta bricks and is of a plain substantial character. The interior is, however, elaborately decorated and very comfort ably seated to accommodate about 1,200 people. It is divided into pit, dress circle, upper gallery and boxes on dress circle and gallery levels. The stage measures 47 feet wide and 30 feet deep and adjoining the stage are six dressing rooms. The building is, as nearly as possible, fireproof. The entrances to the various parts of the house are separate, those communicating with the gallery being from the street. The lighting is with gas in the meantime, but provision has been made for the introduction of the electric light if that is found desirable. Heating is by hot water and careful provision has been made to meet an outbreak of fire. The building has been set several yards back from the original line of the street so that there is ample space in front and for a considerable extent of the street eastwards. The cost has been £9,500.[British Architect 29 August 1902 p160]

The Gaiety Theatre at Ayr built and equipped lat year at a cost of about £8,000 was practically destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. [British Architect 7 August 1903 p110]

A Press view took place on Tuesday of the new Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, which was partially destroyed by fire on August 4th 1903 and has been reconstructed. The entrances and exits have been improved so that there are two exits from each sector of the house. The entire auditorium has been re-modelled and the galleries taken down and re-erected in steel and concrete so that practically the auditorium is fireproof. The stage has also been improved and extra precautions taken in the event of fire by fire hydrants on the stage. The building is entirely refurbished and redecorated. The walls of the building have been heightened by 11 feet and there are now eight boxes instead of four. An amphitheatre has been introduced and the entrances to the dress circle improved. Mr Alex Cullen, Hamilton, is the architect. [British Architect 5 August 1904 p109]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
New GaietyNo

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

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ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
TheatreNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
Gaiety Theatre Carrick StreetYes

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

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Event TypeFromToNotes
Scheme accepted1901Plans passed by the Dean of Guild Court.
Build/construction1902Original building
Opened1902/10/01
19031904Rebuilding after fire
1903/08/04Seriously damaged by fire
Alterations and additions1938Building re-fronted

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.

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PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
J McHardy Young1902
Alexander CullenA1903Rebuilding after fire
James LochheadA1903Rebuilding after fire
William BrownA1903Rebuilding after fire
Henry Sloan McNairHArchitect1938Re-fronted
McNair & DouglasHArchitectural practice1938Re-fronted

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Messrs Pierce and Bolton

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & ArranNew Haven and London: Yale University Pressp131
Close, Robert1992Ayrshire and Arran, an Illustrated Architectural GuideEdinburgh: RIASp18

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

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Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1904/08/13LXXXVII
British Architect1901/02/22p142
British Architect1902/01/17p52
British Architect1902/08/29p160
British Architect1903/08/07p110 - Destruction by fire
British Architect1904/08/05p109

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJames Lochhead: F v20 no1453 (microfilm reel 13)
Cullen Lochhead & Brown ArchitectsCullen Lochhead and Brown ArchiveDrawings destroyed?
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register21522