25-27 Bank Street, Alloa

This is a late 18th and early to mid-19th century brewery and office complex, originally belonging to George Younger and Sons Ltd. Part of the complex was remodelled in 1901 by John Melvin for use as a Union Club. The brewery is composed of four blocks arranged around a courtyard, with the northeast and Coalgate ranges likely originally serving as maltings, a brewhouse facing Union Street, and offices on Bank Street. A central brewing tower or kiln is a prominent feature.

The Bank Street elevation, dating to around 1840, is of painted droved ashlar. It features pilastered and corniced doorpieces, one symmetrical and one asymmetrical, which may have originally served as a manager’s house. A ground floor cill course runs along the elevation, and the first floor contains segmental arched windows topped with a cornice and blocking course. A bowed corner retains its original bowed window glazing.

The Union Street elevation is five bays wide, although most of the openings were altered in 1901. Evidence remains of previously blocked openings, an oculus, and a relocated datestone from 1776. The three bays on the left were rebuilt starting from the first floor level and feature lugged architraved bipartites; originally, this section was louvred for coolers. A pend entrance was originally segmental arched. The two bays to the right originally stood three stories high and retain their original roofline, now covered in slate instead of tiles. Two four-light oriels are incorporated into the elevation, with the upper portion curving to meet overhanging gablets featuring decorative timber bracing.

The Coalgate elevation has two bays with a similar design of oriels. The three-storey malting was altered to two stories, with smaller windows blocked and larger architraved bipartites inserted. A relocated lead datestone from 1776 is also visible, along with a more recent window at ground level. An eastern gable of the maltings displays a stepped tripartite window at the first floor.

The courtyard buildings similarly show evidence of blocked openings, indicating previous raising of ceiling heights. The three-storey tower or kiln has altered openings; its upper stage is harled, likely replacing former louvres. The pyramidal pantiled roof formerly supported a louvred ventilator.

Internally, the northeast maltings feature a floor constructed on cast-iron pipes. The meeting hall above has a Gothic, timber arched-braced roof. Coved plaster cornices are present in the Bank Street corner. The rest of the interior was largely reconstructed in 1901, with the exception of the tower and the taller Union Street/Coalgate blocks, which retain stone flagged attics. Fine Edwardian panelling and timber chimney pieces are found on the first floor, relating to the Union Club’s use of the building. A cast-iron range is situated at ground level. Windows throughout are primarily sash and case, with circa 1900 four-pane glazing to Bank Street, margined upper cases to Union Street and Coalgate. The roofs are slate, with ridge tiles, and the brewing tower retains its original pantiles.