Council Chambers, John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock

Council Chambers, John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock

This large Free Renaissance commercial block was designed by James Montgomery Pearson and built between 1903 and 1905. It is constructed principally of polished red sandstone ashlar with channelled piers to the ground floor and giant angle pilasters dividing the upper bays.

The main elevation to John Finnie Street presents a symmetrical 3-storey, 3-bay frontage with curved angle bays that lead to returns on John Dickie Street and College Wynd. The angle bays feature arched door and window surrounds with rusticated voussoirs and enlarged keystones, carved figures and scroll details in the spandrels, and scrolled curved segmental headed pediments with stone finials. The central section contains bipartite windows to each ground floor bay and tripartite windows to the 1st floor centre bay, with identical fenestration to the 2nd floor. The windows are divided by pilasters above ground floor level, some with carved panels above and below. Scrolled curved pediments at the angles and central pediment rise above broad decorative friezes linked by balustrades.

The College Wynd elevation to the south contains bipartite and tripartite windows with a balustraded parapet linking flanking angle pilasters. A plainer single bay adjoins to the right with a ground floor door. The rear elevation to Low Church Lane features large altered bays to the ground floor with rusticated pilasters and carved heads dividing them. Paired windows occupy the upper floors. An additional former 2-storey building, now 3-storey with 7 bays, adjoins to the far left.

The John Dickie Street elevation to the north comprises two stepped 3-storey blocks of 7 bays and 2 bays respectively, with tripartite, bipartite and arched door surrounds with segmental pediments. A balustraded parapet spans the entire elevation with finials surmounting pilaster plinths.

Windows throughout are 2-pane timber sash and case with horned upper sashes, although some plate glass windows with 3-pane upper lights have been inserted to the ground floor of the John Dickie Street elevation, and fixed arched lights appear to some doors. The roof is piended grey slate, concealed behind the parapet.

The interior currently functions as council offices. Some modernisation has taken place, but original features survive including plaster cornicing, the staircase and internal doors.