53 Portland Road, Kilmarnock

This is a terrace of seven, two-storey houses built around 1885. They are arranged in a roughly L-shaped plan and feature pavilion ends, all intended to be seen together. The houses are constructed of coursed sandstone ashlar with polished dressings, incorporating a base course, a band course, and eaves detailing. Drip sills and architraved window margins contribute to the classical style. Bracketed eaves provide further ornamentation.

The south elevation (the main facade) is notable for its detailing. Number 51 has an engaged column surround supporting a corniced pediment over a two-leaf timber door with a narrow rectangular fanlight; a window sits above the door on the first floor. A slightly projecting pavilion bay features rusticated quoins and a three-sided canted bay window at both storeys, topped by a dormer window in the roof. Number 63 mirrors this design, but with the door and window reversed. Numbers 53, 57 and 61 echo the design of Number 51 with similar door surrounds and canted bay windows, while numbers 55 and 59 are arranged in a reversed configuration.

The west elevation of Number 63 originally presented a two-part design, but a lower, two-bay extension has been added to the centre, with a further lean-to on the left. The original portion to the right features pilasters supporting a corniced pediment and a window, while the first floor has a centrally placed window. A bay projects to the right with rusticated quoins and a tripartite window at both storeys. The central extension has a door with a fanlight, a window to the left, and two regularly placed windows on the first floor. A one-and-a-half-storey lean-to extension is located to the left.

The rear elevation is characterized by varying two-storey, multi-bayed extensions within the rear yards and gardens. The east elevation was not visible during a 2001 survey.

The original windows were, and in some cases still are, two-pane timber sash and case, although numbers 53, 55, and 63 now have replacement PVCu glazing. A stained glass window is located to the left of Number 63’s west elevation. The pavilion roofs have three-sided canted timber dormer windows with triangular pediments. Grey slate covers the roofs, with more ornate details such as fish-scale detailing on the pavilion ends and an ornate wrought-iron finial on Number 55. Metal ridging, flashing and valleys are prevalent. A Cast-iron Carron light is positioned on the main elevation of Number 51. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods are present, with gutters concealed within bracketed eaves cornices and decorative hoppers on the down pipes. Three yellow brick stacks rise from the roofline, featuring stepped designs, ashlar neck copes, and originally octagonal cans – some of which have been replaced.

The interiors retain many original features including plaster cornicing, timber skirting boards, timber architraved door surrounds, and four-panelled doors. Timber newel posts are present on the staircases, and two-leaf timber panelled outer doors lead to semi-glazed internal hall doors.