53-59 Titchfield Street, Kilmarnock

A three-storey Glasgow Style retail and tenement building designed by Gabriel Andrew of Andrew & Newlands in 1902, located at 53-59 Titchfield Street in Kilmarnock. The main structure comprises a 2-3-2-bay palace-fronted block, with an additional three-storey, two-bay addition extending to the left. The building is constructed in polished red Ballochmyle stone with matching dressings, featuring bull-faced ashlar to the original outer bays.

The principal elevation to the east is divided into four distinct sections, each addressing different street numbers from 47 to 71. The ground floors contain later retail units with timber pilastered door surrounds. The upper floors of each section feature squared full-height surrounds containing slightly recessed three-sided canted bay windows with shaped parapets and varied architectural details. The centremost section (Nos. 53-59) is distinguished by a striking stepped triangular pedimented gable surmounted by engaged colonnettes and a round window to the centre. Bipartite windows occupy the first and second floors of this central gable, each with a triangular hood mould to the second floor. The flanking bays feature three-light arched bay windows with arch detail lintel courses to the first floor and corniced parapets concealing eaves. A central gable and flanking gablet heads with projecting bay windows are defining features throughout the elevation, with sill courses merging into band courses.

The south elevation presents a blind red brick gable end. The rear or west elevation displays a more utilitarian character, with fairly regularly fenestrated sections and projecting stair towers. The planning varies across the building: the left section (Nos. 47-51) follows an M-plan, the centre-left (Nos. 53-59) is almost L-shaped with a semi-octagonal arm to the left, the centre-right (Nos. 61-65) returns to an M-plan, and the right section (Nos. 67-71) also follows an M-plan. Semi-octagonal arms and recesses provide articulation, with windows to the left angles. The right returns feature raised entrance doors with metal balconies to the first and second floors of the central-left section. Extensions in red brick conceal elements of the ground floor to the right, and brick in-fill containing a window marks the first floor left.

The north elevation adjoins the later No. 43, which formerly served as headquarters of the 4th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Windows throughout are timber sash and case, painted red, with upper sashes divided vertically into three-pane side bays and five-pane front windows, and four-pane windows to the central gable; all retain single-pane lower sashes. Replacement single-pane windows appear to the first floor bays 7 and 8, while first and second floors of Nos. 67-71 feature replacement PVCu glazing. A round single-pane timber window occupies the central gablehead.

The roof is later piended grey slate, original only to Nos. 67-71, and partially oversails the eaves. Catslide roofs cover some rear stairs and outer bays. A mixture of metal, slate and stone ridging is employed to each building section, with metal flashings throughout. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods serve the principal elevation, with decorative parapets concealing guttering; some replacement plastic rainwater goods have been fitted to the rear. Velux roof lights are arranged in 2-1-2-1 formation to the rear roof.

Four yellow brick gablehead stacks rise from the roof. Stone neck copes crown the stacks flanking the central building (Nos. 53-59), originally fitted with approximately 10-12 terracotta cans. The original outer gables feature lowered stacks from which cans have been removed. A short red brick stack rises from the gable end of Nos. 67-71.

The interior has not been examined.