Masonic Hall, 45 London Road, Kilmarnock

The Masonic Hall at 45 London Road, Kilmarnock, was designed by William Forrest Valentine and completed in 1926. It is a two-story, stepped rectangular building in a stripped classical style, intended as a Masonic lodge. The exterior is primarily constructed of coursed red Ballochmyle ashlar sandstone, with red brick used for lesser elevations. Dressed ashlar mouldings and sills are present, along with an ashlar parapet and cornice incorporating copper flashings. A deep base course and eaves cornice are also notable features.

The north (principal) elevation has a central entrance accentuated by a projecting keystone, with tripartite windows on either side. A large arch with a recessed window is centrally positioned on the first floor, flanked by further tripartite windows. A deep eaves cornice supports a central open-bed segmental pediment, leading to a parapet and a rectangular pediment. A taller roofline and ventilation fleche, indicating the presence of a larger hall to the rear, are visible.

The east elevation features a two-story entrance block to the right, with a two-leaf arched door on the ground floor and a hoodmould set on bracketed label stops. Above, three regularly spaced bays define the first floor. To the left of the entrance block is the main hall, distinguished by giant angle pilasters and stepped detailing with a cornice at ground floor level. A three-sided canted bay with a tripartite window is centrally located on the first floor. A single-story wing obscures much of the ground floor, pierced by paired windows. A return to the right incorporates paired windows and a door topped with a fanlight. A much later rear extension adjoins the left return.

The south (rear) elevation presents a large, two-story, three-bay plain brick hall, featuring three Diocletian windows on the first floor. Adjoining and concealing the original ground floor plan, a later high, single-story hall has a timbered gable and a horizontal row of narrow windows set under the eaves. Further windows and a lean-to addition are visible on the right return, while a lower, single-story flat-roofed extension extends from the left return.

The west elevation exhibits a two-story entrance block with three regularly placed bays on the first floor. The main hall is set to the right and marked by giant angle pilasters and a central band course, with paired ventilation holes in the outer bays of the first floor.

The windows are primarily opaque, with 15 panes in timber casements, the upper three lights hinged as hoppers. Smaller windows have six panes. Timber doors incorporate opaque, arched panels. The roof is covered with grey slate, with slated gables. Timber ventilation louvres are positioned in the gableheads. A copper ventilation fleche topped with a splayed roof and a copper rod and ball finial is a prominent feature. A two-pane rooflight is set into the rear of the hall roof, with a row of ventilators near the eaves of the rear and side elevations. Terracotta ridge tiles and copper flashings are also present. A concealed flat roof is present over the entrance and east wing, while the later rear extension has a piended modern slate roof with ridge tiles. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods and concealed parapet gutters complete the external detailing.

The interior of the building was not inspected in 2001.