24 Main Street, Beith

The buildings at 22 and 24 Main Street, Beith, represent a late 18th century to early 19th century development, with subsequent alterations. Originally two separate buildings, they were united by later shopfronts and are now under single ownership.

Number 22 is a narrow, two-bay late 18th century dwelling with an early 19th century shopfront featuring pilasters and an entablature. There is a door on the left and a large window to the right, with two small windows on the first floor. The ground floor is faced with painted ashlar, while the first floor has painted render with raised and painted margins and a moulded eaves course.

Number 24, dating from the early 19th century, has an early 19th century three-bay shopfront and a central door flanked by large openings, the one on the left having been reduced in size. It has a dentilled cornice between the ground and first floors, and three windows on the first floor. The building features an eaves cornice, with painted ashlar to the ground floor and painted, lined render on the first floor.

The first floor windows are timber sash and case, with four panes to number 22 and plate glass (four panes) to the right of number 24. The original slate roof was replaced with non-traditional concrete roof tiles; straight skews are present, with a scrolled skewput to number 22, along with an ashlar chimney stack. Cast-iron rainwater goods are also a feature. The interior of both buildings has been adapted for use as a café in the late 20th century.

The buildings exhibit two distinct phases of construction, with number 22 having a steeper roofline, suggesting an earlier date. It is likely that both buildings were originally thatched; a ‘thackstane’ protrudes from the base of the chimney stack of number 24, an indicator of a previous thatched roof. The slate roof replacement, a common upgrade for thatch to reduce fire risk and pest infestation, occurred sometime after 1980. From the post-war period until 1999, the premises were home to a chip shop and ice cream parlour.

The buildings contribute significantly to the character of Main Street, showcasing a mixture of vernacular detail and later classical shopfronts. Main Street itself dates back to the early to mid-18th century and is narrow and winding, with buildings abutting the road. The buildings differ from the later, grander structures of Eglinton Street in scale, purpose, and design. The property was marked on an Ordnance Survey map of 1858, and further information and historical photographs can be found in Donald Reid’s "Old Beith" (2000).