Town House, Countess Street, Saltcoats

Built at two periods. Town House: Peter King (architect) 1825-6.

5 stage tower with low flanking recessed wing. Painted droved

ashlar. Wings 2 storeys with attics, modern shop at ground;

band course; 1 window to 1st floor, eaves course, cornice and

blocking course; 1 piended canted dormer. Cornice continues

across tower to form base of pediment. Tower; central

pilastered doorpiece with 4-centered arch to entrance and

raised cornice above with acroteria. Swag over small

oculus below pediment. Upper stages marked by set-offs, 2nd

and 3rd with blind round-arched panels, 4th with clock in

moulded frame on each face, angle ionic pilasters, cornice and

urn finials. Octagonal lantern capped with facetted spire

(recently reduced in height).

Town Hall: Howie and Walton 1892 Renaissance. Painted ashlar. 2

storeys, 3 symmetrical bays with 1 additional bay to left.

3 right bays under open pediment supported on pilasters. Entrance

in central shallow projecting bay, round-headed door with

fluted pilasters and bracketted hood. Modern shop at left

continues in outer left bay. Original shop on right; fascia

and cornice. Band course below and at springing of semi-circular

headed 1st floor windows. Swags above central window with

legend "Town Hall" in panel above, small sculptured pediment

to central bay coincides with head of main pediment. Scrolled

acroteria at apex. Outer bay with wide panelled outer

pilaster. Similar 1st floor window set in square panel. Cornice

and balustrade. Slated roof, partly piended with lead finials.