Churchyard, Irvine Old Parish Church, Kirkgate, Irvine

Irvine Old Parish Church is a large, rectangular church built in 1774, designed in a classical style. The building is constructed of rubble stone, with a rendered finish in parts, and sandstone ashlar for the tower and dressings. The tower is a prominent six-stage structure positioned centrally on the front elevation. The main northwest elevation features the advanced tower; its ground stage has a round-arched doorway with a segmental fanlight above, and a Venetian window above that, with blinded side lights. The second stage is square with round-arched windows framed by engaged Roman Doric columns with triglyphs, mutules, and roundel windows in the tympanum. A clock face, dated 1803, is situated on three sides of the fourth stage, which is octagonal. The fifth stage, also octagonal, has round-arched, louvred openings set within engaged Ionic columns leading to a curved architrave, a dentil cornice, and a balustrade. The sixth stage is octagonal with more round-arched openings, a corniced projection, and an ashlar spire with a weathervane. Tall windows flank the tower, and the outer bays have regular fenestration.

The southeast elevation has six bays with regular fenestration, including round-arched windows and a central round-arched doorway. The northeast and southwest elevations are similarly arranged with five bays, a round-arched doorway and window above, and regular fenestration to the flanking bays. The church has evidence of a raised wallhead indicated by a change in masonry.

The windows are multi-paned sash and case windows, some containing stained glass. The roof is grey slate and piended. The entrance doors are panelled and two-leaf, with radial, round-arched fanlights. The interior is available for viewing during consultation.

The surrounding graveyard contains fine classical gravestones and monuments, many of the 19th century, including obelisks and Greek-style monuments with urns. The graveyard is enclosed by rubble boundary walls. Important features include corniced gatepiers with cone-finialled gate pilasters and decorative wrought-iron gates at the Kirkgate entrance, and corniced ashlar piers with a decorative wrought-iron gate near Kirk Vennel. There are also pilaster-pedimented piers and openings with wrought-iron gates connecting Kirk Vennel to the cemetery and the cemetery to the graveyard.