Gatepiers, The Knowe, 94-104 Midton Road, Ayr

The Knowe is a large mansion house dating from around 1845, with a significant extension constructed in 1895 by Robert Thomson of Glasgow, and later converted into flats in 1962. It is two storeys and has a basement, built of coursed sandstone, and displays an asymmetrical plan.

The north (entrance) elevation features a balustraded parapet above an arched entrance, accentuated by keystones and decorative pilasters. A two-leaf timber glazed door is set within a recessed pediment, complemented by a multi-paned fanlight. A single window is positioned on the first floor, and an oculus sits in the re-entrant angle to the right. A canted window with decorative apron panels projects to the outer right. To the left of a boundary wall and gatepiers, there are three single windows at ground level (two to an advanced section), with two single windows on the first floor. A canted gabled bay is present at ground level, topped by a balustraded balcony, and a tripartite corniced window on the first floor. A sunken oculus in the gablehead bears the date 1895. A narrower gabled bay is set to the inner left, with single windows on the basement and first floors.

The south (rear) elevation is eight bays wide, divided into sections of five and three. A gabled bay is situated to the outer left, featuring an advanced architraved window at ground floor and a single window above. A canted bay projects inwards to the left, with a glazed timber door, letterbox fanlight, and flanking sidelights. Narrow strip windows flank the canted bays on the first floor, and an ogee-capped tower rises from the structure. Single windows are found at basement ground and first floor levels in the gabletteed bays to the right, with apron strip balconies to the first floor windows. A narrow strip window is present at ground and first floor to the bay to the right; the first floor forms a square tower. A single gabled window is located to the left of a single-storey section to the right (with a small basement window), a centrally placed window, and a recessed chimney niche with a built-in seat to the outer right.

The west (side) elevation is four bays wide. An advanced gabled bay is on the left, with a canted window at ground level, a balustraded parapet above, and a tripartite corniced window on the first floor, flanked by spouts. A sunken oculus is set into the gablehead, and flanking pinnacles add vertical emphasis. An architraved and consoled window is positioned at ground floor, with a balustraded parapet above and a gabletted window above at first floor. A canted window is present at ground level to the right, with three gables above on the first floor; a blind central gablet features a square panel within, and single windows are set to the flanking gablets.

The east elevation was not visible during an inspection in 1999.

The windows are a variety of patterns, including plate glass, 4-, 5-, 12-, 15-, and 16-pane sash and case windows. The roof is slate, with lead ridges and wallhead, gablehead, and ridge stacks featuring circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are in place. The interior was uninspected in 1999.

The property is approached via two pairs of gatepiers and a low, coped boundary wall to Midton Road. Additional rock-faced base gatepiers are located on the inner site, and a boundary wall encloses the entire property.