Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

KILMARNOCK RAILWAY STATIONLB35928

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
03/07/1980
Local Authority
East Ayrshire
Planning Authority
East Ayrshire
Burgh
Kilmarnock
NGR
NS 42689 38248
Coordinates
242689, 638248

Description

1878; with later additions and canopies. 2-storeys, diminishing to single storey at east to accommodate sloping ground; 18-bay by 6-bay, L-plan railway station with 3-storey, single bay, Italianate tower at SE corner. Coursed red ashlar sandstone, rusticated at ground, droved to 1st with polished dressings. Cill band to 1st floor, architraved rectangular windows. Cornice and blocking course raised over central bays with block pediment.

S (PRINICPAL) ELEVATION: 18-bay elevation on slope, divided 5-8-5. To left, 2-storey, regularly fenestrated 5-bays. Slightly advanced 2-storey, 8-bay central portion with raised block pediment. To right, 4 single storey bays. Plain parapet concealing roof line. Taller 5th bay with arched window and prominent keystone forming base of 3-storey tower; band course at springing-line. To 2nd storey: arched bipartite window with impost blocks and circular light above. Band course clasping full height angle margins. Large, circular light in upper stage; bracketed pediment surmounting. Upper stages identical to each elevation.

W ELEVATION: blind, lean-to end of principal offices to right divided by high wall from platform elevation. On right of platform, 2 cast-iron arches with decorative spandrels resting on stone wall, radial glazing to upper sections of arches; terminating in decorative cast-iron support pillar to left; large roof truss spanning all and extending across railway line to rest on matching pillar on next platform.

N (PLATFORM) ELEVATION: 21 painted cast-iron pillars supporting projecting cast-iron and glass verandah style roof over platforms. Each pillar: T-shaped with circular plinth and bowed section leading to partially ringed shaft; paired arched roof brackets flanking riveted upper section, each with circular GSWR monogram and scrolled foliate spandrels. 4 pillars to left bays hold roof beams adjoining high platform wall by means of semi-arched matching brackets; open section between 4th and 5th bracket. Bays between brackets 5 to 7 form right return of E elevation: door and window to left bay, window to right bay; to right return door and window of former booking office. In front, double flight of stairs leading from subway with pair of cast-iron newel piers with pyramid caps and ball finials. Long elevation, extending length of platform, regularly fenestrated with windows and doors leading into former refreshment and waiting rooms. Row of 13 plain cast-iron pillars holding riveted roof trusses, parallel to length of elevation.

E ELEVATION: return of tower to left: arched window with prominent keystone; band course at springing-line (see S ELEVATION for upper stages). Single storey, 6-bays to right: windows with margins and drip sills, paired doors to 2nd and 3rd bays; blind wall adjoining at 90 degree angle at extreme right.

Mostly 8-pane, double-glazed sash and case windows. Fixed multi-paned radial arched windows to W end of platforms. Piended grey slate roof to main station building and tower. Glazed panels to piended roof over platforms, cast-iron columns, braces and rivets.

INTERIOR: modern underpass leading to platforms; stone steps with wrought-iron pillars and ball finials at platform exit; screen to original ticket office remains with bracketed ledge and plaster cornice. Some skirting boards, plaster cornicing and panelled timber doors remain to former waiting / refreshment rooms on platform.

Statement of Special Interest

This "new" station was built as an addition to the 1850 3-storey, 3-bay station by Hugh Maclure that, until recently, stood to the SW of the main building. The railway first came to Kilmarnock in 1837 when the Kilmarnock & Ayr Railway Company was formed, followed by the Glasgow & Dalry Railway Company, six years later. The numbers of goods and passengers carried rose quickly, as its popularity continued on from that of the Duke of Portland's wagon way. In 1847, the Kilmarnock & Troon wagon-way was bought from the Duke and converted for the use of passenger steam trains. Within the next 3 years, more lines were opened up with stops at Galston and Newmilns. A magnificent railway viaduct was constructed from the station, across Portland and Soulis Streets and spanning the Kilmarnock Water to join land at the bottom of what became Kay Park. It towered over the older, smaller properties. The turning point of the station came in 1850. This saw the completion of the Glasgow and South Western's Nithsdale line. The cross border track ran between Carlisle and Glasgow and stopped at Kilmarnock. The original station, which later became known as Kilmarnock Station Goods Department, was built as a formal entrance to the aggrandised tracks. Before the end of the century, Glasgow and South Western Railway Company had opened a workshop and locomotive building shop at nearby Bonnyton. This survived well into the 20th century before it was taken over as the London, Midlands and Scottish Railway Works in the 1930's. The works have now disappeared, replaced by the Bonnyton Industrial Estate. The older railway station was demolished in the last decade of the 20th century. The remaining station has undergone substantial refurbishment work, such as repairs to the iron canopy work, stone cleaning and replacement windows. The railway station, although situated on a hill, is linked to the major streets of the town by means of subways. The most ornate route is the John Finnie / West George / Garden Streets and Langlands Brae subway, which has a castellated entrance (listed separately).

References

Bibliography

A. Fullarton & Co, TOPOGRAPHICAL, STATISTICAL & HISTORICAL GAZETTEER OF SCOTLAND (1851) Vol.II pp123-124. Charles Reid, PLAN OF THE TOWN OF KILMARNOCK (1880) showing station. Archibald Adamson, RAMBLES AROUND KILMARNOCK (?) p3. Gordon Biddle & O S Nock THE RAILWAY HERITAGE OF BRITAIN (1983), p135. John Strawhorn & Ken Andrew, DISCOVERING AYRSHIRE (1988) p194. John Malkin, PICTORIAL HISTORY OF KILMARNOCK (1989) p8 & 43 for station. Rob Close, AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN - AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE (1992) p103.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 10:17