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

LONDON ROAD, SIR JAMES SHAW'S STATUELB35930

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 43231 37856
Coordinates
243231, 637856

Description

James Fillians, sculptor, 1848; re-sited 1929. Statue of Sir James Shaw on moulded pedestal and stepped plinth; later paved concrete tiered base. Carrara marble figure, polished ashlar pedestal resting on Aberdeen granite base.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 2 wide, modern steps; 2-course granite base; tall, square architraved pedestal with bowed front and rear. Inscribed to front bow: "SIR JAMES SHAW BART, Lord Mayor of London 1805. Born 26th August 1765. Died 22 October 1843. Erected 4th August 1848." Posed figure of James Shaw surmounting in period dress and mayoral robes; holding scroll in right hand and lifting robe in left.

Statement of Special Interest

Located in parkland off London Road, opposite the Dick Institute and adjacent to the War Memorial and former Technical School (all listed separately). The 1st Edition OS map shows the statue in its original position in The Cross from 1848. It was located to the NE of the Gallows site. The statue stood here until 1929, when it was moved due to increased usage of The Cross by motor vehicles. Thomas McDowall (stonemason) oversaw the statue's removal to its present site. Sir James Shaw, known locally as Jimmy, was born in 1764 at Mosshead, Riccarton (SW of Treesbank). As the son of a farmer, he partook in a rudimentary education at Kilmarnock Grammar School before leaving for America at the age of 17. He returned 3 years later and went to London to work with his brother. It was at this time he developed an interest in politics, which led to him eventually being elected as MP for the City of London. He became the first Scotsman to be elected "Lord Mayor of London" in 1805. He had the honour of leading the funeral procession of Lord Nelson. He was given the baronetcy in 1809. Shaw was a keen patron of the arts and bestowed generous gifts on the town. When he died, the Town Council was persuaded to erect a statue of him after his generosity to the town. ?1000 was raised and James Fillians created an 8ft high Carrara marble figure, using a portrait of Shaw by local artist Tannock (one of Shaw's proteges). Shaw is represented in his official robes of office. He is holding a scroll that represents the "warrant of precedence" he obtained in1806. This warrant revived the right of the Lord Mayor of London to take precedence over everyone except the sovereign in all public processions in the city.

References

Bibliography

ART UNION (1848), p314. 1st Edition, ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP (1857). Francis Groome, ORDNANCE GAZETTEER OF SCOTLAND (1883) p374. 6"/mile ODRNANCE SURVEY MAP (1938). Rupert Gunnis DICTIONARY OF BRITISH SCULPTORS 1660-1851 (1951), p144. John Malkin, PICTORIAL HISTORY OF KILMARNOCK (1989) p48, 79 & 105. Rob Close, AYRSHIRE & ARRAN, AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE (1992) p112. Frank Beattie, GREETINGS FROM KILMARNOCK (1994) pp 28-29 for statue at the cross.

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.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 02/05/2024 11:20