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Summary

Description

Later 18th century. 2 storey, basement and attic nepus-gabled former inn; 4 bays with curved angle bay to R; on sloping site. Central door with 2 windows to L, 1 to outer R (1 blocked) and door in angle bay; 4 regularly-spaced windows to 1st floor plus 1 to angle bay; 2 small windows to nepus gable; 19th century canted piend-roofed dormer to R. Rendered (ground floor later non-traditional textured stucco) with raised painted margins, band course between ground and 1st floors; eaves course; angle pilasters to nepus gable.

NE (REAR) ELEVATION: irregular fenestration; later single storey lean-to.

UPVC windows to all but 2 windows (1st floor outer R and curved gable) replacing traditional timber sash and case small-pane glazing. Grey slates; flat skews; end and apex stacks (lost cans).

INTERIOR: not seen (2003).

Statement of Special Interest

B group with 15, 17, 19 Main Street.

Formerly known as the Old Deer Inn, the building is a good example of the characteristic nepus-gabled buildings found in Beith. Although one ground floor window is blocked and there is a later dormer, the symmetry of the façade remains evident. Beith has a notable number of nepus-gabled buildings including the Saracen's Head at 10 & 12 Eglinton Street; 24-28 the Cross; the Smuggler's Tavern in Main Street; and 26-30 Main Street (all separately listed). These buildings date from a period when Beith was a thriving, prosperous town with an industry based on textiles and tanning. There was also an active smugglers' trade in alcohol, tobacco and tea during the 18th century in Beith and, perhaps as a result, the town has always had a high proportion of public houses and inns. Hotel and inns were popular as they were able to offer Sunday drinking whereas public houses could not. 2-6 Reform Street is first marked as a Public House on the OS map of 1910 but is likely to have served as an inn prior to this. Reform Street was known as Bunswynd and was once lined with tenements and cottages; unfortunately the street has been sliced in two by modern re-routing of traffic (circa 1973) and many good buildings have been demolished. 2-6 Reform Street occupies a prominent position adjacent to the Cross. This and the adjacent 15-19 Main Street, including the former bakery buildings to the rear, (separately listed) are due to be sympathetically restored and converted to dwellings by St Vincent Crescent Preservation Trust (2003).

References

Bibliography

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