Marr College, Dundonald Road, Troon, Troon, South Ayrshire

Description

John Arthur, 1919 to 1930. 2-storey with basement, restrained Edwardian baroque school; rectangular-plan enclosing 2 courtyards with symmetrical front comprising 2-storey, engaged octagonal entrance block projecting at centre; surmounting drum and copper dome; flanking 9-bay wings; full-height single bay pavilions advanced to outer left and right. Cream sandstone ashlar; ashlar dressings; banded angle pilasters to central and outer blocks; coursed, rusticated basement. Raised plinth; architraved 1st floor cill course to entrance block; architraved 1st floor cill course to 9-bay wings with tablet detail aligned beneath stylised, pilastered mullions; moulded eaves course; widely spaced paired brackets to cornice; balustraded parapet to octagonal tower; architraved parapet to surmounting drum. Architraved surrounds to central windows; flush surrounds to remaining openings. Later 20th century block adjoined to S.

SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: swept stair to 2-leaf timber panelled door centred at ground; bolection moulded doorpiece with roll-moulded reveals, coat of arms set in foliate frame above keystone, carved foliate frieze, heavy cornice. Single window aligned at 1st floor in recessed panel; single windows in recessed panels at ground and 1st floors in remaining facets to left and right; balustraded parapet; single windows in surmounting, smaller drum. Regularly fenestrated at both floors in flanking 9-bay wings. Pavilions advanced to outer left and right with recessed central panels, blind aedicules framing plain tablets; flanking Ionic columns set in antis.

NE (REAR) ELEVATION: 23-bay grouped 1-9-3-9-1 with advanced, pedimented central block. 3 single openings centred at ground; single windows at 1st and 2nd floors aligned above (Ionic columns set in antis dividing bays). Regularly fenestrated at all floors in 9-bay wings recessed to left and right. Full-height single bay pavilions to outer left and right comprising recessed central panels, blind aedicules framing plain tablets; flanking Ionic columns set in antis.

Large 12-pane leaded windows with outer screens to entrance block (some stained-glass panels); small-pane metal-framed windows to remaining openings (some opaque glazing). Green Cumbrian slate roof; copper dome surmounting entrance tower. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Corniced ashlar ridge stacks; circular terracotta cans.

INTERIOR: circular vestibule with Doric columns forming outer ambulatory; guttae to cornice; sculpted bust (Charles Kerr Marr) surmounting central square-plan plinth. Steps to 2-leaf, 10-pane door accessing main block; geometric-glazed fanlight; corniced doorpiece with central keystone. Timber dado panelling to central, outer hall; panelled ceiling; timber panelled doors and 2-leaf, small-pane doors. Tiling beneath timber dado rail in flanking corridors; timber panelled doors to offices; 2-leaf small-pane doors dividing corridors. Pilastered bays forming outer side aisles to main hall; decorative railings set between; timber dado panelling; tiered seats; corniced stage surround with carved banding, bolection moulded central coat of arms; curved gallery at rear; timber panelled ceiling; organ in place. Octagonal 1st floor library with square-plan timber columns forming outer ambulatory; timber balustrades fronting windows; timber shelving; compartmental ceiling.

FRONT TERRACE WALLS, LAMP STANDARDS AND STEPS: low coped ashlar walls flanking splayed stair to entrance; wrought iron lamp standards surmounting circular-plan ashlar piers to front (missing lamps). Polished coping to low rubble sandstone wall enclosing garden to front; coped piers flanking garden steps aligned on central axis.

Statement of Interest

B Group with the entrance gatepiers, former janitor?s house and entrance lodge (see separate list entries). Marr College, a grant aided co-educational school was established by an Educational Trust founded and funded at the bequest of Charles Kerr Marr (1855 - 1919). A coal contractor by trade, Marr amassed a fortune whilst in London during the 1st World War. Following his death, a substantial amount of this wealth was left to a Trust whose task it was to bring about the advancement of education in Troon. Hence, the establishment of scholarships and prizes for pupils resident in the area and the building of Marr College, opened in 1935. Trained with John Burnet, John Mercer and John A Campbell (Ayr based architects), this vast project was Arthur's most significant architectural achievement. Work did not begin on the school until the late 1920s and was completed by A G McNaughtan following Arthur's death. Despite the building of an adjoining, later block, the original design remains intact. Inside, the Doric-columned vestibule is particularly noteworthy, as is the main hall and octagonal library. According to the Statistical Account, "The College, built in accordance with the best modern ideas about school design and equipment, at a cost of ?238,000, was ready for occupation with a staff of special teachers in 1930, but the opening was held back by legal delays till 1935."

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