Description

Dated 1880, possibly incorporating earlier fabric, with later additions and alterations. Asymmetrical grouping forming end of terrace comprising 6-storey, square-plan clock tower to left with 2-storey, 2-bay range (single bay at 1st floor) slightly recessed to outer right; 2-storey wing projecting at rear forming near L-plan. Squared and snecked whinstone to tower and front elevation adjoining range; sandstone ashlar dressings (weathered in part); painted harl to side and rear. Base course in part; corbelled and castellated parapet to clock tower. Sandstone quoins throughout; long and short surrounds to stop-chamfered openings; chamfered cills to front; projecting cills to side.

SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: tower to left with steps to boarded timber door off-set to left of centre; decorative iron hinges; roll-moulded surround encompassing sandstone plaque dated '1880'. Single windows at 1st and 2nd floors off-set to right and left respectively. Narrow, louvred opening at 3rd floor in bay to right of centre; clock face centred at 4th floor; narrow, louvred opening at 5th floor off-set to left of centre. Projecting parapet with square-plan bartizan to outer right. Adjoining 2-storey range slightly recessed to right with single windows in both bays at ground; bipartite window centred at 1st floor.

SE (SIDE) ELEVATION: gabled block to outer left with blind, single storey, lean-to addition at ground; wallhead stack centred above; regularly fenestrated 2-storey, 2-bay range to right. Clock tower off-set to left behind with clock face centred between louvred openings at upper floors (as above); square-plan bartizan projecting to outer left.

Plate glass timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roof; replacement rainwater goods. Coped and harled apex stack to SE; circular cans.

INTERIOR: not seen 1998.

Statement of Interest

A late, well-detailed, prominent survival, fronting Ayton's High Street. The incorporation of a clock tower within a house is most unusual - the near contemporary Baronial towers at Creetown and Gatehouse of Fleet both being free-standing. The Ayton example has characteristics akin to a town hall or major estate office. Clock still in working order 1998. Bell (embossed 'John C Wilson & Co Founders Glasgow AD 1880') removed and displayed separately to E.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77775408

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)