Description

William Kerr, dated 1911; extended 1925; with later 20th century additions to rear. Single storey and attic, irregular-plan Arts and Crafts public hall. Rendered; sandstone ashlar dressings to principal elevations (to Fairfield Road and Mar Place). Red tiled roof; swept overhanging eaves; prominent multi-paned canted windows; shaped gable to entrance porch to S.

S (FAIRFIELD ROAD) ELEVATION: near central entrance porch with shaped gable, scrolled skewputts, urn finial; decorated plaque to gable inscribed and dated: 'SAUCHIE PUBLIC HALL 1911' with embossed lettering, part-glazed 2-leaf replacement timber doors set back. Ogee-roofed, square-plan ventilator to right of porch at ridge. 2-bay projecting section to left (outer left bay part of 1925 extension) with 2 large 30-light piended timber-mullioned and -transomed windows. Former recessed section to outer right now fronted by flat-roofed extension with door off-centre left, 2 windows to right, window to right return.

E (MAR PLACE) ELEVATION: round-arched entrance off-centre left; recessed 2-leaf replacement timber door with fanlight. Projecting bay to outer left with large 30-light piended timber-mullioned and -transomed window; 2 windows (one narrow, one wide) set back to right. 6-bay section to right; bays separated by tapered buttresses; breaking eaves timber-mullioned and -transomed 6-light dormers with lean-to roof to alternate bays; timber-mullioned and -transomed 4-light windows in between; entrance (probably inserted later) with flat cantilevered concrete canopy and uPVC door to outer right-hand bay. W (REAR) ELEVATION: projecting 3-bay section (part of 1925 extension) to outer right; central breaking-eaves timber-mullioned and -transomed 6-light window; timber-mullioned 3-light window to right; wide door to left; large 30-light piended, timber-mullioned and -transomed window and basement entrance to left return. 2-bay section (part of original building) set back to left. Polygonal stairtower with octagonal roof adjoining to left. Projecting 2-storey piended bay (part of 1925 additions) to left of tower. Later 20th century further left incorporating projecting 4-bay section with vertically banded windows to ground floor and attic to each bay; 4-light window (largely blocked) set back to ground floor to outer left; large window above. Later flat-roofed extension to far right.

N ELEVATION: 2-bay section to left; window and narrow window (towards centre) to each bay; flat-headed timber-mullioned tripartite dormer centred above. Later 20th century section projects to outer right; vertically banded ground and attic window to left. Pyramidal and bellcast roofed, square-planned ventilator to roof ridge at centre.

Timber casements with multi-paned leaded lights to large oriel windows and parts of original/early sections; uPVC replacement windows to most of E elevation. Red tiled piended roofs (double pitched gambrel roof to N end of original block); flat-roofed later additions. Corniced mid-pitch stack to W; circular clay cans.

INTERIOR: retains original groin-vaulted entrance lobby (set back with main entrance); doors set into glazed round arched screens. Entrance lobby with green glazed tiled dado surmounted by glazed screens at E entrance; main hall with segmental-arched ceiling (divided into panels by foliate plaster work); original stage with timber panelling to rear with central keystoned doorway and moulded timber architrave, fanlight with decorative leaded glazing above; panelled timber doors with leaded glazed upper panels flanking stage.

BOUNDARY WALL: low sandstone rubble wall to S and E. Low circular-plan gatepiers to entrances.

Statement of Interest

Set on a prominent corner site, Sauchie Public Hall is an important building by a notable local architect. The multi-paned bay windows, steep overhanging pitched roofs and shaped entrance gable to the original section of the building are distinctive and are indeed hallmarks of William Kerr's (1866-1940) designs. Kerr was also responsible for the offices at Kilncraigs Mills, Alloa (1904), Cochrane Hotel, Alva (1929) and the Town Council Gas Undertaking Offices, Alloa (1935-1938) (see separate listings). Of similar design to the hall is Kerr's Miners' Welfare Institute, Fishcross (1930). See separate list description for the adjacent War Memorial.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77779807

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

• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)