Basic Site Details

Name: West Kilbride Free Church
Town, district or village: West Kilbride
City or county: Ayrshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: West Kilbride, N.B.—The foundation-stone of a new Free Church was laid in Main-street on the 24th ult. The church will be 65feet 6 inches by 37 feet inside main walls, and will accommodate 450 persons in area, and a gallery over entrance lobby. To the rear are placed the session-house and vestry. The masonry is of red freestone, the chief frontage being in bull-nosed rubble and polished dressings. The chief consists of a projecting doorway, with gable above, and recessed and panelled jambs. This is flanked by buttresses, and behind the gable is a rose traceried window. On the left hand and west front will be a tower, containing stair to gallery, and finished by a spire, rising, in all, 120ft. from ground. The ceiling will be coved on the side walls, and waggon-headed in the centre, plastered between the couples, the tie-beams of which, and of exposed parts, will be of dressed timber. The platforms, pews, and fittings will be of pitch-pine. Mr. James Ritchie, of Glasgow, is the architect, and the chief contractors are, for masonry, Mr. J. MacFarlane, West Kilbride ; joinery, Mr. Miller, Glasgow; plastering, Mr J. Boyd, Saltcoats; and glazing, Messrs J. and J. Kier, Glasgow. The total cost will be about £3,000. [Building News 6 August 1880 p168]

The extension by Brodie is designed on neo-Bauhaus principles using Bavarian green tiles in the roofing and clean wooden lines. The original plans did not include a performance stage but Brodie added this after consultation with the Kirk Session.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 2St Andrew  
Item 2 of 2West Kilbride Parish Church  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Main Street  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 318801881Build/construction 
Item 2 of 324 July 1880  Foundation stone laid
Item 3 of 319681970AdditionBrick hall

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 2James Ritchie  18801881 
Item 2 of 2Margaret Brash Brodie (Miss) B19681970Brick hall

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp674-5
Item 2 of 2Close, Robert1992Ayrshire and Arran, an Illustrated Architectural Guide Edinburgh: RIASp79

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Architect20 August 1881   
Item 2 of 2Building News6 August 1880  p168