Description

Circa 1600, with later alterations. 2- and 3-storey with attics, 2-bay, near rectangular-plan town house on corner site. Painted render. Square-headed openings.

SE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: recessed central shop entrance; 2-leaf glazed timber door; flanking shop windows. Regular fenestration to upper floors; attic windows break eaves to form architraved dormers 'S 19 H' inscribed in left dormer, 'B 91 T' to right dormer.

NE (CATHCART STREET) ELEVATION: 10-bay, grouped 2-3-5. 2 openings at all floors of 3-storey and attic, 2-bay section to left (infilled, except at ground to right, and at attic to left). Entrance to outer right of 3-bay section (2-storey and attic); timber door; single window at ground to left; single windows to all floors of bay to outer left. 2 timber doors to 3rd and 4th bays at ground to 5-bay section to right; single window at ground to penultimate bay to left (small infilled openings to right and left of entrances); regular fenestration to bays at 1st floor (alternately infilled); 2 windows at attic break eaves to form dormers.

8-, 12- and 24-pane timber sash and case windows (many openings infilled). Grey slate roof; crowstepped gables; corniced gablehead stacks; circular cans.

INTERIOR: elaborate aumbry to 1st floor flat with shield motif within arch over.

Statement of Interest

Upgraded from Category B to A, 28.7.94. Known as Lady Cathcar''s house. Restoration by Simpson and Brown, began in 1991. Built as a town mansion or mercantile premises, with hall and chambers above (Sandgate section) and a detached hall and chamber block (Cathcart Street section) and subsequently joined, major alterations occurred in the earlier 19th century to form premises for the Ayr branch of the City of Glasgow bank. Rob Close writes (p9), "There is a persistent, but unproven, belief that John Loudon McAdam, 1756-1836, pioneer road engineer, was born in this house."

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17124203

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)