Description

James Miller, 1892. 2 single storey gabled office and service blocks flanking central rail line. W block 13-bay grouped 6 1 6 (advanced at centre); E block 6-bay with blind, 4-bay wings recessed to outer left and right. Whitewashed harl with applied timber framing. Raised base courses; overhanging timber bracketed eaves; corniced eaves and pilastered bays to outer left and right E block. Regularly-spaced timber framing throughout with rectangular panels at lower and upper levels; friezes comprising octagonal and square panels linking mullioned and transomed windows at upper-light levels. Replacement footbridge to N.

W BLOCK, SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: tripartite window centred at ground in advanced gabled porch; entrance in re-entrant angle to left. Single and tripartite windows in bays flanking centre; 3 bracketed gables breaking eaves above.

E BLOCK, NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 2 tripartite windows beneath bracketed gables breaking eaves at centre; single windows in 2 bays to right; bipartite window in bay to left; small light in bay to outer left. Blind pilastered bays in wings recessed to outer left and right.

PLATFORMS: boarded timber and glazed elevations to platforms; pilastered bays; full entablatures. Series of low glazed pyramidal roofs forming full-length shelters linked by rivetted steel girders spanning rail lines; decorative brackets; regularly spaced quatrefoil and circular frieze stencilling; foliate finials. Curvilinear bracket detail to clock on W platform.

Predominantly 4-pane upper, 2-pane lower timber casement glazing; reinforced glazing to pyramidal shelters. Grey slate roofs; clay tile ridging; cast-iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Interest

Opened in 1892, Troon Railway Station was built to replace an existing structure situated approximately one mile out of town. According to a newspaper article published in McEwan, "...the G & SW Railway took advantage of the making of the new railway connection between Annbank and Troon harbour to give the people of Troon the advantage of a new and more convenient passenger station..." At the time of their opening, the buildings were considered to have "...a neat and elegant appearance, the general effect being decidedly artistic and pleasing." With its gabled eaves, half-timbering and harl, pyramidal glazed shelters and pilastered bays, Miller's design remains distinctive despite the painting of the timber framing (which would originally have been dark) and the replacement of the covered footbridge with a roofless, modern example. James Miller (1860-1947) joined the drawing office of the Caledonian Railway Company in 1888. It was during this period that new rail lines were established, extending city boundaries into the countryside. The Caledonian's west coast lines encouraged the concept of leisure travel and subsequently, the development of seaside resorts such as Troon and Rothesay. The need for new stations was inevitable and with the likes of Wemyss Bay, West Kilbride, Gourock Pier and Troon, Miller made clear his ability to fulfil such a need. For the small scale, more rural stations such as Troon, Miller favoured the picturesque Old English style - using harled brick, half-timbering, gabled roofs and tile-hung walls. For the larger scale however, he favoured the more dramatic, adding curved walls specifically designed to accommodate passenger circulation, Italianate towers, large clock towers and vast expanses of glass - Wemyss Bay being the most obvious example (see separate list entry).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17844796

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)