Darvel Town Hall
{{Short description|Municipal building in Darvel, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Darvel Town Hall
| native_name =
| image = Darvel Town Hall (geograph 4027387) (cropped).jpg
| caption=Darvel Town Hall
| locmapin =Scotland East Ayrshire
| map_caption =Shown in East Ayrshire
| coordinates ={{coord| 55.6098|-4.2823|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location = West Main Street, Darvel
| area =
| built = {{start date and age|1905}}
| architect = Thomas Henry Smith
| architecture = Neoclassical style
| designation1 =Category B Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Town Hall And Library, 10-12 West Main Street, Darvel
| designation1_date = 5 October 1992
| designation1_number = LB24493
| website=
}}
Darvel Town Hall is a municipal building in West Main Street, Darvel, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a library and a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB24493|desc= Town Hall And Library, 10-12 West Main Street, Darvel|access-date=30 July 2022}}
History
Following significant population growth, largely associated with the manufacturing of curtains and carpets, Darvel became a police burgh in 1872.{{cite web|url= https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10358929|title= Darvel Burgh|publisher=Vision of Britain| access-date=31 July 2022}} Initially, the burgh council had no dedicated meeting place but, in the late 19th century, they decided to procure a town hall. The site they selected was vacant land on the north side of West Main Street.{{cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=55.60980&lon=-4.28230&layers=1&b=1&marker=55.6098,-4.2823 |title=Ordnance Survey Map|year=1888}} The building was designed by Thomas Henry Smith in the neoclassical style, built in red sandstone and was completed in 1905.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=233885|title=Darvel Town Hall|publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|access-date=31 July 2022}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TGGkuAAACAAJ |title= Ayrshire & Arran (Buildings of Scotland Series)|first1=Rob|last1= Close|first2= Anne|last2= Riches|year=2012|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn= 978-0300141702|page=287}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8oLlo79tP2wC |title= Tolbooths and Town-houses Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833|publisher= Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland|year= 1996|isbn= 978-0114957995 |page=158}}
The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto West Main Street. The central section of five bays, which slightly projected forward, featured a central round-headed opening with a moulded surround and a keystone flanked by brackets supporting a balcony. The other bays on the ground floor were fenestrated by segmental-headed sash windows with keystones, while the bays on the first floor were fenestrated by mullioned and transomed windows, which were separated by pilasters. The outer bays contained round headed doorways on the ground floor and narrow transomed windows on the first floor. At roof level, there was a balustraded parapet across the central section. Internally, the principal room was the main assembly hall with a seating capacity for 200 people.{{cite web|url=https://eastayrshireleisure.com/venue/darvel-town-hall/ |title= Darvel Town Hall|publisher= East Ayrshire Leisure| access-date=30 July 2022}}
The building continued to serve as the offices and meeting place of the burgh council for much of the 20th century, but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council was formed in 1975.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/65/contents|title=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|accessdate=29 March 2021}} The building subsequently served as a community events venue as well as the home of the local public library.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mPkaAQAAMAAJ |title= Scottish Library and Information Resources |volume=17|year=2005|publisher=Scottish Library Association|page=28}} A small heritage museum was also established in the entrance foyer of the building:{{cite web|url= https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/PDF/D/Darvel-Community-Update.pdf |title=Darvel and District Community Action Plan 2014–2019: Update|page=6|date=1 February 2020|publisher=East Ayrshire Council| access-date=30 July 2022}} items collected included artefacts associated with the locally-born physician, Sir Alexander Fleming, and artefacts associated with the local lace-making industry.{{cite web|url=https://ayrshireandarran.com/darvel/ |title=Darvel|publisher=Ayrshire and Arran Tourist Board| access-date=31 July 2022}}
Since 2002, the building has also been the main venue for the Darvel Music Festival, which is organised annually by Neil McKenna, and his wife Shelia.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19074567.days-festival-celebrate-20-years-great-music/ |title=Those were the days: Festival to celebrate 20 years of great music|date=8 February 2021|newspaper=Herald Scotland|access-date=31 July 2022}}