Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court
By respected architect James Ross Gillespie, 1893-94; extension 1979. 2-storey, Scots Baronial, crowstepped court house with octagonal turret, prominently located on corner site. Squared and snecked dressed rubble with droved ashlar quoins and dressings. Base, string and cill courses. Roll-moulded drip course and eaves cornice. Round-headed openings. Square-plan tower and 4-stage octagonal turret to centre, forth stage with access to tower roof with balustrade parapet. Octagonal cap roof to turret with decorative finial. Polygonal-roofed, canted bay to left. Crowstepped gable to right with large 9-light window (main courtroom) at first floor and heraldic lion finial.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court is a significant example of civic architecture of the period, representing a late flourishing of the Scots Baronial style. Built in high quality materials, the court has good stonework details with a prominent tower and turret, crowstepped gablets, ornate finials and balustraded parapets, all adding considerably to the architectural interest of the streetscape. The building makes effective use of its corner site with windows of the principal courtroom at first floor clearly articulated on both street elevations. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was built in 1893-94 to plans by James Gillespie, and is was among the last court houses to be built in the 19th century.
James Ross Gillespie was a fine and successful Fife architect, in practice with James Scott after 1885, and based in St Andrews, where the majority of their work can be found. Gillespie's earlier work in Kirkcaldy included the famous Linoleum Works for Michael Nairn in 1883. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was one of Gillespie's most prestigious commissions. Scott joined James Gillespie on 11 November 1885 and the practice grew rapidly throughout the 1890s with major commissions for the University of St Andrews.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court
By respected architect James Ross Gillespie, 1893-94; extension 1979. 2-storey, Scots Baronial, crowstepped court house with octagonal turret, prominently located on corner site. Squared and snecked dressed rubble with droved ashlar quoins and dressings. Base, string and cill courses. Roll-moulded drip course and eaves cornice. Round-headed openings. Square-plan tower and 4-stage octagonal turret to centre, forth stage with access to tower roof with balustrade parapet. Octagonal cap roof to turret with decorative finial. Polygonal-roofed, canted bay to left. Crowstepped gable to right with large 9-light window (main courtroom) at first floor and heraldic lion finial.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court is a significant example of civic architecture of the period, representing a late flourishing of the Scots Baronial style. Built in high quality materials, the court has good stonework details with a prominent tower and turret, crowstepped gablets, ornate finials and balustraded parapets, all adding considerably to the architectural interest of the streetscape. The building makes effective use of its corner site with windows of the principal courtroom at first floor clearly articulated on both street elevations. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was built in 1893-94 to plans by James Gillespie, and is was among the last court houses to be built in the 19th century.
James Ross Gillespie was a fine and successful Fife architect, in practice with James Scott after 1885, and based in St Andrews, where the majority of their work can be found. Gillespie's earlier work in Kirkcaldy included the famous Linoleum Works for Michael Nairn in 1883. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was one of Gillespie's most prestigious commissions. Scott joined James Gillespie on 11 November 1885 and the practice grew rapidly throughout the 1890s with major commissions for the University of St Andrews.