Fairlie School (Former), School Brae, Fairlie

Single storey, set on slope, with basement raised at west. Scottish Jacobean details. Essentially cruciform-plan, with crow-stepped gables, but eastern re-entrant angles filled with low flat-roofed rooms. Polygonal masonry at basement, bullfaced and snecked ashlar above: polished dressings. Playground enclosed by rubble-built walls; square ashlar
gatepiers to west with pyramidal caps, decorative wrought-iron gates and railings at steps.

Opened 22.11.1887. (Historic Scotland)

1 November 1991: The Cumnock Chronicle reports that the school could face demolition when Fairlie Village's new school opens in 1992/1993. However, possible development plans for the old school include an outward bound centre or community education centre. October 1994: Strathclyde Regional Council advertise the building for sale. February 1995: The old school remains in use, with the new school now due to open later in the year. January 1997: The school is now vacant. North Ayrshire Council is planning to re-market the property shortly. January 1999: The property is reported to be under offer, and is to be converted into 3 units. June 2001: External inspection would suggest that no work has as yet commenced. January 2003: Local planners report that the school has been sold to a private company. A planning application for residential use is expected. 23 April 2004: The Largs Weekly News reports that permissions have been granted to Casa Construction of Ardrossan to convert the school into 3 flats, with 2 detached houses built nearby. The toilet block will be demolished.

February 2008: Local Planners report planning permission and Listed Building Consent granted 2004 and 2005 respectively. Works on site yet to commence.

July 2009: External inspection reveals that the building remains vacant and boarded up. A small extension to the rear of the building has been demolished. The plot has been surrounded by security fencing.

12 June 2012: External inspection finds gutters are now blocked by plants in several places. Plants are growing on the flat roofed section, on walls and up against the building.

14 October 2014: External inspection finds the former school remains in much the same condition as seen previously. A section of retaining wall to the South appears to be weakening.

19 December 2019: External inspection finds the school remains disused and boarded up. Vegetation has been cleared from the south wall and reduced to the western edge of the plot. Rainwater goods are increasingly rusting and dampness is becoming a wider issue across the building, particularly to the eastern and southern elevations. A downpipe is missing above the single storey southern wing, and vegetation is establishing on the flat roof. Whilst the roof appears to be in generally fair condition, slate loss is beginning to open a small hole to the western pitch. Overall the building remains in fair condition but deterioration since the previous site visit is evident and may now accelerate. The northern boundary wall has a large vertical crack.