Chargemans Hut, Dumfries Station

Chargemans Hut, Dumfries Station

This mid-19th century station complex is oriented north-south on a curving track and comprises principally two long gabled blocks serving the east and west platforms.

The principal buildings are constructed of red sandstone ashlar with slate roofs featuring overhanging timber eaves. Round-arched windows and doors appear at ground level, while timber sash and case windows, some with decorative etching to the lower panes, light the upper storeys. Roof pitches are pierced by corniced gablehead and ridge stacks.

The western (principal) block was built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway in 1863. It is near-symmetrical, with a 2-storey and attic 4-bay centrepiece flanked by 10-bay single-storey wings with pendant timber eaves. A 5-bay single-storey former toilet block with narrow blind round-arched windows extends southward from the south wing. A pilastered and corniced timber newsagent's stand with curved corners projects from the platform elevation of the centre block. A decorative niche-like cast-iron drinking fountain is set into the platform elevation. A 10-bay glazed awning with ridge and furrow roof fronts the platform elevation, supported on round cast-iron columns with paired filigree brackets incorporating the company coat of arms. The awning canopy extends a further 10 bays from the north elevation over the former Kirkcudbright terminus, with matching bracketed columns to the east section and a panelled brick screen wall to the west.

The eastern block dates from 1875-6. It is roughly symmetrical with an advanced and gabled 3-bay centrepiece to the east elevation flanked by 7-bay wings. Exposed rafter-ends to the eaves and decorative timberwork to the central gablehead are notable features. A decorative niche-like cast-iron drinking fountain is set into the platform elevation and fronted by a 6-bay canopy with shallow mono-pitch and cast-iron columns matching those of the western block.

The principal platforms serve the main line. Further platforms flank the former Kirkcudbright terminus, now infilled, to the north of the principal block.

Decorative cast-iron lamp standards by James Allan Senior & Son of Elmbank Foundry, Glasgow, are located across the complex.

A footbridge of timber, steel and cast-iron construction links the north ends of the eastern and western blocks. It comprises double warren trusses spanning the railway lines, with landings supported on four squat columns. The landings are accessed from the platforms by vertically-boarded timber-sided stairs.

The signal box is a British Rail (Scottish Region) Type 16 design dating from the early 1950s. It is a 2-stage structure of brick and concrete construction with raised margins and a flat roof with oversailing canopy. The western (track) elevation is glazed in two sections returning to the north and south elevations, with three small windows to the locking room below. A smaller recessed block to the north is fronted by a concrete dog-leg forestair with metal rail to the cabin entrance. Two-leaf and recessed doorways are set to the south elevation. Replacement metal frame windows with 6-3 glazing pattern have been installed.

The Chargeman's Hut is a single-storey L-plan structure adjacent to the south gable of the principal block's south wing. It has clap-boarded sides, 4-pane hoppered timber windows, and a shallow-pitched piended roof with overhanging eaves pierced by a single-flue stack on the west side. Some internal fittings survive, including a chimneypiece and glazed timber screen.

Two-leaf hooped gates are positioned adjacent to the south gables of the station buildings, linked by hooped railings to the road bridge at the south. Octagonal cast-iron gatepiers with corniced caps flank the western gate.