2 Dairy Cottages, Crichton Farm, Dumfries

A pair of single-storey, former dairy workers' cottages dating from around 1910. They are arranged in a shallow U-shape, with crowstep-gabled end bays. The walls are of red sandstone ashlar with flush margins and moulded skewputts. The roofs are pitched and slated, with exposed rafter tails and tall ashlar chimneystacks. The main (east) elevation has five bays, but the entrance doors are located to the rear (west). Number 2 has a small, flat-roofed addition of red brick to the rear. The windows are predominantly in a four-pane glazing pattern and are uPVC replacements.

The interiors, as seen in 2022, contain largely late-20th century to early 21st century decorative schemes.

The cottages were constructed between 1907 and 1913 as an addition to the earlier Crichton Farm complex. They first appear on a site plan of the Crichton Royal Estate from 1913, showing their U-shaped plan form. By 1929, a small rectangular outbuilding had been added to the west. Since then, the cottages have remained relatively unchanged, with the exception of a small porch addition to the rear (west) of Number 2, the insertion of uPVC windows and doors.

Crichton Farm was developed as part of the psychiatric treatment facilities of the Crichton Royal Institution, which had been established in the 1830s. Farming began in 1867, with expansion continuing until 1890 when the main farm complex was built. The farm provided accommodation for 80 male patients who worked on the farm as part of their treatment. Further expansion included the production of butter in 1898 and the purchase of a milking machine in 1907. The cottages were likely built around 1910 to accommodate new workers employed due to these improvements. They may have been designed by Sydney Mitchell and Wilson, who were also responsible for the expansion of the institution and other buildings such as the Crichton Memorial Church, Johnston House, Annandale, and Eskdale.