21 Dalhowan Street, Crosshill

This is a continuous range of cottages dating to the early 19th century, forming a notable feature along the west side of Dalhowan Street in Crosshill. The cottages are predominantly single storey, although some have dormers or attics and are two storeys high. They are built of painted rubble with contrasting margins, some with raised details. The windows vary, including timber sash and case windows and some more recent replacements. The roofs are covered with grey slates, and there are gable and ridge stacks, some of which are raised and have skew backs.

The row of cottages is strikingly uniform and retains much of its original appearance. They contribute significantly to the character of Crosshill, which was planned as a weaver’s village in the early 19th century, attracting workers from Ireland. The cottages are described as the least altered example of such a village in Ayrshire. Several of the cottages are asymmetrical, with two windows on one side of the entrance door and one window on the other, a design feature reflecting the original provision for two looms in the weavers’ workshop.

Number 83 Dalhowan Terrace was added later, constructed in 2004. The historical listing originally encompassed numbers 15 to 91 (odd numbers only) of Dalhowan Street, under the name Crosshill Village, and was updated in 2012.