57 Dalhowan Street, Crosshill

This is a continuous range of cottages lining the west side of Dalhowan Street in Crosshill. They were built in the early 19th century as part of a planned weaver’s village, with many of the workers coming from Ireland. The cottages are predominantly single-storey, though some have dormers or attics and are two-storeys high. They are constructed of painted rubble with contrasting margins, and some are raised. The windows are varied, including timber sash and case windows and more modern replacements. The roofs are grey slate, with gable and ridge stacks, and some raised skews.

The cottages form a striking and unusual continuous row and retain much of their original external appearance. They contribute significantly to the streetscape and character of Crosshill, notable for their relatively unaltered rooflines and window openings. Several cottages are asymmetrical, featuring two windows to one side of the entrance and one to the other, reflecting the original layout with a weaving room that would have contained two looms. Crosshill is described as the least altered example of a weavers’ village in Ayrshire. Number 83 Dalhowan Street is a later addition, built in 2004. The group value of the cottages lies in their collective representation of a well-preserved 19th-century weaver’s village.