Description

Alex Mair, 1929-31; late 20th century additions to rear. Symmetrical 2-storey piend-roofed classical-style block; single and 2-storey piend-roofed wings extending to rear to form inner courtyard; single storey flat-roofed entensions. Red brick basecourse; red sandstone dressings; white painted harl; regular fenestration throughout.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central pedimented entrance bay, enclosed bellcote with leaded ogee roof above; moulded door surround with segmental pediment, 2-leaf timber outer door and margin-paned letterbox fanlight; flanking narrow lights, 3 windows to 1st floor. Flanking ranges of 7 bays; regular fenestration with cills.

Metal small-pane casement windows. Cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative hoppers. Grey graded slates.

INTERIOR: plainly tiled. 19th century granite cheese press (fixed to floor) donated by Archie McClelland, 1980.

Statement of Interest

A Group with Gibbsyard, Hanging Garden, Ice House, Oswald Hall, Oswald's Temple, Walled Garden, West Lodge and Wilson Hall (see separate listings). Auchincruive estate was in the hands of the Wallace family in the 13th century and a variety of owners followed. In the 18th century James Murray of Broughton sold it to Richard Oswald, entrepreneur and merchant. Around 1764 Robert Adam was commissioned to build a new house and associated buildings for Oswald. The estate remained in the Oswald family until 1925 when it was sold to John M Hannah, a local farmer. Hannah gifted it to the West of Scotland Agricultural College in 1927, under whose ownership it remains today (2004). The Dairy School, adjacent Dairy Research Department and the Apiary were all designed by Alex Mair in restrained classical mode. The Dairy School processed milk from the herd of Ayrshire cows into cheese and the building contained laboratories, testing, processing and lecture rooms. The Dairy School is still largely in use as such though modern machinery has replaced most of the originals.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780570

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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