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Summary

Description

The buildings comprise a collection of former estate structures, including gamekeeper's cottage, adjacent byre, kennels and pigsty, situated within the historic Dunragit estate. The buildings were constructed between 1875 and 1894 and are built in squared and snecked rubble with red sandstone ashlar dressings.

The cottage features bracketed overhanging eaves and originally had a rectangular plan, later altered with modern extensions. The principal (south) elevation of the cottage features a gabled timber porch with a segmental-arched doorway. To the left of the doorway is a canted window with half-piend roof, situated within a gabled bay. The modern northern extension is harled and incorporates red sandstone elements in the window margins and quoins, similar to the original fabric. The eastern extension mirrors the original structure's materials to a greater degree. Internally, the cottage retains some historic detailing, including panelled doors, simple cornices, architraves and a fireplace.

The similarly detailed T-plan kennel has bracketed overhanging eaves and a 2-penned enclosure to its south. The enclosure has semi-circular coping, ashlar-dressed walls and a hooped iron fence. The east and west elevations are gabled. The pigsty, located to the north of the main cottage, has the same stone type and masonry style as the cottage and kennels. The associated rubble built gabled byre, northwest of the cottage, has a rounded-arch cart door on its principal elevation, with rubble masonry set in a contrasting orientation around the arch. The roof has terracotta coping at the gable ends.

The roof finishes across the buildings are slate. Windows and doors are a mixture of timber framed and modern UPVC.

Historical development

The Gamekeeper's Cottage, kennels, pigsty and byre are absent on the 1875 Dunragit estate map but appear on the Ordnance Survey map for Wigtownshire XVIII.7 (surveyed 1893-1894, published 1894), indicating construction between 1875 and 1894.

The property undergone alterations both before and after its listing in 1993. A modern two-storey extension has been added to the cottage's north elevation, first appearing on the 1972 OS map and further extended in later editions. A smaller extension on the east elevation uses traditional materials that complement the original cottage.

The pigsty has undergone general modern refurbishment, both internally and externally. In 1989, it was re-roofed and galvanised railings were installed atop the open run. The gabled byre has been recently re-slated, altered, and internally modernised. In 1989, it was converted into a kennel, and a small rear extension was added that has since be removed.

The setting of the property has been subject to change since its construction. The 1894 OS map depicts a walled Peasantry to the north of the gamekeeper's cottage, which was disassembled by 1957. To the south, the area enclosed within the former kitchen garden has been developed. Glasshouses first appeared within the walled area on the 1972 OS edition, and contemporary maps show multiple dwelling houses in this area. Despite these changes, the property's setting remains legible as part of a country house estate, with other ancillary structures associated with this former use still present, including East Lodge (category B), Home Farm, and The Sawmill.

Statement of Special Interest

Dunragit, The Kennels meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for the following reasons:

• The gamekeeper's cottage and its ancillaries share a consistent vernacular style and use of local materials, which adds to their special design interest.
• This group of estate buildings has been altered, but these changes, have not adversely affected the buildings' 19^th century architectural design which still retain their historic character.
• The buildings, in their current form, remain as a cohesive and readable group of estate ancillaries, including a gamekeeper's cottage, kennels, pigsty, and byre which form part of a larger grouping of historic estate buildings, some of which are also listed.
• The survival of kennels across Scotland is rare, and the suite of related kennel structures is very rare.
• The buildings continue to illustrate social practices related to the history of estate management.

Architectural interest

Design

The gamekeeper's cottage, kennels and pigsty exhibit a vernacular architectural style representative of their building type and period. Their scales and plan forms align with their functional purposes. The buildings are generally simple in both design and composition. The contrast between the squared and snecked rubble masonry and red sandstone ashlar dressings is notable across the three structures. The use of local red sandstone reflects regional traditions of Dumfries and Galloway. The byre differs stylistically, being plainer and constructed in uncoursed rubble masonry, indicative of its utilitarian function.

The cottage's eastern extension is built in a like-for-like manner, while the larger, two-storey northern extension, though less historically styled, uses sympathetic materials that help retain the property's general character and authenticity.

Internally, the cottage preserves some historical features, the simplicity of which are typical of functional buildings of this date.

Setting

The immediate setting of the kennels, cottage, and ancillary structures forms a cohesive group, still discernible as a historic estate collection. The kennels, byre, and pigsty maintain their original plan layouts and spatial relationships. The material and stylistic consistency among them underscores their collective value. The survival of this collection is both rare and significant.

Although the wider estate has been fragmented by modern development, the kennels, cottage, pigsty and byre's relationship to Dunragit House persists (separately listed at category B). Dunragit House was built by the Hay family before leaving their former residence, Castle of Park, circa 1830. It was predominantly constructed in the late 18^th century, though it incorporates both earlier fabric and later additions. The estate landscape is recognised in Dumfries and Galloway Council's Local Development Plan.

Historic interest

Age and rarity

While kennels are a common building type, their survival as a cohesive group with associated structures is increasingly rare. Their late 19^th century construction places them at the end of a long tradition of country estate expansion in Scotland. Built just before the widespread decline of the estate system- accelerated by the First World War, the agricultural slump of 1917, and later death duties- marks them as a relatively rare survival. As such, they are significant for illustrating the final phase of purpose-built estate architecture in the Lowlands.

Social historical interest

Kennels and keeper's cottages are features associated with country houses and estates. Early examples date to the 18th century, with a proliferation in the mid-19^th century as hunting gained popularity. Prince Albert and his hunting activities at Balmoral popularised the sport amongst the aristocracy. This fashion coincided with broader movements among landowners to diversify estate functions for industry or leisure. Consequently, various utilitarian buildings, including hunting lodges, kennels, and gamekeeper's cottages emerged across Scottish estates.

The architectural treatment of these buildings varied, with wealthier landowners adopting picturesque compositions and ornate detailing. However, most kennel buildings in Scotland are architecturally plain, constructed for functional purposes and intended for use by estate workers.

Association with people or events of national importance

There is no association with a person or event of national importance.

Supplementary information in the listed building record revised in 2025.

References

Bibliography

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