Crichton Conservation Area Character Appraisal

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage (SGLH) is grateful to have been included in the consultation about the draft of the above document. Having studied the document we would now like to offer the following comments.

We welcome the recognition of the Crichton Royal Hospital designed landscape within the document and the protection afforded it through inclusion within the Crichton Conservation Area. Whilst this may offer greater protection than being included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, we question whether assessment for this designation has been explored with Historic (Environment) Scotland. The Crichton Royal Hospital is probably the most significant 19th century asylum landscape surviving in Scotland, a category which is under-represented in the Inventory, and its inclusion would further emphasise this national importance.

Overall we support the content of the appraisal and the need for management plans for both the conservation area and the designed landscape to guide future development in the area. We concur that whilst to date, development has not resulted in any major loss of character or overall integrity, ongoing gradual incremental changes will inevitably lead to this in the future. As highlighted in the appraisal we agree that the areas of particular concern in the designed landscape are the core landscape and the current condition of the glasshouse range both key vital elements of the designed landscape, together with the intrusion of cars and associated parking requirements into the designed landscape and conservation area as a whole.

Lastly we would welcome a more unified approach to the design of bus and bicycle shelters, signage, lighting, surfacing and kerb treatments to conserve and enhance the character of the conservation area.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the designed landscape at the Crichton Royal Hospital further, please feel free to contact us again.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Allighan BSc (Hons), MSc, CSFHS, CMLI
Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage Conservation Consultant