GIRVAN’S former Davidson Hospital has been sold again.

Cllr Alec Clark told members of the Girvan Town Team the new owners hope to develop it as a family home.

Cllr Clark said: “It has been bought as a family home and the owners want to renovate it so it can be used as that way. It will be huge.”

The Davidson Cottage Hospital was built in 1921 to designs by Watson, Salmond & Gray. 

It was founded and endowed by Thomas Davidson as a memorial to his mother.

Those who have used the hospital in its ‘glory days’ have described it as charming and characteristic. 

They said: “The usual central administration block was surrounded by wards. It had much charm with details such as the broken segmental pediment above the entrance, and the simple Lorimeresque dormer-heads. 

“In this modest building the architects produced an intimate character.”

Davidson Cottage Hospital is grade B listed building. Girvan said goodbye to its renowned health facility when the new £21.5m Girvan Community Hospital opened.

The Davidson, as it is commonly known, was built and equipped for just £20,000 in 1922. But the Girvan Community Hospital is a 26-bed hospital offering a minor injuries service, diagnostic facilities, rehabilitation suite, day service and outpatient department.

It is staffed by local GPs and supported by other professions. The Scottish Ambulance Service and a pharmacy are based on site with local authority social services transferring to the site to provide a multi-agency hub.

Girvan Community Hospital was developed to provide South Carrick with a modern facility and replace the Davidson in 2013.

In September 2014, an external inspection of the Davidson found the building in fair overall condition.

Some minor slate slippage became evident as well as leakage from downpipes. 

Property experts believed this was as a result of the building being disused and boarded up following the construction of a new hospital in 2010. 

In 2015 Ailsa Horizons announced their purchase of the former hospital, from the NHS. 

Historic Environment Scotland awarded £66,940 from the Building Repair Grant Scheme towards the conversion of the building into an Enterprise Centre including lettable business space and childcare facilities.

But this doesn’t seem to have been successful. It is hoped the new owners will be more successful and bring the former hospital back to life.