The Crichton Site
Elizabeth Crichton
History
Building on a magnificent legacy..
The Crichton estate in Dumfries dates from 1934 and was the brainchild of Elizabeth Crichton, following bequest from her late husband Dr James Crichton. The development of a ‘mental institution’ was completed in 1839 after Elizabeth Crichton had originally intended to found a University however this attempt failed through lack of support from the establishment at the time. The irony of course is that today, the Crichton is a flourishing educational hub with the University of West of Scotland on site as other further educational centres.
The Crichton site has international historic importance as an outstanding example of the Victorian/Edwardian philanthropic approach to psychiatric care – where the total wellbeing of the patients was addressed not just by medial treatment but through a wider regard for their spiritual, physical and recreational needs.
By the 1980’s, advances in treatment for psychiatric illnesses and new approaches such as ‘Care in the Community’ were ending the era of large Victorian psychiatric hospitals all over the country.
By 1995, Dumfries and Galloway council stepped in to help preserve the national importance of the buildings and grounds and purchased most of the site with a view to redevelopment for more productive uses for the people of Dumfries. Since 1995, the estate has been managed and redeveloped by the Crichton Development Company.