If this rather lavish architect-designed dairy is anything to go by, then James Brown of Knockbrex in South-West Scotland was very fond of his cows … or coos as they’re known locally.
Brown built this ‘coo palace’ (the Castle Haven Tower) in the Edwardian era (between 1911 and 1914) and he spared no expense. For its time it was state-of-the-art, and probably better than a lot of human habitations.
We’re pretty sure the coos must have appreciated the fact that the 23 metre high water-tower was designed to look like a medieval Scottish fortified house – not to mention that Brown thoughtfully provided them with Italianate drinking troughs.
These days, though, it’s mostly the heritage folk who moo excitedly at the sight of the Dairy’s tooled masonry, corbelled eaves, decorative pantiles, and glazed tiled interiors.
The Dairy is a local landmark, is listed, and sits in an idyllic rural location with views to Wigtown Bay and the Isle of Man.