The hospital, which was designed by Thomas Graham Abercrombie in the Scottish Baroque style,[2] opened as the Renfrew District Asylum in 1909.

[3] Two further villas and a nurses' home were completed in 1914 and it served as a military hospital during the closing stages of the First World War.

Wards 20, 22, 23, at Dykebar Hospital are cited in the Buildings at Risk Bulletin published by the Scottish Civic Trust on behalf of conservation body Historic Scotland.

Also on the at-risk list is Mid Dykebar, a large red sandstone building within the grounds of the hospital.

A notable feature of the building is that the east entrance is unusual in having large areas of walling without windows.