Description

Earlier to mid 19th century. Single storey, 2-bay farmhouse, adjoining former dwelling house/byre range, (roofless) on E-W axis, with single storey, barn and kiln range lying parallel to S, built on ground falling to W. Rectangular-plan barn set at right angles, between ranges. Harl-pointed rubble to farmhouse; random rubble elsewhere.

FARMHOUSE RANGE: S ELEVATION: farmhouse to outer right: boarded door with small-pane fanlight in bay to left. Window in bay to right. 2-bay former dwelling house/byre to centre: doorway with window flanking in each bay. Single bay byre to left: doorway to outer left. N ELEVATION: window in each bay, with small window to outer right to farmhouse.

4- and 12-pane timber sash and case windows to farmhouse. Purple slate roof; stone ridge; rubble gablehead stacks.

INTERIOR: not seen, 1998.

BARN AND KILN RANGE: S ELEVATION: barn divided on two levels. Square-headed opening set to left in upper section. Bee-skep-shaped kiln (see Notes) to E gable. N ELEVATION: doorway with small window (blocked) flanking to lower block. Doorway (blocked) set to right to upper block.

Corrugated-asbestos roof.

INTERIOR: fine and complete kiln to E end; square-headed kiln entrance with step intact; kiln ledge and timber killace intact.

CENTRAL BARN RANGE: W ELEVATION: boarded door in bay to right. E ELEVATION: blank. INTERIOR: not seen, 1998.

Statement of Interest

The interest in this group lies chiefly in the kiln which is a fine, relatively rare and characteristic survivor of a traditional Orcadian farm. Paul Newman mentions in his SVBWG article, 'In particular the round kiln attached to the barn is such as important element in the rural landscape of these islands.' The kiln, used to dry grain before milling it, was usually a roughly cylindrical shape with a flue opening at the top and a horizontal duct for the fire at the base. At about a metre from the base is the kiln ledge upon which a centralised timber beam or a killace was fixed to support a slatted timber floor. This was covered with straw and the grain for drying would be placed on top. It is relatively rare for the kiln to be intact to its full height and to include the ledge; the existence of the killace is especially unusual.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77775262

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House