Description

Later 18th century. Pair of 2-storey cottages, each of 3 bays and of varying width with irregular fenestration. Rubble with contrasting painted ashlar margins, No 64 with rendered front elevation and whitewashed gable to the south return. End stack and ridge stack to No 64 with thack stanes. Slate roofs with stone skews.

No 64 has ground and first floor windows in return gable to the south and varied glazing pattern and materials. A 2-storey rear extension to the west of No 64, probably dating to the late 19th century, has a 20th century single storey lean-to attached.

No 63 has a blind central 1st floor window with painted dummy 12-pane glazing. All other openings boarded up (2014).

Interior not seen, 2014.

Statement of Interest

Situated in the centre of Ardersier, the houses at 63 and 64 High Street are important examples of traditional late 18th century village houses. Comprising two storeys, and set together with exposed gabled ends, these buildings form a distinctive street elevation. As is typical of properties of this period, the first floor windows are set close to the eaves. The buildings appear with largely the same footprint as it has now on the six inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1872, which was surveyed in 1869. The two storey extension to the west is possibly of late 19th century date as it is evident on the 25 inch, 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map (1881).

The Buildings of Scotland Highlands and Islands volume notes that Ardersier was laid out by the Campbells of Cawdor in the 18th century. Ardersier has its origins in the communities of Stuarton and Campbelltown. Its strategic position close to the narrowest sea crossing across the Moray Firth played a large part in its development from the mid-18th century. While it functioned primarily as a fishing village, the Jacobite Rising had an impact on its history.

The Jacobite Rising of 1745–6 proved to be the last attempt by the Stewart dynasty to regain the British throne from the Hanoverians. Following the Battle of Culloden, the government introduced ruthless measures to suppress Jacobite ambitions. Fort George was one of them, and it was built between 1748-69, just a short distance from Ardersier. It was designed as the main garrison fortress in the Scottish Highlands and named after King George II (1727–60). Intended as an impregnable army base, it was designed on a monumental scale, using sophisticated defence standards, with heavy guns covering every angle. Within the boundary walls was accommodation for a governor, officers, and artillery detachment and a 1,600-strong infantry garrison. It also housed more than 80 guns, a magazine for 2,500 gunpowder barrels, ordnance and provision stores, a brewhouse and a chapel.

The Statistical Account for the parish of Ardersier notes that, 'In the village of Campbelltown, which owes its birth to the garrison of Fort-George, there are 293 souls.' The ordnance survey map of 1881 (surveyed 1878) shows Ardersier under its previous names of Stuarton at the left side of the village, and Campbelltown, at the right side of the village. The village became known officially as Ardersier in the 1970s.

The impact of the building of Fort George for the community was significant. It provided a ready market for goods and a number of soldiers also decided to stay in Ardersier following their commission

Category changed from B to C, statutory address and listed building record revised in 2015. Previously listed as 'Ardersier Village, 63, 64 High Street'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing

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

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  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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