Moirlanich Longhouse, near Killin, Scotland
Lived in through the 1800’s and long since abandoned, this was for one crofting family the centre of their home. Soot blackened chimney, open hearth, scrubbed beech table…..one can still smell the smoke.
Known as a Longhouse it is just that, a low long stone built house. Cattle in a stable at one end and the family at the other and storage and sometime a bed space above; often they are referred to as “Byre House/Dwellings” . Some had heather thatched roofs, some cut turfs and some even managed a stone roof. But this Longhouse has a Corrugated Iron roof.
The exterior of Moirlanich is quite smart, renovated by the Scottish National Trust to help preserve the interior much as it once was….but I suspect more to attract passing visitors.
Once Corrugated Iron was invented it became a desirable long lasting material and a practical and easy way to construct or repair roofs. So versatile a material that in many parts of Scotland it went on to be used to build many a small building, Village Hall, Chapels and even small Village Schools (I think they became known as Little Tines’). In practical terms the tin roof seems to have lasted where many a thatched or stone roof has collapsed….but on rainy days I bet it ain’t half noisy within!
2nd March
© David Oakes 2014
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 