Berneray Thatched Cottage at Laimrig Ruadh at Os Grid Reference Nf 9296 8157 Isle of Harris, Western Isles (Outer Hebrides), Scotland, UK
Listed Building Description
Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.
Probably 19th century, renovated and rethatched between 2005 and 2010. Single storey, three-bay, Hebridean-type thatched crofthouse. Thick and battered, rubble-built walls with curved angles. Three window openings in rear (southwest) elevation with splayed reveals. End chimney stack. Marram thatched roof with a continuous marram ridge, secured with netting and weighted by stones secured by wire. In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the single storey addition on northeast elevation.
Listed Building Statement of Special Interest
© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.
These vernacular buildings, once prolific across Na h-Eileanan Siar, are now extremely rare. Taigh Ailean continues to show regional traditional building methods and materials and retains a significant proportion of its historic fabric, vernacular form and character. Notable features include the thick rubble and battered walls and thatched roof secured with stone weights. Together with North Lamerick (see LB46102) and Ty Cymro (see LB46100), Taigh Ailean is part of a close-knit group of similar properties at Laimrig Ruadh. It is one of only 54 buildings or groups of buildings in Na h-Eileanan Siar that are known to retain a thatched roof, and is among a very small number of surviving thatched buildings across Scotland. A Survey of Thatched Buildings in Scotland, published in 2016 by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), found there were only around 200 buildings of this type remaining, most of which are found in small rural communities. Thatched buildings are often traditionally built, showing distinctive local and regional building methods and materials. Those that survive are important in helping us understand these traditional skills and an earlier way of life. In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the single storey addition on northeast elevation. Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2021 as part of the Thatched Buildings Listing Review. Previously listed as 'Berneray Thatched Cottage at Laimrig Ruadh at OS Grid Reference NF 9296 8157'.
Listed Building References
© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.
Canmore: http://canmore.org.uk/ CANMORE ID 238316. Maps Ordnance Survey (surveyed 1878, published 1879) Inverness-shire - Hebrides XXVI.8 (Harris). 1st Edition. 25 inches to one mile. Southampton: Ordnance Survey. Printed Sources The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Scotland (2016) A Survey of Thatched Buildings in Scotland. London: SPAB. p.522. Online Sources Historic Environment Scotland (2018) Scotland's Thatched Buildings: Introductory Designations Report at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/publications/publication/?publicationId=8b3d1317-5a56-4416-905b-a8e800bf4c3c.