Building record MHG51285 - Steading, Dirdhu

Typical late 19th Century farm steading, u-shaped flat plan. Solid masonry walls and timber rafter roof. Original floor earth or cobbles. The floor had been overlaid with concrete at some earlier date, possibly mid to late 20th Century. The roof had been replaced, again possible again mid to late 20th Century. The present roof follows the probable form of the original, is constructed in timber rafters with whitewood sarking. The roof covering was corrugated iron. The original roof covering would probably have been natural slate. No evidence of original roof covering was evident on site. The external walls consisting of whin stone were fair faced internally, and the external finish was a lime based sneck harling.

Gable spandrels were in vertical larch cladding. There was also a lean-to timber extension with a corrugated iron roof. This would have dated from the mid to late 20th Century.

All features as found were typical of buildings of this type, of which numerous examples exist throughout the north east of Scotland.

A photographic survey was undertaken due to a condition on a planning application, by Ms. J Littlewood on the 4th of Feburary 2005. <1>

<1> Littleford, J, 2005, Photographs of Steading, Dirdhu (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG23829.