Monument record MHG52543 - Site of Old John's Cottage and outbuilding, Croft 11, Laide

The ruined buildings on this croft comprise a former croft house and a more recent outbuilding. Information about the buildings was submitted to the HER in March 2009 along with photographs taken to comply with a condition on planning consent for a new house. The croft house was last occupied by John Matheson until his death in 1959. The stone-built house had a thatched roof on timber rafters which were said to be slightly curved in shape. Sadly these were used as firewood by a neighbouring crofter many years ago. There was an earthen floor with the fire made at the south end but apparently no chimney. The building had no proper sanitation and water was fetched from a well on the hill. The north end of the main building, and the later outbuilding to the south, were latterly used for animals or storage. <1>

The crofthouse with associated outbuildings and an enclosure, no longer extant, is depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map c.1875. The current ruined outbuilding, with an attached enclosure, was built some time during the first half of the last century. <2><3>