Building record MHG56516 - Watten House

The property originally known as ‘The Manse’, together with the adjoining Church was built around 1860 for the Church of Scotland, being transferred to the Free Church of Scotland around 1905. The Manse was sold by the Church into private hands in 1983. It would appear that the Annex garage was originally used for a Carriage, with stabling for 2 horses in the north of the rear courtyard. On the OS Sitemap, what was a garden shed is shown in the most northerly corner of the stables (now holding the oil tank) and storage of some kind in the south of the rear courtyard. The chimney stacks have been rebuilt at some time as evidenced by breeze block construction in the roof. The north east bedroom together with the airing cupboard which is of recent construction (1980’s) appear to have originally been two bedrooms and a toilet (probable servants quarters).

The main building is constructed of irregular Caithness slate/stone, 27 inches thick, with a concrete render at some time, while the annex and stabling, etc. is unrendered. Roofing is Caithness slate in the two rear valleys, but welsh slate over the remainder. The internal walls have a separate lathe and plaster finish but this is not original as wallpaper is evident on the surface behind. Most of the internal timberwork (doors, staircase, windows, cupboards, shutters, skylight, etc.) appears to be original, though the panelwork is not. Many of the ground floor floorboards have been replaced by wood or concrete. In all, the building is not constructed to the better standards of the period. <1>

<1> Ingham, S, 2011, Photographic Survey - Watten House (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG26025.