Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Circa 1832. Single storey, 3-bay, rectangular-plan, near symmetrical cottage adjoining 3-bay cottage to right (E); L-plan barn/byre range to W with 1 1/2 storey square-plan kiln at angle; small single bay store at right angles to main cottages to S; further larger store parallel to main cottages to S. Some harl-pointed rubble; drystone rubble elsewhere.

COTTAGE RANGE: S (ENTRANCE) ELEVAITON: bays grouped 3-3. 3-bay cottage to left: doorway, offset to left of centre. Window in bay to left. Window, part-blocked in bay to right. Cottage to right: central doorway with window in each bay flanking. N (REAR) ELEVATION: blank with small lean-to to outer right.

KILN RANGE: doorway to S elevation of E arm; gabled kiln to angle; blank elevations elsewhere.

STORES: doorway, offset to left in E elevation of small store. Doorway, offset to right, in N elevation of larger store; lean-to to outer left in S elevation; doorway, (blocked) offset to left in E (side) gable.

4-pane timber sash and case window remaining to cottage range. Flagstone roofs to main cottages; corniced, rubble gablehead stacks; tall can to E. Flagstone roofs with some turf overlay to outbuildings.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998.

Statement of Special Interest

An interesting farm in terms of layout, Gateside, like Verracott (listed separately) and Bridesness, represents a type of farm which seems to have been influenced by agricultural reforms in Eastern Scotland and taken up in North Ronaldsay. The traditional layout of Orkney farms consisted of two lines of parallel buildings, one range comprising the house and byre, the other including the kiln and perhaps a second byre. The examples above seem to have been influenced by the layout of much larger, grander farms like that of Braebuster on the mainland (listed separately, St Andrews and Deerness Parish), and this derivative form seems to be peculiar to North Ronaldsay. Robert Scarth, the factor of North Ronaldsay, abolished the run-rig system here in 1832, reorganising the farms into squared plots. He quite possibly incorporated his ideas on the appropriate layout of buildings and the design of kilns might have derived from the 'high' farms, like Braebuster. Newman notes how the kilns in question on North Ronaldsay, 'appear as scaled down versions of the kind of large farms in the high farming tradition'. He goes on, 'North Ronaldsay has a number of small farms...which are quite different from the traditional double lines of buildings....The rectangular 1 1/2 storey kilns are set near the centre of the complex and at the side, rather that at the end, of the barn'. Gateside survives in a relatively unaltered state but is noted by Fenton as being empty in 1965. He also explains the somewhat odd arrangement of adjoining cottages, 'Gateside is, in fact, one building, comprising two dwelling houses end to end, built as a unit. The occupiers of these crofts were originally close relatives and Greenspot and Gateside are examples of crofts being divided between two sons. This took place well over a hundred years ago.' From records which show the apportionment of communal sheep in 1893, these close relatives appear to be Thomas and Neil Tulloch, who were allocated 10 sheep each.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.