The way we used to live....

[Blow-in]

These are from the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore and are of a recreated (newly built using original techniques) township from 1700. It was a showery day (of course) but the sunlight between the rain was great. Hope someone finds them of interest.



Richard

 

[Orol]

Richard, are these buildings for living? There is no window to be seen so it would be quite a depressive lodging experience.

Peter

 

[Blow-in]

Richard, are these buildings for living? There is no window to be seen so it would be quite a depressive lodging experience.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Yes, these are mainly dwellings (there is also a grain drying kiln and a 'shed' in the set). The Highlands remained a backward and largely isolated part of Scotland until the early 1800s when new roads, bridges & harbours were built. These houses are based on a 'Viking' style long house (about 500 years after the Vikings!) with an animal area at one end and a living area at the other. There are no windows - there was no glass available! Heating was an open fire in the centre with a hole in the roof for the smoke (no chimney). Beds were in wooden boxes. These houses differ from the 'black' houses found on the west coast in that the walls are turf sods on a stone base rather than all stone. The thatch can be anything from reeds to bracken. They are primitive but they are also fairly weather proof.

Thanks for your interest.

Richard

PS the 2 people in some of the shots are real, not dummies.

 

[Orol]

PS the 2 people in some of the shots are real, not dummies.

This I was wondering also, as their position does not seem to be changed although the view angle differs.

Peter