Last Saturday was the annual Torthorwald Scarecrow Day. As always, there was a great selection of entries, with some great ideas. Here is our entry, which gained a lot of votes, and attracted a good number of visitors to the cottage. Well done to the organisers for all their hard work. See photographs of all More …

Over the years, the cobble drive up to the cottage, and the path around it, had become more or less completely covered with weeds. We arranged a clean up to-day (Sunday), and invited anyone who could help to come along. It was no surprise to us that, as always, a large number of our Cruck More …

To mark the re-opening of the cottage following repairs to the fire damage, we celebrated with a short excerpt from the play ‘Torwatletie’ performed by the Guild of Players in the cottage. There was also a barbecue, and what a fantastic day we had! There are so many people to thank – the Guild of More …

We are very pleased and excited to provide details of the re-opening event at the Cruck Cottage on Sunday, 3rd June. Our friends at the Guild of Players have kindly agreed to perform extracts from their latest production, ‘Torwatletie’ which is set in Galloway in the 18th century. Unfortunately, for insurance purposes, we have to More …

Once again, a great turn-out by our Cruck friends to help us with lime-washing the cottage. Many hands certainly make light work, and within two hours the job was done. To round off the morning, we were treated to pan scones, straight off the girdle, by Jean and Frank Wilson. A very productive and satisfying More …

Hope our little friends return to the old pump again this year to hatch their brood! The repairs have started to the Cruck roof – Alex Gibbons the ‘Clay Dabbin’ and ‘Wattle and Daub’ craftsman has started work on the chimney. Our thatcher, Jonathan Botterell, will be here next week to start on the thatch. More …

The plans for the fire damage repairs are now well under way. We have just had the electrics restored, and works to the chimney and roof will start nearer the end of the month. Our thatcher, Jonathan, will be here at the beginning of April, and if all goes well, we should be able to More …

It is with heavy hearts that we publish this photo. On the evening of Tuesday, 9th January, the West end of the Cruck roof went on fire. The damage is bad enough, but had it not been for the fast and efficient response of the fire service, and a kindly East wind, it could have More …

What a busy and satisfying year we have had at the cottage. New thatch, new shed, limewashed inside and out, and to round off the year, a tremendous turn-out for the Christmas open afternoon. Once again, many, many thanks to all who have helped and supported us in all our activities. We are planning a More …

The re-thatching of the Cruck Cottage is now complete, thanks to funding sourced from Historic Environment Scotland, and South West Environmental Action Trust, to whom we are very grateful. Also we have fitted a new chimney cowl, renewed our cottage storage shed, limewashed the cottage inside and out, and are in the process of renewing More …