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 …

A reminder that the annual Torthorwald Scarecrow Day is on Saturday, 2nd September, from 12.30pm to 5.00pm. Come along and enjoy the scarecrows, and the fun day at the village hall. Call in at the Cruck Cottage and see how the re-thatching is progressing. Jonathan has moved on to the front of the roof, and More …

The re-thatching is progressing well, with Jonathan hard at work. It is a fascinating process, and there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. For more photos, and video clips of Jonathan at work, see our Flickr page at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cruck_cottage/

Yet another visit from descendants of John G Paton! Anne Craker, (nee Paton) from Melbourne, Australia, his great granddaughter, and her daughter Cate and partner from France. They were very interested to see where John Paton grew up, next door, and the kind of house, and conditions, he lived in. Fantastic from our point of More …

Re-thatching has started! Master Thatcher Jonathan Botterell all the way from York, with wheat straw from Huddersfield. Unfortunately, for health and safety reasons, we have to restrict access to the cottage whilst Jonathan is working. However anyone interested in visiting, or would like further information, please contact us on 0138775020 or 01387750236. Have a look More …