Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

KINNESSWOOD, THE COBBLES, MILLHOUSE COTTAGE INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLSLB17964

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
C
Date Added
09/06/1981
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Portmoak
NGR
NO 17636 3060
Coordinates
317636, 703060

Description

Early 19th century. Distinctive 2-storey and attic, rectangular-plan former loom house (now converted to dwelling) on ground falling sharply to NW with later extension at rear. Interesting and rare vernacular survival contributing significantly to streetscape. Tooled random rubble with droved dressings polished to margins. Piend roofed timber dormers breaking eaves to attic floor.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: near symmetrical entrance elevation to NW with 5-bay ground floor comprising timber door at centre and small square windows in flanking bays; 4 similar windows to 1st floor and 3 large dormer windows above. Gabled bays to SW and NE, each with stone steps rising steeply toward rear and 2 windows to 1st and attic floors.

Replacement 4-, 12- and 15-pane glazing patterns in timber casement and sash and case windows. Grey slates with lead roof ridge. Coped rubble gableheads stacks with some cans. Ashlar-coped skews.

BOUNDARY WALLS: rubble walls to NE and SW, that to SW coped.

Statement of Special Interest

Dating from the early 19th century, Millhouse Cottage is a rare example of a village loom house. Now converted to housing, it forms an important part of the streetscape in Kinnesswood.

The village of Kinnesswood, formerly known as Kinaskit, is sited on the lower slopes of Bishop Hill overlooking Loch Leven. The Cobbles leads off the Main Street and stretches up the hill on a parallel course with a water supply which flows immediately to the rear of Millhouse Cottage. During the early years of the 19th century, with strong competition stemming from the introduction of hand looms far too large for small weavers cottages, local weavers built this rare loom house, known as 'The Factory'.

During the closing years of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was impacting upon the many small weaving communities throughout Scotland. David Dale's New Lanark, founded in 1785 in association with Sir Richard Arkwright, is an extreme example, but by 1787 there were already 26 cotton mills in Scotland built on Arkwright's principles. In order to remain competitive, cottage industries were utilising larger machines totally unsuited for use within tiny weaver's cottages. The simplest solution was to build a loom shed, probably of timber, on to the side of an existing cottage, but very few examples remain. The successful market in the Kinnesswood area enabled the weavers to produce this substantial structure in which to continue production and remain competitive. This loom house or mill, simply a building type intended to house mechanical implements, follows the distinctive pattern offering good storage space, solid construction and, of particular importance to weavers, plenty of light.

Immediately opposite the old loom house is Michael Bruce's Birthplace (see separate listing), former home of the 'Gentle Poet of Lochleven' (1746-67). From the 16th century, Kinnesswood was famous for the manufacture of parchment and vellum, a trade thought to have originated with the monks from St Serf's Island on Loch Leven.

Formerly listed as both Burnside Cottage in 1981 (HB Number 17964) and as Millhouse Cottage in 1998 (HB Number 45643). These listings have been merged, and the list description revised 2008.

References

Bibliography

John Gifford Buildings of Scotland Perth and Kinross (2007), pp473-4. 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map Fifeshire (1852-5). www.portmoak.co.uk/villages/kinnesswood.htm [accessed 01.07.08]. Historic Scotland New Lanark World Heritage List Nomination (2000).

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.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 08:57