Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Earlier 19th century. Single storey and garret on basement, 3-bay, rectangular-plan cottage. Stugged ashlar to principal elevation; random rubble to N, E and S. Stone cills; stop chamfered openings; banded margins to S and E; eaves course. Pilastered doorway; piended dormers. Rustic summer house of random stone construction to NE.

W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: single storey and garret. Central pilastered doorway with corniced lintel, timber panelled door, plain fanlight; flanking windows. 2 polygonal piended dormers to garret; central cast-iron rooflight.

S ELEVATION: basement window off-centre right; small garret window to left.

E (REAR) ELEVATION: 2-storey and garret, 3-bay. Timber panelled door off centre right; flanking basement windows to outer bays. 2 small circular and square stair windows (added in 20th century) to centre at inter-floor level. 2 upper floor windows to outer bays; small square stair window. Cast-iron rooflight off-centre right; box dormer to far right.

N ELEVATION: plain gable.

Predominantly plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Pitched roof; grey slates; straight stone skews; coped cement-rendered stacks; circular clay cans.

INTERIOR: spiral stone stair to rear with mahogany handrail and decorative cast-iron railings with reed, acanthus and anthemion design. Glazed and timber panelled vestibule door; plain sidelights framed by timber columnettes; plain segmental fanlight above. All fireplaces blocked.

SUMMERHOUSE: single storey, rectangular-plan, random rubble summerhouse; pitched roof; graded grey slates; overhanging eaves to wallheads. Semi-circular arched timber boarded door to W with timber architrave. Semi-circular arched window to E with 20-pane cast-iron frame (glass missing). Limewash rubble interior; cobbled floor.

Statement of Special Interest

A substantial early 19th century cottage, listed for its historical association with the Scottish missionary movement founded by Dr Robert Moffat and Dr David Livingstone. Moffat Cottage was the home of the father of the missionary, Robert Moffat (1795-1883). Dr David Livingstone (1813-1873) married Moffat's eldest daughter, Mary, and is said to have stayed in the cottage and to have possibly built the summerhouse. This historical information is gathered from local sources and from a commemorative plaque attached to the building. It is possible that Livingstone could have been in Inverkeithing during his first return to Great Britain during 1856/7. A medieval well said to be that of St Erat (also know as St Heriot), founder of the parish church of Inverkeithing, is located to NW of the cottage and is buried under the pavement in Heriot Street.

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.