Gibhouse Cottage

Gibhouse Cottage is a cottage that was formerly a farmhouse, dating from the 17th century, with parts possibly from the 16th century. It underwent thorough renovation around 1980. The building features plastered walls, which are either entirely made of granite stone rubble or cob on stone rubble footings, and has disused stone rubble stacks topped with a thatch roof.

The cottage has a small three-room-and-through-passage layout, facing west-south-west and built down a hillslope. The small inner room at the northern end was originally unheated, but an end stack was added around 1980. The hall has a disused axial stack that backs onto the passage and includes a newel stair turret that projects forward. The front doorway to the passage is now blocked, and its porch has been converted into a closet. There is also a small unheated service room at the downhill right end.

While an internal inspection was not possible during the survey, it is likely that the cottage was originally some form of open hall house, possibly heated by an open hearth fire if it dates back to the 16th century. The cottage is now two storeys high.

The exterior features an irregular two-window front with casements from around 1980 that do not have glazing bars. The first-floor windows rise into the thatch a short distance. The roof has a half-hipped design on the right side and is gable-ended on the left. The eaves extend over the newel stair turret and closet. The rear has similar 1980s fenestration and a contemporary door leading to the passage, which is behind a porch supported by circular granite posts.

The interior was not available for inspection, but most of the joinery appears to be from the 20th century. However, the original layout seems to have been preserved, suggesting that there may be features from the 17th or possibly 16th century, such as a granite fireplace with an oak lintel and a roughly-finished crossbeam observed in the hall. The roof may even date back to the late medieval period.