Ferry House, Kerrera

This is a mid-18th century former change house or ferry house of traditional stone construction on the island of Kerrera, with some 19th century alteration. It is located on the hillside above the pier for the Gallanach (Oban) to Kerrera ferry crossing.

The building is rectangular in plan and one and a half storeys, with two single-storey outhouses adjoining the north gable end. It is harled, with a slated roof and two gable-end chimney stacks. The front (east facing) elevation is three-bay, with an off-centre right door. Two outer (dormer) windows break the eaves line, while the small central window is set up against the eaves. The rear (west facing) elevation has small central windows to the ground and upper floor, and a larger window, left of centre.

The adjoining outbuildings are the former milk house (slate-roofed) and a possible former brewhouse, each with a doorway to the rear (west-facing) elevations.

The interior of the ferryhouse is plain, with low coombed ceilings to the upper floor.

Historical development:

Archival records suggest the building was purpose-built in 1748 as a ferry house to replace older, single-storey thatched buildings on or close to this site (Gillies 2023: 7).

It was owned by the MacDougalls of Dunollie and was tenanted as the ferry man's accommodation and an inn for passengers travelling between Kerrera and the mainland. In 1779, the building comprised a public house, kitchen, barn, byre and kiln (Gillies 2023: 8). Alterations, including the enlargement of two upper front windows, likely date to the 1840s and coincide with other improvement works on the Dunollie estate under Admiral John MacDougall (Gillies 2023: 8).

The building is shown on the 1870 Ordnance Survey map with a number of detached ancillaries (no longer present) and the associated road and pier or slipway. During the 20th century, the building also served as a post-office. The ferry house remained in use as dedicated accommodation for a ferry man until 2022.