Steading, Monkstadt House, Skye

The house at Monkstadt dates to circa 1730 and was built by the Macdonalds of Duntulm after they abandoned their castle, using it as their residence. It is a roofless, two-storey, five-bay structure with long north and south elevations. The walls are of rubble construction with chamfered ashlar dressings. Originally, symmetrical doorways were located at the centre of both long elevations, though the north doorway is a later insertion in what would have been a window. The outer bays on both the ground and first floors have closer-set windows. A stair window is centrally located on the north front. The gables are ruinous, with gable additions present. Remnants of later window insertions and a projecting porch on the south front also remain. The house is associated with a notable historical event: Flora Macdonald visited with Prince Charles Edward, disguised as her maid, "Betty Burk," after they landed from Benbecula on June 29th, 1746.

Adjacent to the house is a steading, specifically the New Barn, built in 1803-4 by James Gillespie (Graham). The barn is arranged in a U-plan, constructed of rubble with some harling, ashlar dressings, and slate roofs. A single, wide, depressed cart arch serves the symmetrical cart-shed/stable range. The central range contains a barn with an east/west threshing floor and a pair of opposite winnowing doorways. A raised, circular horse-walk is located to the west, complete with gearing and an arm for two horses. Several single-storey, three-bay farm servants' houses are also part of the steading complex. The cost of the New Barn, together with repairs to "Migstead House," amounted to $920.