Monkstadt House, Skye

Monkstadt House is a two-storey, five-bay house dating to circa 1730. It was built by the Macdonalds of Duntulm after they left Duntulm Castle. The house has long north/south elevations and is constructed of rubble with chamfered ashlar dressings. Originally, it had a doorway in the centre of both symmetrical long elevations, although the north doorway is a later insertion replacing an original window. The ground and first floors feature closer-set windows in the outer bays. A stair window is centrally positioned on the north front. The roof is now gone, and there are remains of gable ruins and gable additions. Evidence of later window insertions remains, as does the trace of a projecting porch on the south front. The house is notable for its association with Flora Macdonald and Prince Charles Edward, who visited in 1746 when the Prince was disguised as Flora’s maid, “Betty Burk.”

Nearby is a steading, New Barn, designed by James Gillespie (Graham) and built between 1803 and 1804. It is a U-plan range of buildings 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 doorways leading to a winnowing area. To the west is a raised circular horse-walk with gearing and an arm designed for two horses. Several single-storey, three-bay farm servants' houses are also part of the steading complex. Records indicate that the New Barn, along with repairs to "Migstead House," cost £920. Plans and drawings dating from 1928 are held by the National Monument Record of Scotland.