Byre And Hen House, Stable, South Hamar, Westray

Early-mid 19th century. Farmstead comprising single storey row of 2 dwellings, threshing barn with circular corn-drying kiln and additional farm buildings; smaller parallel byre and barn range separated by a narrow, paved closs (open passage) and remains of a smithy. Exposed coursed rubble flagstone.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central 3-bay house; central door; flanking windows. Smaller second 3-bay house to E; central door; flanking windows; window to right blocked by lean-to porch. Barn attached to W of house; off-centre door; stone pier to right of door. Kiln attached to NW of barn; henhouse and stable/byre to S of barn obscure kiln. Access to henhouse to left of barn door. Plain gable to stable. Set back lean-to outhouse to left of stable, access in S wall. Byre parallel to house; plain elevation. Pig house addition extends S from byre to left; 2 openings in wall; entrance door in left return. Second lean-to pig house extends from byre W gable; access in S wall. Remains of lean-to smithy to S of E house, openings in E and W gables.

E ELEVATION: window to right in E house gable. Access to stable in E elevation, to left; upper boarded stable door remains.

N ELEVATION: central window in central house; barn set back to right of central house; winnowing door to barn.

W ELEVATION: circular kiln attached to barn; off-set to left.

Underseamed flagstone roofs survive on 1st house, threshing barn and pig houses; rooflights in central house roof flags to rear and front. Rough stone skews form crude crowsteps to E gable. Overseamed flagstone roof with triangular stones to stable/byre. Flagstones to kiln roof remain. Flagstone lean-to roof to smithy partly remains. Corniced gable stacks to central house; E corniced gable stack to E house.

INTERIOR: central house: flagged floor; plastered walls; box bed to W room; couple roof construction. E house; W fireplace with chimney breast abuts into room; single stone slab lintel; timber fireplace surround and mantelshelf remain. Single stone slab lintel to E fireplace; fire crane with hooks and metal grate remain. Recess to right of fireplace. Kiln door raised approximately one metre above barn floor level; rectangular flue to bottom right, internal kiln ledge intact. Couple roof structure to threshing barn.