Ferry Cottages, Ardentinny

Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Planning Authority

The mid 19th century ferry cottages at Ardentinny are an interesting survival in good condition of a set of fisherman's or ferryman's cottages. They are contribute to the streetscape in Ardentinny.

The cottages consist of a single storey to the street (W elevation), with a full 2 storeys to the shore. The fenestration is irregular to both elevations, with some blocked and altered openings. There is little in the way of ornamentation, with the exception of raised margins and a single pediment at the S end.

The original date of the cottages is not known, but it is likely that they date to the earlier-mid 19th century. The single-storey street frontage contains 8 bays, with doors 2nd from the left and 2nd from the right. According to local residents there were originally but two cottages on the upper level, with a gap between the cottages roofed over. Photographs from the middle of the 20th century show 4 doors, 2 of which had small pediments breaking eaves level. One of these pediments has recently been replaced (2004), the other missing. There were also previously 5 ridge stacks, of which 4 remain. On the N gable is a small arched opening to the attic level, now blocked up. The bay furthest south is an early 20th century addition.

To the rear (E) side facing the sea the cottages are 2-storey, with irregular fenestration. To the centre of the N cottage is a pitch-roofed timber porch. To the S a filled in segmental stone arch is visible, suggesting that the ground floor may have been more for use as stores, perhaps for fishing, although the lower floors are known to have had fireplaces until recently.

Interiors: access to the interiors was not possible during the resurvey in 2004. However, it is understood that the cottages have been substantially modernised.

Materials: rubble with squared sandstone dressings, painted to the front and harled and painted to the rear. Slate roof with leaded skews Work was carried out in 2004 to replace much of the roof covering with imported slate. Predominantly replacement windows and doors, with a single lying-pane timber sash and case window to the rear.

Boundary Walls: a low rubble boundary wall extends along the sea side of the properties.