A compact early nineteenth-century house brings a formal gable and regular sash windows to Castlebay's small civic square.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably early 19th century
- Architect / designer
- Unknown
- Type
- Two-storey harled house with attic and central wallhead gable
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB5897)
- OS grid reference
- NL 66631 98296
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The harled house rises two storeys to an attic beneath a slated roof. Two doors and three windows on each level organise the front, where a central nepus gable is balanced by paired piended dormers; a rear forestair reaches upper doors.
Its story
Probably built in the early nineteenth century, the house belongs to Castlebay's development before the later Victorian church and school. Its multiple doors and external stair suggest adaptable internal arrangements, although the detailed occupancy history is not established.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a prominent and relatively early Barra house whose distinctive gable and position help define the settlement's square.
What to notice
- The central wallhead gable rising through the eaves.
- Two hipped dormers set symmetrically in the roof.
- The rear forestair serving upper-level entrances.
Reading the surroundings
Current use is unconfirmed. Treat the building as private, view from public space and do not use the multiple doors or exterior stair without explicit permission.
Timeline
- Early 19th century A substantial harled house was built beside Castlebay's square.
- Later 19th century The growing village surrounded it with new civic and religious buildings.
- 1971 National listing recognised the house's architectural interest.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The construction date is approximate, and no reliable source established the house's present occupancy or the original purpose of its several entrances.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: The Square House, LB5897 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Barra and Vatersay Local Place Plan 2025 — Current community and settlement context for Castlebay and the wider islands.
Location
OS grid reference NL 66631 98296 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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