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Summary

Description

Large steading range disposed around square court, dating

variously from later 18th to mid/later 19th century. All

rubble with rubble dressings. Earliest surviving range is

that at west comprising kilnbarn with long elevation facing

east/west; kiln forming bow-ended gable at north and rising

above ridge as tapering rubble inverted cone terminating with

circular apex vent; square aperture in north end; later

doorway in west.

Interior: later inserted boiler fills half, but sufficient

massive masonry survives to indicate the internal form, with

flue vent in south wall, scarcement or kiln platform, and

blocked upper door, in south wall, giving access to the kiln

floor from barn.

Second, later barn, parallel to 1st at east and linked to it

at south to form U-plan north face filled with early/mid 19th

century hexagonal horse engine house with later 19th century

square chimney serving later boiler. Later barn has ramp

leading to wide entrance in north gable.

Remainder of west side of square closed by byre range, and to

east by modern cattle courts. South side filled by open

fronted fold, abutting entrance to square from road, with 6

segmental headed arched openings.

Buildings mainly roofed with Caithness slate. Welsh slates to

older barn.

Small mid 19th century 2-storey, 2-bay house sited at east

side of steading range; harled; end stacks; slate roof. (No

longer in use as dwelling.)

Statement of Special Interest

Caithness bottle type corn drying kiln is a rare survival and

that at Sibster is 1 of only 2 complete examples in District.

(other at Hillhead, Wick Burgh).

Dating is difficult for this traditional structure, but it is

reasonable to assume that it might have been built during

late 18th century farming improvements, following a long

established earlier tradition. Horse Engine House (providing

horse power to motivate mechanical threshing drum) is only

known example of this type in Caithness. Power of horse

superceded by the coal fired boiler served by later 19th

century stack.

References

Bibliography

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