Forgotten Croft House in the Cairngorms National Park to be restored

An early 19th century croft house with many original features near Braemar could be protected and restored for generations to come following a planning decision by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).

Meeting in Newtonmore Village Hall today (Friday 21 May), the Planning Committee granted permission for a new house on Tomintoul Croft, Braemar, on the condition an existing croft house on the site receive Listed Building status.

The croft house is rundown but has many original features inside that are well preserved and largely unaltered including the original hanging ‘lum’ box beds and woodwork. It is of significant importance to the cultural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park and following today’s decision, the owners will now work with Historic Scotland and the CNPA to get the building Listed B status and the protection that comes with this.

The current owners bought the property with planning permission to build a large extension and alter the internal layout. This new planning consent is for a separate house meaning the croft house can be preserved without these wide-sweeping works affecting it.

CNPA Deputy Convener Brian Wood said: “This building could easily have been lost had it not been the insight and commitment of the applicant not only to try to protect this building but actually restore it.

This is the start of a long journey but it’s great to be able to play such a positive part in the life of this building.”

An interesting feature of the building is that newspapers have over the years been used as wallpaper in the upstairs room. The CNPA has been able to attach a condition to the planning consent which requires the croft house to be restored faithfully and sympathetically. The applicant confirms that the unique ‘wallpaper’ is to be retained.

Planning Officer Robert Grant said: “It is incredibly rare to see a snapshot of history on the walls around you, not to mention such well preserved features. This is a positive proposal with an opportunity to restore a rare surviving example of a crofting cottage and as a result bring about significant cultural heritage benefits to the National Park.”