A derelict croft last inhabited in 1930 has been painstakingly restored after it was revealed to be a building of ‘national importance’.
Downie’s Cottage was built in the mid-1850s but was last occupied by tenant James Downie.
The cottage at Tomintoul Farm near Braemar in Deeside had become obscured by trees over the years and was set to be flattened to make way for a new family home.
Left, the bathroom lies in ruin and, right the new-look room after the property was renovated following 87 years of emptiness
But the new owners of the three-acre site, Jackie and Calum Innes, quickly realised the significance of the building the minute they stepped inside to inspect it.
They found box beds with straw mattresses still in place and a large chimney flu made of timber typical of 19th Century homes in rural Scotland.
The couple also found a range of personal items left behind including clothing, boxes of Christmas cards and pieces of ribbon stored away as keepsakes.
Historic Environment Scotland helped transform the sitting room which lay in ruin after decades of dereliction
Upstairs, pages from old magazines and newspapers lined the walls and they also discovered a horse-drawn sledge to navigate wintry conditions.
And when Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was contacted, Downie’s Cottage was immediately given Grade A listed status.
Left, the box bedroom at the cottage at Tomintoul Farm near Braemar in Deeside before the renovation and, right, the finished product
Left, the neglected kitchen lies in ruins after not being used since 1930 and, right, the refurbished kitchen after the site was deemed to be of historic importance
The upstairs box bedroom before the cottage was renovated after its new owners realised the historical significance of the building, where they found straw mattresses
The neglected cottage had become obscured by trees on the three-acre site, but Jackie and Calum Innes discovered historical items and decor in the property
The derelict house concealed a collection of box beds with straw mattresses and a chimney flue made of timber typical of 19th century rural homes in Scotland
The property was set to be flattened to make way for a new family home, but has been renovated to include thus modern bathroom
The bedroom after the renovation at the cottage, which was almost forgotten as it faced flattening for a new family home to be built
The property is now viewed as a ‘building of national importance’ and an ‘exceptionally rare’ surviving example of this type of rural building in the country.
A major restoration was guided by HES which Jackie has described as a ‘labour of love’ after finally completing the project.
She added: ‘It hasn’t made any sense in terms of effort or money but we feel that we have done the right thing.’
This wedding invite, addressed to the house’s former tenant, was among the historical items discovered in the property
Vintage greetings cars were also discovered at the cottage at Tomintoul Farm near Braemar in Deeside, Scotland
This card dates back to 1897 and was found in the attic of the croft before it was painstakingly restored after it was found to be a building of national importance
This is how the fireplace used to look before the house fell into ruin, only to be renovated by its new owners, Jackie and Calum Innes
Katie, Jimmy & Jessie Downie 1900s. The photograph was among other historic items discovered at the Scottish property, which sits in three acres of land
Tea being served at the croft. The photograph is thought to have been taken between 1890 and 1900 and was discovered by the building’s new owners
The restored cottage, which is built on what is thought to be Scotland’s highest piece of farmland, will open up for a new generation as a holiday home.
In his report on the project, Roger Curtis of HES, praised the faithful restoration of the croft.
He said: ‘Woven into this refurbishment has been an appreciation of the people who lived there and how such links connect us with a way of life that lies at some distance from our own.’
The three-acre site’s latest owners uncovered the forgotten past of the croft when they stepped inside to inspect it, unearthing photos and other items
Ms Innes, 53, and Mr Innes, 54, from Blairgowrie, Perthshire, bought the property in 2006 and were locked in the planning process for around five years.
The building had to be restored using the same methods and materials, such as limestone, from the 19th century.
It has been left mostly untouched since it was last inhabited in the 1930s.
Ms Innes was surprised by the extent of what had been left behind.
Jackie and Callum Innes’s curiosity saved the building from being destroyed and replaced with a new family home
She said: ‘We know the area quite well. We had planning permission to build a new house on the footprint and the steading of the cottage.
‘We were delighted that everyone has agreed with how important this is and that we’ve managed to get it finished.
‘We were surprised by the amount of stuff that had been left behind – it included Valentine’s cards, Christmas cards and lots of bibles left lying around.
‘Restoring this is very important because it was so typical of the time. It’s never been modernised and been rebuilt because it’s so far out of the way or rebuilt in this time.’