Moirlanich Longhouse facts for kids
Moirlanich Longhouse is a very rare type of old Scottish house. It's called a cruck frame cottage. You can find it in Glen Lochay near Killin in the Stirling area of Scotland. The National Trust for Scotland owns this unique building. You can even visit it from May to September each year.
When workers were fixing the roof recently, they found parts of the original thatched roof underneath. This discovery helped experts learn a lot more about how people used to build roofs in Scotland.
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Moirlanich Longhouse: A Historic Scottish Home
Moirlanich Longhouse is a very special building. It shows us how people lived in Scotland a long time ago. It's one of the few remaining examples of its kind. This makes it an important piece of Scottish history.
What is a Longhouse?
A longhouse is a type of house that was common in many parts of Europe. These homes were usually long and narrow. Often, people and their animals lived under the same roof! The animals would be at one end, and the family at the other. This helped keep everyone warm in cold weather.
What is a Cruck Frame?
Moirlanich Longhouse uses a building method called a "cruck frame." Imagine giant, curved wooden beams that look a bit like upside-down boat hulls. These beams go from the ground all the way up to the roof. They form the main support for the entire building. It's a very old and strong way to build houses.
Where is Moirlanich Longhouse Located?
This historic longhouse is found in a beautiful part of Scotland. It sits in Glen Lochay, which is a valley near the town of Killin. This area is in the Stirling council area. It's a lovely place to visit and see traditional Scottish countryside.
Who Looks After This Special House?
The National Trust for Scotland owns and cares for Moirlanich Longhouse. This organization works to protect important historic places and natural spaces in Scotland. They make sure that buildings like the longhouse are kept safe for future generations. They also help people learn about Scotland's past.
The Story of the Roof: A Peek into the Past
During a recent repair project, something amazing was found at Moirlanich Longhouse. Workers were taking off a modern corrugated metal roof. Underneath, they discovered parts of the original roof, which was made of thatch. Thatch is a roof covering made from dried plant materials like straw or reeds.
What Did We Learn from the Thatch?
Finding the old thatched roof was a big deal for historians. It gave them clues about how people built roofs centuries ago. They could study the types of plants used and how they were put together. This discovery added a lot to what we know about traditional Scottish building methods. It helped experts understand more about the skills and materials used long ago.
Visiting Moirlanich Longhouse
If you want to see this unique piece of history, Moirlanich Longhouse is open to visitors. You can usually visit between May and September. It's a great chance to step back in time and imagine what life was like in a traditional Scottish cottage.
Images for kids
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Excavation of the thatch at Moirlanich Longhouse
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Excavated section through the Moirlanich Longhouse roof
