Nunton Steading, Benbecula
This 18th and 19th century ‘U’-plan Steading block presented an opportunity to carry out a vernacular building repair and conservation programme. In most cases, work to existing farm buildings involves a considerable amount of intervention to accommodate a new use. In this scheme, the exterior could be repaired and presented as it is, without significant alteration. The building was originally entirely harled in lime mortar, some of which had survived. The harl was patched in lime and the whole building lime washed.
The main alteration inside was to form internal access between the various parts of the interior by breaking through some of the cross walls. The sides of the slappings were made good using concrete. This is an established way of making openings in earlier masonry in the Western Isles and it indicates clearly the extent of alteration work.
The south range interior has been presented simply as a farm steading. Exhibition lighting and fittings were added to this existing fabric so that the rooms could be used by the Benbecula Historical Society. The internal planning was arranged so that the parts of the interior which preserve the most original internal fabric had the least alteration.
