Conservation bosses have taken the first steps towards reopening a historic cottage on Culloden Battlefield that has been clsoed to the public for a decade.
Leanach Cottage has lain in a state of disrepair since 2007, in need of extensive specialist work to restore the 18th century structure to its former glory.
Work is required to walls, floor and ceiling if the building is to be preserved for generations to come.
And now, improvement works are scheduled to take place if planning permission is granted by Highland Council following submission of plans.
The refurbishment will include preserving the building’s foundations, supporting the cottage’s timber frame – by preventing it becoming damp – and laying an overlaid floor, to make the property serviceable and keep the floor dry above the existing floor level.
Property Manager for the National Trust of Scotland, Katie Bowl believes the time has come for this historic cottage to be reopened to share the stories of those who lived within the buildings grasp.
She said: “It’s really exciting to be able to open this back up to the public and putting people back in the cottage and allowing people access to it. It’s such a popular destination for people; they are quite literally banging down the door.
“It’s also about telling the stories of the people who lived in the cottage and tell stories about the history, natural heritage of the time. Its stories we can’t tell at the visitors centre but we can tell at the cottage.”
The cottage is the only structure left following the battle on April 16, 1746 and is located on the north-east side of the battlefield.
Experts believing the building may have been used as a hospital for government casualties during the battle and is oneo fthe last examples of a single storey thatched building.
Mrs Bowl added: “It’s an important building. We believe the building was on the field at the time of the battle and gives an insight into people’s lives.
“The building went into a state of disrepair then the building was repaired and then went back into a state of disrepair. The site gives an insight into what Culloden was like in the aftermath.
“The building is not just some picture on a postcard. It’s about the stories of people’s lives and that is what I am excited about.”
