ONE OF Scotland’s most unusual buildings – a “mud hut” – could be yours for offers over £190,000.
The Old Schoolhouse in Logie, near Montrose, Angus, was built over 150 years ago for a growing population of local children.
Due to a lack of workable stone, the A-listed building was constructed using just clay, crushed rocks and straw.
Known as the “Mud Hut” to locals, it also served as a Sunday School and place of worship over the past century.
Estate agents are less earthy in their description of the house, claiming it is “one of best-preserved vernacular earth-built structures in Scotland”.
For the best part of £200,000, the buyer will get a large double bedroom, en suite bathroom, kitchen and cloakroom.
The award-winning building also features a “fantastic” living room with deep red limewashed walls and eight windows, many of which feature original panes of glass.
A neat garden surrounds the property, with the ruins of an old manse located within the grounds.
Builders in the area at the time mixed together a range of natural ingredients, including clay and straw, to form massive load-bearing walls. Cattle provided much of the muscle necessary to mix up the ingredients.
Craftsmen used stone, lime mortar and bricks in a few key areas of the structure where mud is simply not strong enough.
Internally, the earth walls were finished with a fine white lime plaster while the exterior would have been provided with an overcladding to protect it from the harsh Scottish weather.
“Mud buildings” are renowned for being warm, cosy and with good atmospheric humidity – the walls absorb much of the moisture in the air, keeping the inside of the house dry.
However, the cost of maintaining the structures in a world increasingly reliant on bricks and mortar meant that many have been demolished over the years.
In its original form, The Old Schoolhouse was a simple structure of three rooms consisting of a large classroom space and two small rooms for the schoolmaster’s use.
By the turn of the 20th century it became a Sunday School until 1929 when it was acquired by the United Free Church to serve as a place for worship.
Despite its rich history, the house fell into a “perilous state” after being abandoned in 1990.
Luckily, neighbours brought the property to the attention of Historic Scotland who immediately listed it as a building of national importance.
They set about sensitively repairing the house, following a “conserve as found” method which made minimal impact on its fabric and layout.
After the restoration was complete, the project received a number of awards including a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage – the highest building conservation prize in Europe.
A spokeswoman for CKD Galbraith, who are marketing the property, said: “This is an exceptional opportunity to obtain an award winning and one of the best preserved earth buildings in Scotland.
“It is set in a lovely hamlet with stunning country views and has superb holiday home potential.
“It is within excellent commuting distance to Aberdeen or Dundee, making this an excellent location for the daily commuter.
“It would make a perfect home for a single person or professional couple.”
Stephen Copp, a project manager with the National Trust for Scotland who helped with the restoration of the house, said: “The Old Schoolhouse at Logie survives as one of the best-preserved earth-built structures in Scotland.
“For 150 years the schoolhouse stood at the heart of its small community. Its sensitive repair and conversion into a comfortable home should ensure its survival for generations to come.”
