Cottage and Farm

*1. The main building was once a single storey thatched cottage built more than two hundred years ago. The original structure can be seen today with its thatch still intact, although it was considerably enlarged in the early 1900’s when a government subsidy was available to all home owners for renovations. To Molly this meant she was able to extend her small dwelling with the addition of a raised and slated section which provided the family with more living space, including two bedrooms upstairs and a parlour below. Since this time there has been little change to the building and you will find the rooms and furniture recreate the living conditions exactly as they were - in fact the cottage was home to one of Molly’s descendants until 1997. The large open hearth in the kitchen where the fire rarely if ever went out, was the only energy source in the cottage. It provided heat, hot water and cooking facilities.

1. The House* 2. The Well 3. The Garden* 4. Oats and Barley Field 5. Farmyard 6. Poitin Still 7. The Sheep House 8. Famine Ruin 9. to 10. Stone Row* 11. Turf Bog* 12. Lime Kiln 13. Duck Pond 14. The Orchard

*3. The garden provided most of the food for the house, potatoes being the staple diet until the early twentieth Century. In Molly’s time the garden would have extended to almost an acre. As well as potatoes, the garden traditionally supplied an array of other vegetables including onions, cabbage, turnips and of course rhubarb - a vital ingredient of Molly’s home- made tarts.

*11. Peat or turf was a primary source of fuel for the fire. In spring the wet peat was cut and laid on the ground to dry. When it had dried sufficiently to handle, it was stacked up in "stokes" so that the wind and sun could dry it completely. It provides excellent firing with a distinctive aroma.

*9. and 10. Neolithic Stone Row Follow the druid's path to a neolithic stone row alignment ( 3000 BC ). It consist of two large flag stones that were placed and propped into position. They form part of a very rare ancient sun calendar. The stones may also mark burial or ritual sites

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