Skye, Gesto House

Gesto House, probably c.1760 Cracked shell of the former home of the Macleods of Gesto, evidently once a house of modest elegance with first floor piano nobile and dormered garrets. The principal floor comprised a small room over a ground floor lobby, flanked by drawing room and main bedroom. On the skewputts of the central nepus (or wallhead chimney gablet) are unusual scroll and palmette motifs. A later 18th century extension provided a larger kitchen/pantry to the rear; the porch was added c. 1870. Sited on the shores of a steeply-wooded inlet of Loch Harport, the house had a formal quarter garden to its rear, now a mossy paddock. Its successor, Little Park, by Alasdair Alldridge, 1988, transposes something of the symmetry, detailing and verticality of the earlier house into an affordable kithouse build.

[The Macleods of Gesto were the oldest cadet branch of the Macleods of Dunvegan, with whom they became involved in a long-running dispute. The rift was cemented in the mid-19th century, when the tack of Gesto was transferred to two Borders sheepfarmers. The Macleods, who had settled here in c.1425, never returned to Gesto, but a descendant, Kenneth Macleod, got his own back by buying up extensive properties in the north of Skye when the Macleods had to sell them in the later 19th century to meet debts.]

Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

NG33NE 7 35668 36631

For farmsteading see NG33NE 8

2 storey and attic house, 3 wide bays with centre door and centre chimneyed gablet. Roughly coursed rubble, some harling, ashlar dressings. Large projecting roofless square porch to entrance; tall 1st floor windows; ornate floreated skewputts to gablet. Wing to rear. Roofless and gutted. Gablet chimney and fireplace added early 20th century (per Dr D Roberts, Orbost and local mason). Despite its ruined state this building is of considerable interest. (Historic Scotland).

Former tacksman's house, the central core of which may date from circa 1760, extended to the rear in the mid-late 19th century. The house rises to 2 storeys with attic and extends to 3 bays in roughly coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. It features a central chimneyed gablet with ornate floreated skewputts and decorative hooked kneelers. A large projecting square porch frames the central entrance, whilst a wing projects to the rear. Both are 19th century additions. The Macleods of Gesto were the oldest cadet branch of the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan and settled here in 1425. The interior once boasted a Japanese style drawing room. (Dean & Miers)