Scrabster, 24 Miller Place
House (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Scrabster, 24 Miller Place
Classification House (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 353311
Site Number ND16NW 417
NGR ND 10155 69429
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/353311
- Council Highland
- Parish Thurso
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
Caithness was forever changed when the 1954 announcement that it was the chosen location for the United Kingdom Energy Authority's (UKAEA) significant new project: the construction of a nuclear power research establishment. The site chosen was a former airfield at Dounreay. The site was on the coast in a largely agricultural area. It was relatively close to the town of Thurso to the east. The building of Dounreay would have a significant impact on the town and the surrounding area.
The population of Thurso rose from 3000 to 9000 in a space of a few years, with new housing constructed to accommodate the influx of staff from outwith the region.
By the end of the building programme in May 1963, four recognised estates of UKAEA houses had been built in Thurso: Castlegreen, Ormlie, Pennyland and Mount Vernon. A small number of houses were also built in Scrabster and Castletown. Six farm workers' cottages were built to accommodate farm workers at Isauld to the west of Thurso.
The construction of new houses ceased in May 1963 when a total of 1007 estate houses had been built. The estate developments fall within eight phases covering the period June 1957 to April 1963. These were a mix of traditional and timber houses and flats.
The UKAEA built houses are now owned privately or by Pentland Housing Association.
Information from collaborative doctoral award candidate (HES/University Highlands and Islands), LM Ross, March 2017.
This 'superior detached', 'all electric' house was built by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and was completed in April 1963. It is of brick construction with timber cladding with integral garage and sits in a large plot (c.1000 sq. metres). This house would have been earmarked for a senior staff member.
Information gathered from UKAEA archives by L Ross, Phd Candidate, collaborative doctoral award (Historic Environment Scotland and University of the Highlands and Islands, March 2017). Information in document produced for aiding in the survey of representative examples of UKAEA housing provision in Thurso.
