Kirkton Cottage, Manse Road, Aberfoyle

Kirkton Cottage is a single storey, rectangular-plan cottage, located directly opposite Aberfoyle Old Kirk. It was built as the parochial school around c1757 at a cost of £32-12-0 Scots pounds (Joynson, 123), but was remodelled and extended to the N twice in the later 19th century. It ceased to be used as a school when the new school was built to the west of the village in 1870. Kirkton Cottage has an interior with an excellent example of a box bed, was the original parish school, and is one of only 3 structures remaining from the 18th century Kirkton of Aberfoyle (the other two being the Old Kirk, listed separately, and the much altered former manse).

The earliest part of the building is the 3-bay S section; this has a central door flanked by two windows (probably enlarged and re-glazed in the 19th century) which light the two rooms within. Map evidence (1st edition OS map 1858-63) and information from the current owner indicates that there may have been another entrance at the S gable - the map shows a small outshot likely to have been a porch.

In the later 19th century, possibly before 1870, the school was extended by the addition of an extra room to the N gable; this was entered by a projecting gabled porch on the E elevation, with a door to the S side and a window to the E. An attic room was also formed, lit by a window in a gable to the right of the porch.

In the late 19th century, after the school had become a dwelling, a further one room extension was added, again to the N gable, lit by a mullioned double window on the front elevation. A small piend-roofed addition was then made to the rear (W) of this room in the later 20th century. (Historic Environment Scotland)

30 July 2021: Property thought to be long term disused. For Investigation

16 November 2021: External inspection finds the building in good condition, it continues to be disused but generally maintained. Move to At Risk.
Post Survey Update: Property now being marketed for sale through Cathedral City Estates. Accepting offers over £134,000.

17 June 2022: Marketing of the property has concluded - the cottage is thought to have been sold to new owners in 2022.