The Black Houses Of Garenin. The Isle of Harris & Lewis, The Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
The Black Houses were a traditional Scottish dwelling particularly in The Outer Hebrides and Highlands, built with thick double-stone walls and a thatched roof. The interior walls became blackened by smoke from the central peat fire, which lacked a chimney. A key feature was that they were designed to house both people and livestock together for warmth, with the animals often kept in a byre separated by a wall or in the same space as the people. Black houses were named not because of the fact that they were in the early days smoke filled and had small windows, but because they were compared to the new 'white houses' being built in the late 1800's. The new 'white houses' were designed to separate humans from their livestock and animals.
The Black Houses Of Garenin. The Isle of Harris & Lewis, The Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
The Black Houses were a traditional Scottish dwelling particularly in The Outer Hebrides and Highlands, built with thick double-stone walls and a thatched roof. The interior walls became blackened by smoke from the central peat fire, which lacked a chimney. A key feature was that they were designed to house both people and livestock together for warmth, with the animals often kept in a byre separated by a wall or in the same space as the people. Black houses were named not because of the fact that they were in the early days smoke filled and had small windows, but because they were compared to the new 'white houses' being built in the late 1800's. The new 'white houses' were designed to separate humans from their livestock and animals.