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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It's #ScottishMuseumsDay and we're taking part in the #ABCofScottishMuseums Of course, we have the letter C for Cruck Cottage. These crooked oak branches or trunks are the crucks which give this type of construction its name. 🪾🏚️ Thanks to @scottishmuseums.bsky.social for putting this together.

A photograph showing people gathered in the Cruck Cottage for an evening storytelling event lit by paraffin lamps. A label reads Cruck beams and has arrows pointing to that part of the structure. Another line of text reads ABC of Scottish Museums, C for Cruck

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Reposted by Cruck Cottage

Tom Hughes @tomtelltale.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Just about to start a talk to Collin SWI about folklore and the @cruckcottage.bsky.social

A screen with the title slide 'The Folklore of Protecting the Home'.

A selection of folklore artefacts including a witch bottle, elf shot, and hag stones.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Lovely to see this fantastic museum is now on Bluesky. They are not too far from us and well worth a visit.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Happy St Andrew's Day from the Cruck Cottage. We've enjoyed plenty of Scottish folk tales and traditional tunes beside the fireplace throughout this year. The cottage is such an atmospheric place to connect with Scotland's story.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Today is Scottish Museums Day and 2025's theme is Mighty Objects. For us, it doesn't get mightier than the cruck beams themselves. These timbers grew crooked and are arranged to bear the whole weight of the roof, rather than on the walls. Without our mighty cruck beams, the cottage wouldn't be here!

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Thank you to everyone who came to help with the gardening and limewashing day. As a small charity without government or council funding, we rely on these volunteers generously giving up their time to look after this important piece of Scotland's history.

Photograph of volunteers limewashing the gable end of the Cruck Cottage, one is up a ladder, another checking the thatched roof, and one painting the lower part of the wall.

Photograph of volunteers weeding the cobbled path around the Cruck Cottage.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

'The Old Roads' One of our volunteers, Willie Clow, reflects on his long life and personal connections to Torthorwald village.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Another Volunteers Week story... The @museumsassociation.org featured our chair of trustees, Sue Hughes, on their website, writing about her work volunteering at the Cruck Cottage. www.museumsassociation.org/careers/volu...

museumsassociation.org

Sue Hughes - Museums Association

“I get to be hands-on and connect with my colleagues and visitors – from weeding the garden to butter making demonstrations”

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Folklore of Butter Making day today. We enjoyed sharing stories of the Roucan Witch's strange knowledge of the kirn, fairies stealing milk, and of course making lots of butter, yum!

A photograph of a table laid out with butter making equipment. The hands of two visitors are visible shaping butter with wooden paddles known as butter hands or pats.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Looking forward to sharing the folklore of butter making in the cottage this Saturday. Among the many curious tales is a local story, the Witch of Roucan and her uncanny knack for knowing who was churning butter. Pop in and churn your own, (appearance of the witch not guaranteed).

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

The cottage has a new clootie mat! Thanks to our volunteer @tomtelltale.bsky.social who spent hours creating it to sit in front of the peat fire. Thanks to a kind donation of a rug frame, wool and tools, we've also got an ongoing project rug visitors can add to and create the next mat.

A photograph of the new rag rug in front of the fireplace in the cottage.

A photograph of a partly made rag rug, tools and loose rags.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

A Witch Hare lantern. Call in this Saturday 26th April to create your own lantern decorated with images from Scottsh legend. You can also discover folklore artefacts around the building which were used to protect the cottage and listen to some traditional stories.

A photograph of a glass jar lantern with the glow of a candle. The lantern is decorated with tinted glass colours and silhouettes of a hare and trees.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

You're very welcome. A nice reminder for National Tea Day - we love welcoming folk to the Cruck Cottage. We have open days throughout the year, but if you turn up at other times the sign in the window has a list of friendly neighbour volunteers who will be delighted to show you around.

A photograph of a small teapot on a doily. The teapot has the words 'You're very welcome' inscribed on it.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Cruck Cottage in Torthorwald is delighted to be the first organisation in the Dumfries area to launch a digital guide with Bloomsberg Connect. Free to download and use, it's a fascinating way to explore the cottage whether on site or across the world. Download the app here www.bloombergconnects.org

A montage of images from the Bloomberg Connects apps guide to Cruck Cottage showing photographs of the interior and the choice of stories, audio, photos and film to explore.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

The cottage mirror gives a glimpse into a past age.

A photograph of an old mirror on the wall of the cottage. The glass shows a hazy reflection of the cruck frame, the fireplace, a chair and shelves with Victorian jars, boxes and bottles.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

We love shining a light on stories of the cottage. Why not visit us to discover life in days gone by?

A photograph of a beeswax candle in a candlestick on a mantlepiece, the flame is giving a warm glow on the whitewashed wall.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

We were thrilled to be included in the brilliant new Slow Travel guide to Dumfries and Galloway. There are so many gems to explore and really connect with the character and landscape of the region.

A photograph of the cover of the Slow Travel guide to Dumfries and Galloway featuring a harbour scene.

A picture of a page in the book with photographs of different places to visit including the Cruck Cottage.

A close up of a text relating to the Cruck Cottage method of construction.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

You can see the remains of Torthorwald's 14th century castle as you pass through the village. Some of the stone in the Cruck Cottage walls may even have come from the ruined tower.

A photograph of a ruined castle with just the shell of the tower and some surrounding earthworks remaining. They stand in a field of short grass with two tall trees and blue sky.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

We're looking forward to lots of fireside tales as we celebrate our year of folklore. What's your favourite strange story from Scotland?

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

A visit to the cottage this morning by a lovely group from the North West Community Campus. They were very interested in the cottage, its history, and John Paton. There were lots of questions as well. The sun even came out for their visit, perfect!

A photograph of students and their tutors outside the Cruck Cottage in the sunshine.

A photograph of the inside of the cottage with one of the Cruck Cottage volunteers telling the group of students some of the history of the building.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

A clyack or corn dolly by the hanging lum in the cottage. The Scots word clyack is derived from Gaelic cailleach meaning hag. These woven straw figures were thought to keep the spirit of the corn safe through the winter. We're exploring lots of folklore throughout this year at the Cruck Cottage.

A photograph of a long woven corn dolly with red ribbon, hanging from a pair of fallow deer antlers on the wattle-and-daub chimney in the Cruck Cottage.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Torthorwald Tales - Our volunteer historian Willie Clow found that the annual rent of the Cruck Cottage in 1880 was £1 15 shillings, payable to the Duke of Queensberry. It was home to George Campbell, Elizabeth King, and 4 children, the rent equating to a month's work for an agricultural labourer.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

We continue to stand with Ukraine. We've been so pleased to welcome Ukrainian friends several times in recent months. We will always be in solidarity.

Photograph of Ukrainian friends outside the Cruck Cottage.

Photograph of Ukrainian friends inside the Cruck Cottage, as we welcomed them with an evening of Scottish traditions.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Torthorwald Tales - Stories of village folk. James Burnet, born 1774 in a cottage where his ancestors had lived since the mid-17th century. A barrel maker, fined by the Kirk for fornication, James was still mowing grass and milking cows until his death aged 92 in the cottage where he was born.

A black and white photograph of the gable end of the cruck cottage, showing the thatched roof, stone walls and single window. This is the last remaining of the village's thatched cottage, rather than James Burnet's cottage which is long demolished.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Something cheery for this dreich day... Here's our volunteer Bob playing tunes at our New Scots kitchen ceilidh in the cottage for our Ukrainian friends last weekend.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Something soothing for a Sunday. Last night or volunteers had the great pleasure of welcoming lots of our Ukrainian friends to discover some Scottish traditions. More of that to come, but here's Maureen Milton playing her lever harp at the start of the evening.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

We were very grateful to receive some badges commemorating the centenary in 1924 of the birth of John Paton. They were kindly donated by a descendant of his. Paton's boyhood home was the cruck cottage next door, (demolished in 1948), before he became a missionary to the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu.

A photograph of a pin badge with an image of John Paton, an old white man with a long white beard. The text around the edge reads John G Paton Centenary 1824-1924.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Exploring tales of witches in the local area - the Witch Thorn was located just outside Torthorwald and features on a 19th century map. Through 2025 our theme is folklore and we'll be exploring this through new interpretation and a great programme of events.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

A view of the roof looking towards the bed end of the cottage. Oak cruck frame, birch rafters and heather turf showing under the thatch.

A photograph of the roof of the cottage made up of many timbers in their natural shape.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

We're excited to announce our theme for 2025 is 'folklore'. We'll continue to explore the history of the cottage and rural life, but will also look at the many tangents to folk traditions, customs and tales around the cottage. Wishing you all a very happy new year and we hope to see you in 2025.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Happy Hogmanay from the Cruck Cottage. Thanks to everyone who has supported us through this year. We can't wait to share our exciting plans for 2025, but for now will wish you all a lovely evening and a joyous new year.

A photograph of an old bottle of whisky in front of the peat fire in the Cruck Cottage.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

We're lucky to have had thatching maintenance done this year, but more to be done in the future. These heritage skills may be at risk, but we're keen to be supporters of these traditional crafts, a part of all of our heritage. Here's an interesting recent BBC article. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Critically endangered Scottish crafts fight extinction

Dying skills are included in a

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas. Thank you for supporting the cottage through the year. Wishes for peace and joy to you all.

A photograph of the Cruck Cottage in the snow.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

We are delighted to have been awarded a grant from the New Scots Activities fund to celebrate culture and diversity, promoting integration. In the new year, we'll invite our Ukrainian friends to a kitchen ceilidh at the cottage and gather again to make traditional crafts to present to each other.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Hearth and heart of the home. A place to keep warm, cook, and share stories.

A photograph of the fireplace in the cottage. The peats are lit and a thin wisp of smoke rises up the chimney. A cast iron kettle hangs from a chain about the fire.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Many thanks to the Dumfries and Galloway Standard for the wee piece in today's paper about our recent festive weekend. Our local papers really support community organisations.

A clipping from a newspaper with the title Festive weekend at cottage. There is a picture of a man in a knitted beard and hat pouring whisky into a glass held by a woman wearing a Christmas jumper. The caption reads Festive treat - Marsia Macadam and Tom Hughes enjoy a seat by the fire and a festive tipple during Cruck Cottage's open day.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

More from the Cruck Christmas - a Scottish thistle nutcracker, spices, and pudding charms.

A photograph of a wooden nutcracker with a thistle design sitting on a tartan tablecloth. There is a bowl of nuts alongside and a jar of Cumberland rum butter.

A photograph of some nutmegs, partly grated on a dish. In the background are a spice tin with grater and jars marked nutmegs and cinnamon.

A photograph of various Christmas pudding charms, including silver shapes such as buttons, horseshoes and wishbones, a tiny ceramic doll known as a Frozen Charlotte, and a silver sixpence coin.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Checking the ingredients for the plum pudding recipe in the cottage.

A photograph of an old recipe book on the table, open at the page for plain plum pudding. Holly leaves with red berries are placed in a ceramic bottle alongside.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Even the laundry is getting festive.

A photograph of some irons, soap, pegs and a washing posser along with some holly with lots of red berries in the window of the cruck cottage.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

For #ThatchThursday, a throwback to 2018 and the cottage's roof looking golden with a new thatch.

A photograph of the cruck cottage with a newly rethatched roof, golden brown in colour and newly lime washed white walls.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Over the bed in the cottage is a wee painting of Torthorwald Castle. See if you can spot the ruins nearby when you're visiting us.

A photograph of a small painting of a ruined castle. The painting is quite dark due to varnish deterioration and staining from smoke over many years.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

This Saturday, 7th December, we've got the Cruck Christmas event with stories, festive spices, candlemaking, traditional toys, and mulled punch in the lovely atmosphere of the cottage. Pop in to discover the history of the place in this lovely friendly gathering. Pictures from last year's event.

A photograph of a volunteer in a knitted beard and hat showing a visitor some smallpipes.

A photograph of a family looking at items from a Victorian kitchen.

A visitor having a try at playing with a jig doll.

A photograph of the bed end of the cottage with simple Christmas decorations.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Inside the cottage in 1962. Part of one of the cruck frames is visible with a storage space or sleeping platform inserted at this end of the room. This was an alteration to the cottage which you won't see today, another sleeping platform was in use in the 1970s when the cottage was last lived in.

A black-and-white photograph of a corner in the cruck cottage. Part of the cruck frame is in the shot with a horizontal beam just visible from the ceiling which has been inserted. There are domestic items such as a bread board and a bowl on the window ledges. The cottage is wallpapered and there is a curtain pulled back from one of the windows.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Join us at Cruck Cottage for some festive cheer! On Sat 7 Dec, we have our family friendly day, with the smells of Christmas, beeswax candle making, storytelling and traditional toys. On Sun 8 Dec we have gift ideas from our local artisan traders. The cottage is open 11am-3pm, admission is free.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Many of our events feature traditional music in the cottage. This was a recent gathering of some local accordion players. It's a lovely place to enjoy some tunes.

A photograph of three people playing accordions in the Cruck Cottage. They are sitting with their back to the fireplace and the wooden cruck frame is visible around them.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Our cruck cottage is in the medieval village of Torthorwald. The ruins of a late medieval castle stand nearby, on the site of an earlier motte-and-bailey.

A photograph of the ruins of Torthorwald Castle A stone tower stands with vegetation sprouting from it. A pony is grazing on the earthworks surrounding the site.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Inside the cottage you'll find all sorts of artefacts from everyday life in the past. There were quite a few botanical breweries in the area. Have you ever found one of these bottles?

A photo of three salt-glazed stoneware bottled for ginger beer and aerated water with transfer printed labels for various botanical breweries in Dumfries.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

It's chilly out there, so time to get the kettle on. This one hangs from a chain over the peat fire. Keep warm folks!

A photograph of a cast iron kettle over the fireplace in the cottage.

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Cruck Cottage @cruckcottage.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

We weren't sure if #ThatchThursday was a thing, but it seems it is. So here's a picture of the recent repair to the cottage roof by the wonderful Alex Gibbons. A gap was appearing where there had been a join and Alex repaired it perfectly in the traditional method.

A photograph of a repair to the thatched roof of the cottage. A ladder rests against the roof at the same angle of the thatch. Alex Gibbons is kneeling on the roof and repairing the gap by pushing straw in and fixing in place with hazel spars, a type of handmade wooden staple.

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