Open 2-4.30pm, Tuesday - Saturday throughout Summer 2024
Welcome to Mary-Ann's Cottage
Visit our lovingly preserved traditional highland croft, which remains virtually unchanged for over 170 years.
Built in 1850, Westside Croft (now known as Mary-Ann's Cottage) was successively worked by John Young, his son William, and finally his grand-daughter, Mary-Ann and her husband James Calder.
Over the three generations, the way of life and working practices continued largely unaltered, and Mary-Ann's Cottage offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of the Calder family, and an authentic insight into rural living in the highlands.
Guided tours are available throughout the summer months.
Who was Mary-Ann?
Born in the cottage in 1897, Mary Ann Calder (nee Young) lived and worked at Westside Croft alongside her parents William and Mary. She married James Calder and together they had one son, Dan, born in 1923.
Life was tough for the family, surviving on what they could produce from working their land and fishing locally. Thriftiness was essential, and nothing went to waste at Westside - as is still evident in the ingenious handmade and re-purposed objects around the cottage and croft.
In 1984, James died at the age of 97, however, Mary-Ann continued to live at Westside Croft for a further six years, eventually moving to a nursing home in Wick aged 93. She died peacefully on the eve of her 99th birthday.
A cottage frozen in time
Mary-Ann's Cottage offers visitors a unique snapshot into the past.
Step inside the Lower Barn, where the local community gathered for ceilidhs and dances, and now houses a fascinating collection of antique farming equipment; explore the neep and cart sheds and see the Calders' original 'Iron Horse' tractor; visit the stable and byre to learn about the livestock who lived and worked the land at Westside; and watch your head when you enter the milk house! James' workshop also houses an incredible collection of antique tools and machinery.
Inside the cottage, a warm peat fire awaits. You can discover more about Mary-Ann and her family, and experience first-hand how the family lived. The original furniture, decoration and artefacts are all authentic - just as Mary-Ann left them.