Scotland
Perched on elevated ground in the Scottish Borders, the original farmhouse at Hilltop Homestead remains exactly where it has stood for more than two centuries. The family homes have moved. The farm has expanded. Agricultural practices have changed.
Long before modern farmhouses were built across the road, this structure served as the primary residence of Hilltop Homestead. Its elevated position was intentional. From its hilltop location, the occupants could oversee the surrounding fields, livestock, and daily operations.
Historic buildings often reveal their stories through the smallest surviving details. At Hilltop Homestead, one of the most remarkable examples is found in a side entrance that still retains its original round lock mechanism from the early nineteenth century. The hardware survived the conversion.
Unlike purpose-built agricultural structures designed around a single system, Hilltop Homestead reflects multiple phases of construction and use. The original residential layout established the building's proportions and structural spacing. Later modifications introduced agricultural framing systems and vertical interior volumes more suitable for farm operations.
