Scotland
Some historic sites must be interpreted through records and photographs. Others tell their story through the buildings themselves. Transition Courtyard, located just south of Duns in the Scottish Borders, belongs to the latter. Here, centuries of agricultural development remain visible within a single architectural composition.
The story of Transition Courtyard begins long before the buildings visible today. Historical mapping places the site on record as early as 1654 under the name Calkyla. More than a century later, maps from 1771 identify the same location as Cheekeelaw, confirming that the farm remained occupied and active across generations.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Transition Courtyard is how clearly its architectural evolution can still be understood. By the early nineteenth century, the core elements of the property were already established. Historical mapping from 1826 shows a recognizable farmhouse and courtyard steading arranged in a practical U-shaped formation.
What makes this site especially valuable from a reclamation perspective is the integrity of its structural system. The primary oak trusses define the major interior volumes and establish the proportions of the historic spaces. These large-format assemblies span approximately thirty feet and remain fully understandable within their original context.
