Description

A traditional two and one-and-a-half storey, rectangular-plan domestic building, likely dating to around the mid-18th century but possibly earlier and originally comprising two dwellings, converted to one house before 1814. It is constructed of local sandstone and was formerly rendered. The roof height was raised and the pantiled roof and windows are later replacements in a traditional style. Without render, the configuration of the two earliest dwellings (formerly one-and-a-half storey) and window arrangements are visible. The gables are crowstepped and there are beaked skewputts – that to east gable is set within the wallhead at the former roof line.

The house is prominently located near a road junction with rubble boundary walls enclosing a triangular-plan site.

Statement of Interest

Likely dating to around the middle of 18th century or earlier, Westend Cottage is an early and rare surviving example within its building type.    

The building appears on the Valleyfield Estate map of 1814. Its original one-and-a-half storey height suggests that it was purpose-built weavers' cottages

It has special social historical interest as it has an historic association with the development of the Valleyfield Estate which adds to our understanding of the social and industrial history of this part of Scotland.  

It is a typical example of a traditional 18th century domestic building which survives largely in its original form to the exterior. Although much alteration has taken place over the years, the building is complete to wallhead and still retains many of its 18th century features typical of early Scottish domestic buildings, in particular the beaked crowsteps, which are also typical of Fife vernacular buildings

It is a prominent historic building in the local streetscape. It has a historical context with the Valleyfield Estate and other related buildings in the area some of which are also listed in Main Street and Low Causeway.

Valleyfield was created a burgh of barony in 1663.

The previous listed building record noted that the building may date to the 17^th century.

Non-statutory supplementary information updated in 2025.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17804130

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings