Gimps, St Margaret's Hope

Small croft house with a rare flag and thatch roof of turfs resting on handmade straw ropes or simmons. Box beds remain inside. Detached outbuildings form a group with the cottage. The method of securing the roof's needling is considered unique, and the thatch is made from oat and bare straw. A smoke hole sits to the centre of the roof (now partly collapsed).

December 1990: External inspection reveals the house to be decaying. September 1995: No change reported. 1996: The roof is scientifically analysed by Historic Scotland. January 2000: Local planners are unaware of any change. The journal Vernacular Building reports that the house was occupied until 1989, but has subsequently deteriorated with much of the roof fallen in due to the corrosion of its nails. The journal reports that the remainder of the roof is unlikely to survive another couple of winters. The thatch is in poor condition. July 2004: External inspection reveals that the property has further deteriorated. Much of the thatch roof has now collapsed.

December 2008: Orkney Council forward recent images of the cottage.

August 2009: External inspection finds the turf roof of the building has further collapsed.

11 September 2013: External inspection finds the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously - one section remains roofed and may be in use as storage.

5 March 2024: Desk-based assessment suggests buildings remain At-Risk.