Highfield Cottage – Dower House
Attribution: unknown or not recorded
Highfield Cottage - Dower House
Known locally to all as the Dower House, Highfield Cottage was built in the 17th century and was used regularly by the Gillanders family on several occasions, especially following the fire at Highfield House in 1875. James Falconer Gillanders lived here while his mother continued to live at the big house until her death. Frances Geraldine Mackenzie-Gillanders was also living here for a while in 1897 when some repairs were being made to the big house.
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
Attribution: The Mackenzie- Gillander family
Frances was later married here in 1903. The cottage may even have been where the Gillanders and later, the Mackenzie-Gillanders would have spent the summer months whilst leasing out the big house for the summer season.
I believe the family would have continued to live here after they sold Highfield House and the descendants of the family still continue to live in the area. The cottage was sold in 1988 and has been used as a holiday let over the past few years, recently changing hands in 2023, and is now a private home.
