Transcriptions of personal letters from Wilfred Lancaster (1909-1988) to his wife Elizabeth (Betty) when he was stationed at Kilkenneth, RAF Tiree during WW2. They provide an interesting insight into life at the airbase during that time. Includes photographs of Wildfred and two other airmen, Reggie Burton and George Parker.
Click here to view 2019.64.1
Black & white photograph of RAF personnel milling around the score board during competitions on Tiree in 1943. Team names include Cadets, SHQ, 518 Squadron, 281 Squadron, 8518 SE, 8281 SE, Works Flight, Kilkenneth, Sgts Mess, Messing, Signals, M&E.
Photocopied extract ‘Island of Tiree’ from the report of the excursion of the Cambrian Archaeological Association to the Western Islands of Scotland, Orkney and Caithness in June 1899. Includes geographical and historical descriptions of the island and detailed observations of archaeological sites at Soroby, Kilbride, Ardchain, Kirkapoll, Kilchennich and Kilmoluag, plus mention of Gunna Islet.
Black & white sketch of Rev. Donald MacCallum by J Gordon Murdoch, Cambuslang 1923. From the frontispiece of Donald’s book ‘Dain Domhnullan’. The Reverend MacCallum was minister of Heylipol during 1887-1889. He was a key agitator during the Highland Clearances and a chief leader during Tiree’s Crofters’ War. A memorial cairn ‘Tùr Mhic Chaluim’ was erected by the people of Tiree at Kilkenneth-Moss.
Black & white photograph of the Rev. Donald MacCallum (seated) and an unidentified crofter at the cairn at Kilkenneth, which was erected to him by the people of Tiree in 1889 for all he did for them during the Crofters’ War. Digitally enhanced from a copy of the original, which was published in a newspaper from the time.
Six pottery sherds and a fish vertebra, thought to be Iron Age, dug from a midden in a sand dune near Kilkenneth Chapel in April 2017. See accompanying report with photographs: 2017.49.2
Notes titled ‘A Tyrannical and Tiresome Tirade on Tiree by a Tired Retiree’ on the Medieval history and archaeology of Tiree by David Caldwell, casting doubt on the popular view that Tiree (along with Mull and Islay) was ruled by Somerled and his descendents to the exclusion of the dynasty of kings. David Caldwell, retired Keeper of Medieval Department at the National Museum of Scotland, gave a talk on the subject during a visit to Tiree in April 2016.
Collection of 14 colour photo-prints of various scenes from Tiree from 1960 to 2010, including an passenger aircraft at Tiree airport, a double-decker bus at the pier, out-buildings at Coales, an old well, Kilkenneth chapel and Kirkapol farmland. Five of the images are accessioned separately (see 2016.56.2 – 6).
Hand-drawn map of Tiree showing the locations of 15 aerial photographs taken around the island in 1998 (see 2016.54.1~15). Areas covered are: Kirkapol, Vaul, Ruaig, Cornaigmore, Cornaigbeg, Kenovay, Balephetrish, Caoles, Salum, Kennavara, Hough, Balevullin, Middleton, Kilkenneth, Moss, Baugh, Balemartine, Balinoe, Scarinish, Heanish and Hynish.
Click here to view 2016.54.16
