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2003.32.1

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Whalebone post sockets from the broch at Vaul

Photograph of whalebone post sockets from the broch at Vaul.

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Courtesy of Mr Nicholas Redman

These whale vertebrae, photographed by Nicholas Redman in 2003, are two of the four excavated from Dùn Mòr at Vaul by Dr. Euan Mackie in the early 1960s and now stored at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.

The vertebrae were positioned two on each side of the rectangular hearth set in the centre of the floor of the broch. They had been perforated in the middle and doubtless used as post sockets. The best preserved vertebrae would have held an 8 cm thick post.

Situated too close to the hearth to be roof supports, the posts were probably used to support some sort of roasting spit or a frame for a cooking cauldron.

Three black and white photographs of whale vertebrae from Dun Mor, Vaul.

Whalebone post sockets excavated from Dun Mor, Vaul, by Dr Euan MacKie in the 1960s and now stored at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. (2 photographs not displayed in Filing Cabinet 8 drawer 2)

1997.173.1

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Kilkenneth smiddy

Photograph of the smiddy at Kilkenneth in the early 20th century.

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Courtesy of Mr Sandy MacKinnon

In the Highlands and Islands, horses were used for transport and agricultural work, unlike the Lowlands where oxen were used as draught animals. Of great value to the local people, native ponies fetched £3 to £9 at the end of the 18th century.

The numbers of horses on the island between 1870 and 1945 varied from 400 to 550, enough to support at least nine smiddies which were situated at Kilkenneth, Kilmoluaig, Balephetrish, Gott, Caoles, Balinoe, Hynish and Cornaigbeg, where there were two.

In addition to shoeing horses, blacksmiths repaired agricultural implements such as ploughs and harrows, made hinges and latches for wooden gates, hand tools like sickles and pitchforks, and other metal objects like swees for hanging cooking pots over a fire.

Black and white of the smiddy at Kilkenneth in the early 20th century,

The smiddy at Kilkenneth in the late 19th early 20th century. The blacksmith on the right is the father of Sandy MacKinnon (Sandaidh a` Ghobhainn).

2003.18.4

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Thatched house in Salum

Photograph of John Lachie MacInnes’ thatched house in Salum.

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Courtesy of Mr Alan Boyd

J. Morton Boyd photographed John Lachie MacInnes’ house in Salum in the 1960s. This was the last house in Tiree to have its thatch held down by sìoman-ruadh or coir rope. Straw rope was used until the mid-19th century; nowadays chicken wire or plastic netting is used instead.

Tiree houses were made as far as possible from local materials – stone, lime, clay, straw rope and the thatch. Only glass and wood for the roof timbers, doors and windows were imported. They look utterly immovable but nothing could be further from the truth.

Islanders moved around a great deal, either by choice or because the factor gave them no option. The thatch had to be discarded but the turfs and roof timbers were taken down and put into the back of a cart and the stones moved on sledges, load by load, to the new site.

Colour photograph of John Lachie MacInnes`s house in Salum.

John Lachie MacInnes`s house in Salum photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.

2000.26.27

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Black and white photograph of Donald Archie MacLean of Lochside, Kilmoluaig, building a haystack.

Donald Archie MacLean of Lochside, Kilmoluaig, building a haystack in the early 1950s. Donald Archie worked on fishery cruisers and later captained ships to Arran. On top of the haystack is one of the Millhouse boys, either Archie Dubh or Teon.

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