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2020.11.1

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Photographs of three items belonging to the descendants of island factor Hugh MacDiarmid (1846-1928), who lived at Island House, Heylipol, during 1876-1928.

an Entada phasaeoloides ‘sea-bean’ found on the beach by the factor’s daughter, Meta MacDiarmid, and made into a pendant for her (possibly by her fiance).

a brass plaque from a wooden box of silver plated cutlery presented by people of Tiree to Meta on her marriage.

a coffee or chocolate pot presented by the Duke of Argyll to Hugh MacDiarmid in 1906, probably on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

a gold brooch given to Meta by her Godmother, Lady Frances Balfour. It was stolen from their home in Malaya and later found by one of the servants in a local market. The pearls are thought to be Scottish.

2020.10.1

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Small photograph of an oil painting of the yacht ‘Oceana’ sailing off the coast of Naples in around 1929, with Mount Vesuvius erupting in the background. The Oceana was wrecked at the west end of Crossapol beach in 1949, and the cause of much intrigue at the time. Painted by the  Italian artist L. Papaluca (1890-1934), who was well-known for his paintings of ships. The painting belonged to Robert Polson of Badachro (Gairloch) who captained the yacht.

2020.8.2

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Insurance claim receipt made out to MacLaren Grain and Co., 1885. The claim was to recoup losses as a result of the steamship ‘Ardandhu’ colliding in 1883. Paid out by the insurance company William Euing & Co. Brokers. Before this incident, in 1881, the SS Ardandhu sank after colliding with another ship on the River Clyde. It went on to become wrecked on Hough Skerries off the west coast of Tiree during a storm in 1891.

 

2020.5.1

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Brass Tilley lamp from Ruaig, used in around 1925-1950. Similar to 2002.73.1 but complete with wick, mantle and glass globe. Tilley lamps were named after John Tilley, inventor of the hydro-pneumatic blowpipe in the early 1800s. Domestic Tilley lamps were fuelled with paraffin, which was pressurised by use of a pump on the base.

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