Photograph of brothers Archie Brown MacDonald and Colin MacDonald, Mannal, in the early 1900s
Black & white photograph of brothers (L-R) Archie Brown MacDonald and Colin MacDonald of Mannal House, leading several Highland x Clydesdale horses. They were Mairi Campbell`s mother`s brothers.
Photograph of the yacht `Charm` whose wreckage washed up at Hynish Bay in 1945
Black & white photograph of the yacht `Charm` at its berth in Co. Sligo, Ireland in the 1940s. Its wreckage washed up in Hynish Bay in September 1945, with the loss of four lives. The new owner RAF Group Captain G.N. Warrington, his Australian wife and their two friends, FO McGregor and FO Ellis, were sailing from Sligo to Belfast when they ran into a gale and probably a free-floating mine left over from WWII. A full-scale search & rescue was carried out by the RAF and others, but to no avail. Mr & Mrs Warrington had fortunately left their three-year-old son, Alastair, with friends.
Brass plaque from a sundial that once stood opposite the bank in Scarinish
Brass plaque on a wooden stand engraved with “Presented by F & I Gunnis, in memory of many happy days on Tiree, 1931”, which was once part of a sundial/weather vane encased in a glass box atop a concrete plinth. Mr & Mrs Gunnis donated the sundial/weathervane in 1931, where it stood on the side of the road, opposite the Bank in Scarinish until around 1950. Mr & Mrs Gunnis came on holiday to the Scarinish Hotel every year for many years in the 1920s and 1930s. Mr Gunnis had the shooting rights on Tiree.
Photographs of a baptism in Abhainn Bhi, Balephuil, ca 1970
Three colour photographs showing stages of an adult baptism at the bridge over Abhainn Bhi, the stream that runs out of Loch a` Phuil at Balephuil, around 1970. Before a baptism, the stream would be temporarily dammed so that the water was deep enough for an adult to be submerged when being tipped backwards by the minister. Unknown participants. Found in Flora MacArthur`s house (now demolished) at Sandaig 2010. Original in filing cabinet 9 drawer 3.
Merchant Seaman`s Continuous Certificate of Discharge 1920-1923
Merchant Seaman`s Continuous Certificate of Discharge belonging to Walter Hume (b. 1899) of Glasgow, recording the names of the ships on which he served, his engagement and discharge dates (1920 to 1923), his rating (sailor), description of voyage (Montreal, Portland, Halifax), report of character (always very good), signature of ship`s Master and date. Includes description but no photo. Next of kin given as Father John, Hillipol, Tiree (John William Hume b.1867, farm manager of Heylipol farm). Small blue-canvas bound booklet. Found in the loft of Millport House, Hynish in 2011.
Click here to view 2011.98.1
Cobbler`s iron lasts (shoe-maker`s templates)
Cobbler`s iron lasts in four sizes (adult and child) and iron stand. Used by shoemakers to shape and sew shoes.
Glass fishing float
Large green glass ball. These were used as floats for fishing nets and lobster creels before plastic floats were made. The ball would have been encased in rope mesh.
Matchbox coaster
Handmade wooden box with four matchbox drawers with paper clip handles, attached beneath a coaster showing a colour picture of Travee from Balephuil. Probably made in the 1970s. Found during a house clearance when Iain & Helen Paterson sold their house `Taigh bean Iain/Nona Tuaigs` at Caoles, ca. 2011.
Cup and saucer illustrated with a view of Scarinish
Small china cup and saucer souvenir from Mona MacDonald`s shop in Scarinish (the corrugated extension to Angus MacLean`s house, whom she married) in the 1970s. Yellowish with gold trim and colour illustration of Scarinish and harbour with lettering “Scarinish Isle of Tiree” and “Hand Painted”. Found during a house clearance when Iain & Helen Paterson sold their house `Taigh bean Iain/Nona Tuaigs` at Caoles, ca 2011.
Rifle bayonet from the late 1800s
British pattern Martini-Henry socket bayonet and ply-wood & brass scabbard found hidden in the thatched roof of `Cnoc Bhiosta`, Kilmoluaig, by Ian & Sue Atkins during re-thatching around 2005. For use with the .450″ calibre Martini-Henry single-shot rifle made famous during the Zulu Wars. Manufactured in 1876 and used into the early 1900s. The bayonet has a triangular blade which was banned by the Geneva Convention after WWI because of the irreparable injury that it inflicted. It is not known how the bayonet came to be hidden in the thatch, although the brother of Calum Iain `Bhan` MacKinnon (who once lived in the house) was in the Canadian army in the early 1900s, and may have brought the bayonet to Tiree during a holiday with Calum. Texts identifying the bayonet are stored in filing cabinet 9, drawer 3.
