Tom Barr`s bell.
Tom Barr`s bell which hung outside Balephetrish farm and was rung to notify the farm hands of working times.
1999.328.1
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Sample Our Collection
2003.193.1
Scales with weighing pan from the Balephuil shop.
1997.325.1
Ship`s wheel from the schooner `Mary Stewart`, the remains of which are still visible in Scarinish Harbour.
2003.185.9
Black and white photograph of Donald and Hector Campbell with a horse-drawn reaper.
Brothers Donald and Hector Campbell of Corrairigh, Cornaigbeg, with a horse-drawn reaper in the late 1940s. Donald was the father of PM Tony Blair`s spin doctor, Alasdair Campbell.
2003.184.27
The Agricultural Show at Scarinish in 1927
Photograph of the 1927 Agricultural Show at Scarinish.
Courtesy of Mr Ronnie MacLean
Prior to World War II, the Show was held at the school in Scarinish. It was run by a committee comprising of one crofter from each township. The committee met each March to decide on the judges who came from Tobermory, Bunessan, Oban, Kerrera and sometimes as far afield as Stirling.
Crofters would get up at five or six in the morning to walk their animals to the Show venue. The horses were judged in a roped-off area within the school grounds, the cattle and sheep in specially erected pens, ducks and hens in coops at the back of the school.
Home Industry entries, such as butter, cheese, eggs, sewing and knitting, were displayed inside the school itself. To sustain the competitors and spectators, teas were served throughout the day in the marquee. Water for the teas was boiled on an open fire built against the playground wall.
Black and white photograph of the 1927 agricultural show held in Scarinish.
The 1927 Tiree Show with Scarinish School in the background, from a small photograph album from Silversands in Vaul titled 1927.
The Tiree Agricultural Show was started in the 1880s by Tom Barr, the tenant of Balephetrish farm, to encourage the local crofters to improve their breed of horses. Around 1900 a stirk would fetch £4 to £5 whereas a good year-old filly foal would fetch £25 to £30.
Prior to World War II, the Show was held at the school in Scarinish. It was run by a committee comprising of one crofter from each township. The committee which met each March to select judges, all of whom came from outside the island.
The horses were judged in a roped-off area within the school grounds, the cattle and sheep in specially erected pens, ducks and hens in coops at the back of the school and inside the school itself Home Industry entries, such as butter, cheese, eggs, knitting and sewing. Children could enter drawing and painting competitions.
To sustain the competitors and spectators, teas were served throughout the day in the marquee. Water for the teas was boiled on an open fire built against the playground wall.
After the judging, there were piping and dancing competitions and field sports. The piping competition was confined to locals and was often won by John MacLean of the Brae, Cornaigbeg. The sports included running, the high jump and long jump. There was a greasy pole competition, the prize for which was a bottle of whiskey, unusual on a temperance island. It was often won by John Bunting (Willie’s brother). The last event was a fiercely contested tug-of-war between the islanders and visitors.
After the sports, the prizes were given out from the shelter in the playground. The next day, the committee went out for a meal together.
(Information from Donald MacIntyre, Gott)
2000.129.1
Black and white postcard of kelp-burning at Kennavara.
Kelp-burning at Kennavara.
2000.130.2
The souterrain in Kilkenneth in 1918
Photograph of John MacIntyre and his son Colin at the opened souterrain in Kilkenneth in 1918.
Courtesy of Mr Colin MacKinnon
John MacIntyre (Iain Chailein Mhurchaidh) and his son, Colin, are pictured here at the souterrain in Kilkenneth opened by chance when ploughing in 1918. It was later covered over.
Less than a mile away, a Y-shaped passage was exposed in the 1890s in the sand dunes at Tràigh Ghrianail. Measuring 9.2 metres long, 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres high, it was known locally as An Taigh Falaichte (the hidden house) and used for shelter by those working on the shore. It has since disappeared.
Similar underground structures were built on the mainland around 200 AD. They may have been used as byres or stores, or as places to hide from raiders.
Black and white photograph of John MacIntyre at the souterrain in Kilkenneth around 1920.
John MacIntyre at the rear of the horse and his son Colin at the opened souterrain in Kilkenneth around 1920.
2000.130.3
Black and white photograph of Christina MacKinnon of Barrapol in the 1920s.
Christina MacKinnon (Jessie MacKinnon`s mother) of Ard na Fuarain, Barrapol at her spinning wheel in the 1920s. Christina was a spinner of bog cotton.
2000.130.4
Black and white photograph of Hugh MacKinnon of Moss in the early 1920s.
Hugh MacKinnon (Eoghann Dhomhnaill) of Moss in the first car in Tiree in the early 1920s.
2000.84.1
Planting potatoes at Middleton in the 1920s
Photograph of Alasdair MacDonald planting potatoes with Lizzie MacArthur, Effie and Mary Ann MacDonald at Middleton in the 1920s.
Courtesy of Mr Lachie MacDonald
Taken in the 1920s, the photograph illustrates a standard plough used to prepare the ground for sowing corn. Because of the fine sandy soil in most of Tiree, a ridger was not successful.
The women followed in the furrow planting potatoes from the supplies heaped in their sack aprons and the ploughman made a second furrow to cover them. This process was repeated leaving a 45 cm space between the planted furrows for the grubber.
The Middleton seaweed factory operated by the North British Chemical Company can be seen in the background. Known locally as the Glassary, it ceased operation in 1901 and was demolished during World War II.
Black and white photograph of Alasdair MacDonald planting potatoes at Middleton in the 1920s.
Planting potatoes at Middleton, with the Glessary (as it was known) in the backgound in the 1920s. L-R: Lizzie MacArthur, Middleton and Greenhill – aunt of John MacArthur, Middleton Farm; Effie MacDonald, married to the late Archie Walker, Coll and Kenovaay, Tiree – aunt of Lachie MacDonald , Middleton; Mary Ann MacDonald – aunt of Lachie MacDonald, Middleton; Alasdair MacDonald – father of Lachie MacDonald, Middleton. The photograph illustrates a standard plough used to prepare the ground for sowing corn. Because of the fine sandy soils in most of Tiree, a ridger was not successful. Instead, the standard plough was used and the women followed in the furrow with supplies of potatoes heaped in their sack aprons. The ploughman made a second furrow to cover the potatoes. The same process was repeated thus leaving an 18 inch (45cm) space between planted furrows to allow the grubber to be used.