Yesterday’s News No. 2 – Cornaig Church
From a collection of historical accounts by Dr John Holliday
2024.9.2
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Dates: 1890s
2024.1.1
Newspaper article – from the Newcastle Herald, Australia, Thursday Mar 2, 2000. John MacFadyen emigrated from Tiree to Australia. He is third from the left and has “Trea McFadyn” on his L arm. He was the treasurer of the miners’ union when he died of pneumonia at 67 years, 11 September 1900. He worked his way up from the pits to being a Checkwayman.
2022.35.3
Digitised copy of a stone rubbing, undated. Below a foliated cross and flanked by plant scrolls is a two handed sword of the type known as a claymore. The quillons of the claymore end in quatrefoil and there are slight traces of decoration on the scabbard. This stone has the earliest known representation of a claymore (Monumental Sculpture by Steer & Bannerman). The grave is located in Kirkapol, in the little graveyard (An Cladh Beag). A record for this grave is available on the Tiree Graves website. The rubbing comes from Lord Archibald Campbell’s collection of monument rubbings.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.35.2
Digitised copy of a stone rubbing, undated. Shows a galley with a furled sail and below that two pairs of opposed beasts, surrounded by an overall pattern of plant scroll ornament and an interlaced design. Above the rubbing is a partial rubbing, showing a long oblong mark and an interlaced design. The grave is located in Kirkapol, in the little graveyard (An Cladh Beag). A record for this grave is available on the Tiree Graves website, which describes the design as being from the Iona School, 14th-16th century. The rubbing comes from Lord Archibald Campbell’s collection of monument rubbings.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.32.3
Digitised copy of a letter from Hugh MacDiarmid (factor to the Duke of Argyll) to A M Cunynghame Esq., Surveyor General, General Post Office, Edinburgh, dated 25 May 1891.
The letter discusses the best route for conveying the mail and a proposed route through Oban, Tobermory, Coll, Tiree and Mull, including Bunessan and Pennyghael. The letter also mentions: transport links, particularly trains and boats, including arrival and departure times; a comparison of population sizes in Tiree, Coll and Bunessan; the need to consult the Duke of Argyll on the matter; the speed of mail delivery and that it it was previously possible to get to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh in one day.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.32.1
Digitised copy of an article entitled ‘New Method of Working Seaweed’ by Edward C C Stanford, F.C.S., c.1884. Stanford was the Chairman of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.
The article describes a process invented to supersede the plan of burning seaweed into Kelp ash, and mentions that works were erected in Tiree and North Uist in 1863 to carry it out this process. Contains tables of cost of working different amounts of seaweed, the cost of materials, the value of the produce, and the advantages of the new process.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.7
Digitised copy letter regarding erecting a pier at Gott Bay, undated (c.1880s). The letter outlines the troubles with constructing a pier at Gott bay, due to the force of the wind and waves particularly during the winter, as well as the high cost of estimates for the work (between £7,000 and £13,360) as well as the cost of maintenance. The writer refers to the reluctance of engineers to undertake the project, and also mentions the Report of the late Western Highlands and Islands Commission. The writer also refers to a recent accident involving a boat being upset in Gott Bay while attending on a steamer. Neither the recipient or writer is identified.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.6
Digitised copy of a letter from John McKinnon to the Duke of Argyll, dated 30 January 1894. In this letter McKinnon (Moss) complains that he was due to inherit a croft from his cousin, Catherine Sinclair (Moss), but that it was claimed by his cousin Neil Sinclair (cottar, Balephuil) and that the Factor, Mr Wyllie, entered Neil Sinclair’s name on the rent book. McKinnon references the work he did to improve the croft, that he took care of his cousin in her old age, and his current hardships. He was summoned by Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory and failing his appearance was told his cow would be poinded. McKinnon also mentions that Sinclair was one of the first to take up their abode in Moss.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.5
Digitised copy of a letter from Donald Campbell (Kirkapol) to the Duke of Argyll, addressed from Gott and dated 10 November 1890.
In the letter Campbell explains how he has been ‘reduced to my present unfortunate position’, he refers to his cows ‘shirring’, resulting in death of calves, blames his three sisters for their lack of care towards the cows, problems in paying his rent and accruing ‘considerable’ arrears, his sisters commencing a law-suit against him, advice from Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory to declare himself bankrupt, the sale of his belongings, and his hope that the Duke will allow him to keep his crofts. Campbell writes that his father-in-law Donald MacKinnon (tenant, Kirkapol) is willing to undertake joint payment of the rent. The letter contains a postscript signed by his father-in-law expressing his willingness to join with Donald Campbell in the management of the crofts in Gott and payment of the rent. Campbell also mentions attending the market in Mull to sell horses.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.29.12
Hardback edition of A Pronouncing Gaelic-English Dictionary by celebrated lexiographer, Neil MacAlpine, of Islay.
Inside cover board inscribed, ‘A.R. MacDonald, Cornaigbeg, Tiree. Personal Property’.
Gaelic to English and English to Gaelic, with phonetic key.
Re-printed from 1845 first pressing several times.
549pp.