Dates: 1930s

1997.184.3

Lachlan MacPhail carting seaweed

Photograph of Lachlan MacPhail carting seaweed

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Courtesy of Mr Ailig MacArthur

Lachlan MacPhail, originally from Luing, is pictured with a cartload of seaweed outside the shepherd’s cottage where he lived in Crossapol. A fork has been stuck in the back of the cart to stop the seaweed slipping off.

Gathered from March to May, the seaweed is spread on grass or on ground to be planted with corn or potatoes. Red seaweed known as ‘bàrr-dearg’ was considered the best for this purpose but only came ashore on certain tides usually in the month of May.

The soils of Tiree are predominantly light and sandy and need feeding with organic matter every year to keep their fertility. Although not considered as good a fertiliser as manure, seaweed improves the condition of the soil and aids water retention.

Black and white photograph of Lachlann MacPhail, Crossapol.

Lachlan MacPhail from Luing with a cartload of seaweed outside the shepherd’s cottage where he lived in Crossapol, Tiree, probably taken in the early 20th century.

1997.182.1

Black and white photograph of Scarinish harbour.

Scarinish harbour with the Mary Stewart, probably taken in the 1930s. The building in the background was originally built as a church, then used intermittently as a prison and latterly as a store by the owners of the Mary Stewart. It was pulled down to make roads during World War II.

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1997.182.2

The ‘Mary Stewart’ in Scarinish harbour in the 1930s

Photograph of the schooner ‘Mary Stewart’ in Scarinish harbour in the 1930s.

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Courtesy of Mrs Netta Martin

Taken in the early 1930s, this view of Scarinish harbour shows the topsail schooner ‘Mary Stewart’ in her final resting place. For the previous thirty years she had traded up and down the west coast carrying coal and other cargo.

Also anchored in the harbour are two lobster boats. Commercial lobster fishing began on Tiree after 1880 when the railway to Oban was opened, allowing shellfish to be sent live to the London markets for the first time.

Said to have been originally built as a church, the building in the background was used as a store by the owners of the ‘Mary Stewart’. It was pulled down to make the road to the pier during World War II.

Black and white photograph of Scarinish harbour.

Scarinish harbour with the Mary Stewart, probably taken in the 1930s. The building in the background was originally built as a church, then used intermittently as a prison and latterly as a store by the owners of the Mary Stewart. It was pulled down to make roads during World War II.

1997.176.9

Black and white photograph of the new road to Silversands, Vaul.

Photograph from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `The new road to Silversands`, probably taken in the late 1920s to early 1930s.

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1997.176.10

Small photo album titled `Places and Faces in Tiree 1932`.

Small photograph album titled `Places and Faces in Tiree 1932` said to come from Silversands and containing 17 black and white photographs with captions.

1997-176-10