Kelp ridge at the foot of Kennavara.
Photograph of an old kelp ridge at the foot of Kennavara.
Kelp is a general name for long-stemmed brown seaweeds, of which, it is estimated, there are over 300,000 tonnes around the shores of Tiree. Its ashes were a rich source of the soda and potash needed to make soap and glass, and to bleach linen.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain was unable to import alkalis from Spain and the price for kelp ash soared from £2 to £12 a ton. The estate encouraged people to come to Tiree to work in the booming industry and the population reached 4,450 in 1831.
Kelp was cut with a sickle from the rocks at spring low tides, dried on stone ridges by the shore and then burnt in the summer in long U-shaped pits. These ridges and pits can still be seen around the shore, particularly at Craiginnis, and between Kennavara and Traigh Bhì.
Colour photograph of kelp-drying ridge at Kennavara.
Old ridge at the foot of Kennavara once used to dry kelp.
Newspaper article `Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh`
Material for Gaelic learners.
Newspaper article `Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh`
Material for Gaelic learners.
Newsletter `AnTirisdeach`, issue 259, 8/12/2001.
Current news and events on Tiree.
Colour photograph of Tiree High School Primary Department class P6/7 Gaelic, 2001.
Tiree High School Primary Department class P6/7 Gaelic: (L-R) back row – Adam Smith; middle row – Ruth MacKinnon, Charlotte Sharp; front row – Janice Campbell, Mrs Mairi MacArthur (teacher), Amanda Worsley.
Colour photograph of Tiree High School Primary Department class P3/4 Gaelic, 2001.
Tiree High School Primary Department class P3/4 Gaelic. L-R: (back row) Eilidh MacFadyen, Lucy Sharp, Mr Neil Oliver (teacher), Eilidh Oliver, Joseph Williams; (front row) Kieran Munn, Sam Worsley, Kirsty MacKinnon, James Beese, Ian Smith.
Colour photograph of Tiree High School Primary Department class P1/2/3 English, 2001.
Tiree High School Primary Department class P1/2/3 English: (L-R) back row – Clare Hamilton, Ewan MacDonald, Alasdair MacLean, Christine MacArthur, Ryan Morrison; middle row – Heather MacKinnon, Sebastian Smith, Daniel Hayes, Megan Reid, Mrs Judith MacIntosh (teacher); front row – Jordan MacArthur, Sean MacCallum, Kyle Munn, Hugh MacKinnon, Tor MacDonald.
Colour Photograph of Tiree High School Primary Department class P1/2 Gaelic, 2001.
Tiree High School Primary Department class P1/2 Gaelic: (L-R) back row – Anna MacDonald, Jamie MacDonald, Ewan Brown, Ruaraidh Munn; middle row – Bridget MacGowan, Katie MacArthur, Sine MacKinnon, Emma MacKinnon, Mrs Flora MacPhail (teacher); front row – Ewan MacLean, Fiona MacKinnon, Mhairi MacKinnon, Faith Kemp, Duncan MacLean.
Colour photograph of Tiree High School Primary Department pre-school class, 2001.
Tiree High School Primary Department pre-school class: (L-R) back row – Mrs Grace MacKinnon, Kathleen MacKinnon, Bernie Smith, Connor MacPhail, Mrs Elaine Williams; front row – Alicia Arkless, Danielle Gillespie, Chloe Williams, Keir MacDonald.
Audio cassette recording of `Mairaiche nan cuantan` composed by Flora and Angus MacPhail.
Excerpt from BBC Mod 2001 programme of prize-winning song entered in the Mod 2001, words by Flora MacPhail and music by Angus MacPhail.
