The MacArthurs’ shop in Balinoe
Photograph of the site of the MacArthurs’ shop in Balinoe taken in 2002.
The MacArthurs’ shop in Balinoe had one of the first horse-drawn vans, which was replaced between the wars by two motor vans. Calum, who ran the shop and croft with his brothers Colin, Archie and Duncan, was a great businessman.
Once, on his rounds, he was told that he would never be able to sell whelks (winkles), regarded at that time as a poor man’s food. Rising to the challenge, he took a bag around with him the next week and sold the lot in one day!
Around the entrance to the shop there used to be an alleyway of willow trees almost as high as the house, which was known as Taigh nan Craobh (house of the trees).
Colour photograph of the site of the MacArthurs` shop in Balinoe taken in 2002.
The site of the MacArthurs` shop in Balinoe, once known as `Taigh nan Craobh` from the alleyway of willow trees around the entrance to the shop there, photographed by John Holliday in 2002.