2006.87.1

The MacArthurs’ shop in Balinoe

Photograph of the site of the MacArthurs’ shop in Balinoe taken in 2002.

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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.

Object Details

Other Number: J159

Site of MacArthur`s shop in Balinoe (photographed in 2002)

The house was once known as `Taigh nan Craobh` / `House of the Trees` because of the alleyway of willows that once grew around the entrance to the shop. Some of the trees are still there on the opposite side of the road.

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