Object Type: photograph

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2006.122.2

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Cross-decorated stone in Soroby graveyard

Photograph of a cross-decorated stone in Soroby graveyard.

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Dating from the Early Christian period, i.e. from the 5th to 12th century, this gravestone in Soroby cemetery at Balinoe bears crosses in bold relief on both sides. The edges of the stone and crosses are decorated with heavy cable-moulding.

The front of the stone (not shown) faces east and is carved with a Latin cross, in the centre of which is a massive round boss. There are two crudely shaped serpents in the upper arm. The back is decorated with a ring-headed cross.

The stone stands 1.25 metres high and measures 0.8 metres at its widest and 0.25 metres in depth, excluding the boss on the front. The socket-stone in which it stands is below ground

Colour photograph of a cross-decorated stone in Soroby graveyard.

Cross-decorated stone in Soroby graveyard, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2006.

2006.122.3

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The power station at Crossapol

Photograph of the power station at Crossapol in 2006.

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Electricity was first generated on Tiree during World War II. Five power stations with diesel generators were constructed – one at Gott, two at Hough and two at Crossapol – to service the numerous RAF installations on the island. After the war, the power station beside the airfield was purchased from the Air Ministry and brought into civilian use in the 1950s.

In the late 1980s Tiree and Coll were connected to the national grid by undersea cable from Mull and the diesel generators were used only as a stand-by. In 2002 the cable was replaced and the overhead line network and Tiree power station were refurbished at a cost of £2 million.

During the hurricane in January 2005, the undersea cable stretching across Gunna Sound between Tiree and Coll was broken. The Tiree station generated the island’s electricity for several months until the cable was repaired.

Colour photograph of Tiree Power Station.

Tiree Power Station, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2006.

2006.122.4

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Casan fon grèin

Photograph of sunbeams streaming below clouds over Tiree.

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In the Statistical Account of 1845, Rev Neil MacLean observed that the weather on Tiree ‘is frequently so variable as to be almost proverbial, and baffle the most sagacious prognosis.’ Before reliable forecasting, the livelihoods and lives of many crofters and fishermen were dependant on their knowledge of weather lore.

Traditional knowledge about the weather is a mixture of superstition and acute observations of the sky and the natural world. People on Tiree used to judge the weather by the movement of birds, changes on the lochs and in the colours in the sky, and by looking at other islands.

One of the signs of windy weather to come is the appearance of sunbeams streaming beneath the clouds known locally as ‘casan fon grèin’, literally ‘legs under the sun’.

Colour photograph of `casan fon grein`.

‘Casan fon grèin’, sunbeams streaming below the clouds which, according to local weather lore, is a sign of windy weather to come.

2006.122.1

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Tombstone of Farquhar Frazer, Dean of the Isles

Photograph of the tombstone of Farquhar Frazer, Dean of the Isles, in the graveyard at Kirkapol.

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In this photograph of the graveyard at Kirkapol, the table-tomb in the foreground has round its margins an inscription which, when translated from the Latin, reads: ‘Here lies Mr Farquhar Frazer, Dean of the Isles, who died on 14 February 1680 aged 74.’

According to the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Frazer became ‘preacher in Sir Lachlan MacLean’s Regiment in 1645 under Montrose, for which he was debarred from his charge and stipend and plundered by Campbell of Ardnamurchan…’

‘He was the first minister who constantly preached here [in Tiree] and was very diligent among his people, not only in matters of faith and religion but in secular subjects also. It is said that at his coming [in 1633] only three persons (all MacLeans) could write their names.’

Colour photograph of Dean Farquhar Frazer`s tombstone at Kirkapol graveyard.

Table-tomb of Farquhar Frazer, Dean of the Isles, at Kirkapol graveyard, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2006. The inscription round the margin, when translated from the Latin, reads: ‘Here lies Mr Farquhar Frazer, Dean of the Isles, who died on 14 February 1680 aged 74.’

2006.110.1

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The curragh ‘Brendan’ at Gott Bay pier in 1976

Photograph of the curragh ‘Brendan’ at Gott Bay pier in 1976.

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Courtesy of Mr Simon Latham

In 1976 Tim Severin and four companions set sail in a wood and leather curragh from the west coast of Ireland in a re-creation of the 6th century voyage of St Brendan the Navigator across the Atlantic via the Hebrides, Faroes and Iceland.

St Brendan is credited as the builder of a church and village ‘in the region of Heth’. ‘Heth regio’ and ‘terra Ethica’ are Latin translations of the Old Irish ‘tir Iath’ from which the modern name of Tiree is most probably derived.

In ‘Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae’ it is recorded that ‘in the sixth century St Breandan [sic] built a church at Kirkapol…’ The saint may have preached from a rock at Vaul named ‘Creag O Briundainn’, which overlooks a small natural amphitheatre called ‘Glac nan Salm’ (Hollow of the Psalms).

Colour photograph of the currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier in 1976.

The currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier photographed by Simon Latham in 1976. (For more information see `The Brendan Voyage`, 2000.185.3)

2006.105.1

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Box containing 110 photographic slides taken by Alex MacLeod of Hough in the 1970s. Includes people of Hough, Scarinish Harbour, archaeological sites, houses in Hough, Coop van and GPO van, plane, agriculture, Cattle Show and landscapes. Also one of the Coll boat that met the steamer. Some printed and accessioned separately.

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