The tea clippers ‘Taeping’ and ‘Ariel’
Print of the tea clippers ‘Taeping’ and ‘Ariel’ competing in the Great China Tea Clipper Race of 1866.
Courtesy of Mr Donald MacKinnon
In 1866 London tea importers paid a premium of 10 shillings a ton for the first China tea of the season to arrive in London. On 30th May sixteen clippers left Foochow, including the favourite, the ‘Ariel’, and the ‘Taeping’, captained by Donald MacKinnon of Heanish and carrying almost 500 tons of tea.
As the boats raced home, the lead passed from one ship to another. As they reached the Lizard, the ‘Ariel’ and ‘Taeping’ were level. However, the shallower draught of the ‘Taeping’ allowed her to beat the tide and reach London Docks twenty minutes earlier than the ‘Ariel’, 16,000 miles and 99 days after leaving China.
The tea merchants of London were less than delighted to have such a glut of tea on the market and never offered the premium again. Captain MacKinnon returned to Tiree in glory but died the following year aged thirty-nine.
Black and white postcard of a boat at Gott Bay pier.
Tying up at Gott Bay pier. Eairdsidh na pacaid is standing in the stern.
Black and white postcard of Scarinish harbour in 1938.
Postcard of the `Mary Stewart` beached in Scarinish harbour in 1938 with lobster pots in the foreground, the Scarinish Hotel at the extreme left and communication masts in the background to the right. (Duplicate of A7)
Black and white photograph of Ruaig School in 1952-3.
Ruaig School in 1952-3. L-R: (back row) Mary Gardiner; Annie MacLelland; May Meechan; Jane Meechan; Irene MacDonald, Machair House; Jean MacFarlane, teacher; (2nd back row) John MacLelland; Agne MacCulloch; Jean Cunningham; Sandra Band; Tommy MacKinnon, Vaul; Agnes Law; Gavin Clark; (3rd back row) Mary Ann MacLean; John Shanks; Robert MacDonald; David Conn; Lachie MacDonald; Alfie Tarbert; (front row) Mary MacInnes; Ann MacKinnon (Langley); Sylvia MacKinnon; Betty Cunningham; Ellen Macinnes. (Duplicate of W3 – 1999.24.25. Not indexed)
Black and white photograph of Ruaig School in the late 1940s-1950s.
Ruaig School in the late 1940s-1950s. Back row (L-R): ?, ?, ?; Hugh Archie MacLean, Salum. Middle row (L-R): Nan Menzies; Chrissie Marno; Ella Donald (nee MacKinnon), Vaul; Sadie Menzies, Salum; Margaret MacInnes (nee MacKinnon), Ruaig; Fiona MacLean, Ruaig; Annie Stewart, Croish(?). 2nd row from front (L-R): Ethel Woods; ?; ?. Front row (L-R): Mary Gardner(?); Alfie Tarbert; Gavin Clark, Ruaig; Catherine Mary MacDonald (nee MacKinnon), Upper Vaul; Bobby MacLean Mealum; Hugh MacKinnon, Ruaig; Tommy Gardner, Kirkapol.
The Temperance Hotel in Scarinish in 1880
Photograph of the Temperance Hotel in Scarinish in 1880.
Courtesy of Mrs Mhairi Crookston
The Temperance Hotel in Scarinish was built in the middle of the 19th century. Local tradition has it that the Duke of Argyll had forbidden the sale of alcohol on the island following a fatal accident through drink at the inn in Kilmoluaig.
The Temperance Movement, which flourished in Scotland in the 19th and early 20th centuries, advocated total abstinence from ‘intoxicating liquors’. This stance was actively supported in 1847 by the island’s minister Rev. Neil MacLean who encouraged his parishioners to sign a resolution to refrain from ‘drinking ardent spirits at funerals’.
Spirits could only be obtained on the island by importing them privately by steamer or, between the wars, by drinking on board while the steamer was tied up at the pier. In World War II two NAAFIs were built which sold alcohol. The hotel in Scarinish first obtained a liquor licence in 1950.
Black and white photograph of the Scarinish Hotel in 1880.
The Scarinish Hotel in 1880.
Black and white photograph of the Scarinish harbour in 1880.
Scarinish harbour in 1880.
Black and white postcard of Scarinish before 1932.
Postcard of Scarinish postmarked 1932.
Black and white photograph of three people in a car.
1928 Model T Ford at Balephetrish. Driving the car is George Hamilton of Barrapol, former sea captain with Robertsons.
Black and white photograph of Scarinish harbour.
Scarinish harbour with the hotel on the extreme left, probably photographed in the 1930s.
