Collection of five original photographs and one postcard.
The postmistress and postmen on horse and traps in Scarinish (1997.168.6 – A6); MacArthurs` shop in Scarinish (1997.175.1 – E1); postcard of Mannal (1997.175.2 – E3); Tiree regatta 1939 (photo number unknown); Scarinsh harbour and the old prison (photo number unknown); Tiree Youth Club 1950 (photo number unknown).
The staff at the knitwear factory at Crossapol in the early 1970s
Photograph of the staff at the knitwear factory at Crossapol in the early 1970s.
Courtesy of Mr Robert Beck
Hebridean Knitwear Ltd was first attracted to Tiree through the initiative of the local vet Robert Beck and in 1969 opened a knitwear factory in the old United Free Church at Kirkapol until a purpose-built factory was completed at Crossapol.
Of the seven young women in the photograph, Hughina MacCallum, Betty Duff, Ann Burns, Ann Munn, Jean MacKay, Flora Brown and June Weston, the six in white overalls were sent to Coatbridge for six months’ training. On their return, they trained new operatives.
During the recession of the early 1980s, Hebridean Knitwear went into liquidation. The factory was briefly taken over by a Lanarkshire concern but closed for good in 1984. The building now houses the council offices and the Tiree branch of Argyll College.
Black and white photograph of the workers at the knitwear factory.
The workers at the knitwear factory in Crossapol in the early 1970s. L-R: Hughina MacCallum; Betty Duff (boarded out with the MacKays, Balephuil); Ann Burns (boarded out with the MacLeans, Balinoe); Ann Munn, Heanish; Jean MacKay, Balemartine; Flora Brown, Hillside, Balevullin , June Weston, Bungalow, Heylipol. (Original in Filing Cabinet 2 drawer 1)
Collection of four original photographs and two postcards.
Postcard of renovated house in Scarinish (1997.149.1 – A34); Postcard of Ruaig school (1997.148.35 – B19); group of unknown people (1997.148.36 – B20); Wartime revue (1997.148.37 – B21); Margaret Brown, Gott (1997.150.1 – B23); Scarinish pier with Eairdsidh na pacaid (1997.163.1 – C18); Bringing in the hay ( 1997.160.10 – D31).
Black and white photograph of Scarinish harbour.
Scarinish harbour with the Mary Stewart, probably taken in the 1930s. The building in the background was originally built as a church, then used intermittently as a prison and latterly as a store by the owners of the Mary Stewart. It was pulled down to make roads during World War II.
Black and white photograph of six Tiree craggans.
Six Tiree craggans photographed by George Holleyman between 1941 and 1943, and published in the paper ‘Tiree Craggans’, by G. A. Holleyman, in Antiquity 21, December 1947, pp 205-211. On the original slide, the craggans are captioned individually: 1 from Sandaig, 2 from Balevullin, 3-6 made by Hugh MacNeil in 1942.
The ‘Mary Stewart’ in Scarinish harbour in the 1930s
Photograph of the schooner ‘Mary Stewart’ in Scarinish harbour in the 1930s.
Courtesy of Mrs Netta Martin
Taken in the early 1930s, this view of Scarinish harbour shows the topsail schooner ‘Mary Stewart’ in her final resting place. For the previous thirty years she had traded up and down the west coast carrying coal and other cargo.
Also anchored in the harbour are two lobster boats. Commercial lobster fishing began on Tiree after 1880 when the railway to Oban was opened, allowing shellfish to be sent live to the London markets for the first time.
Said to have been originally built as a church, the building in the background was used as a store by the owners of the ‘Mary Stewart’. It was pulled down to make the road to the pier during World War II.
Black and white photograph of Scarinish harbour.
Scarinish harbour with the Mary Stewart, probably taken in the 1930s. The building in the background was originally built as a church, then used intermittently as a prison and latterly as a store by the owners of the Mary Stewart. It was pulled down to make roads during World War II.
Black and white photograph of a horn spoon, a serving mallet and a butter pat.
Horn spoon from Balevullin (left); serving mallet made of whalebone found in a ruined cottage in Caoles (middle); wooden butter pat (right), all photographed by George Holleyman.
Hugh MacKinnon and the first plane on Tiree
Photograph of Hugh MacKinnon and the first plane on Tiree.
Courtesy of Mrs Netta Martin
Hugh MacKinnon (Eòghann Dhòmhnaill), known as the Contractor, is pictured here on the Reef with the first plane to land on Tiree. The two-seater Moth piloted by Captain A. N. Kingwill was brought over from Renfrew by the Tiree Association for their Sports Day in July 1929.
The Contractor owned one of the few cars on Tiree at the time and took the pilot to his house for lunch. The first passengers on a short trip over the island included the Contractor himself and John MacLean (Iain a’ Ghaffer) of Kilkenneth.
Kingwill went on to fly with Sir Alan Copburn’s flying circus and made the first scheduled landing at a municipal airport later that year when he piloted a Moth into Wythenshawe Airport at Manchester.
Black and white photograph of the Tiree Association Sports Day in the late 1920s.
Tiree Association Sports Day, 1927 or 1928. Since its foundation in 1900, the Tiree Association has organised an annual Sports Day on Tiree which continues to this day. In 1927 or ’28, Captain A. N. Kingwill was hired to fly the first plane to the island, bringing with him the day’s newspapers. Short flights on the plane were on offer at 2/6d (12p) a time and Captain Kingwill gave a display of stunt-flying. Hugh MacKinnon, a local contractor from Crossapol, pictured behind the wheel of his car in E24, presented him with a medal.
Black and white photograph of Hugh MacNeill, Balevullin.
Hugh MacNeill of Balevullin, Tiree demonstrates how his mother, Flora MacNeill, would make small clay pots known as craggans which were believed to have special healing properties. Photographed by George Holleyman.
Black and white photograph of the Tiree Association Sports Day.
Tiree Association Sports Day, 1927 or 1928. Since its foundation in 1900, the Tiree Association has organised an annual Sports Day on Tiree which continues to this day. In 1927 or ’28, Captain A. N. Kingwill was hired to fly the first plane to the island, bringing with him the day’s newspapers. Short flights on the plane were on offer at 2/6d (12p) a time and Captain Kingwill gave a display of stunt-flying. Hugh MacKinnon, a local contractor from Crossapol (pictured behind the wheel of his car in E24) presented him with a medal.
