Small brass eagle mounted on the brass ‘lid’ of a missile shell, probably from RAF Tiree during WWII. Unknown origin and purpose.
2020.12.1
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2020.11.1
Photographs of three items belonging to the descendants of island factor Hugh MacDiarmid (1846-1928), who lived at Island House, Heylipol, during 1876-1928.
an Entada phasaeoloides ‘sea-bean’ found on the beach by the factor’s daughter, Meta MacDiarmid, and made into a pendant for her (possibly by her fiance).
a brass plaque from a wooden box of silver plated cutlery presented by people of Tiree to Meta on her marriage.
a coffee or chocolate pot presented by the Duke of Argyll to Hugh MacDiarmid in 1906, probably on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
a gold brooch given to Meta by her Godmother, Lady Frances Balfour. It was stolen from their home in Malaya and later found by one of the servants in a local market. The pearls are thought to be Scottish.
2020.10.1
Small photograph of an oil painting of the yacht ‘Oceana’ sailing off the coast of Naples in around 1929, with Mount Vesuvius erupting in the background. The Oceana was wrecked at the west end of Crossapol beach in 1949, and the cause of much intrigue at the time. Painted by the Italian artist L. Papaluca (1890-1934), who was well-known for his paintings of ships. The painting belonged to Robert Polson of Badachro (Gairloch) who captained the yacht.
2020.9.1
Thirty-eight colour slides of scenes of Tiree photographed by Harry Rutter, Balemartine, in the late 1950s-1960s. Harry planned to make postcards of the images for sale from his shop in Balemartine. Scenes include beaches, townships, Tiree Pipe Band, cattle show and the airport.
2020.8.7
Softback book ‘A Divided Life’ by Robert Cecil, 2017. Biography of the Cambridge spy Donald Duart Maclean (b.1913). Donald’s grandfather, John MacLean, was a shoemaker in Kilmoluaig, then later in Carmarthen. Tiree is mentioned on page 3.
2020.8.6
Softback book ‘A Spy Named Orphan’ by Roland Philipps, 2018. The full story of the Cambridge spy Donald Duart MacLean (b. 1913) based on previously classified material. Donald’s grandfather, John MacLean, was a shoemaker in Kilmoluaig, then later in Carmarthen. Tiree is mentioned on pages 8-9 & 366.
2020.8.5
Softback book ‘Flight from the Croft’ by Bill Innes, 2019. Bill recounts his career as a pilot during the 1950s-1996, which included flying BEA passenger aircraft between the Scottish islands. Tiree and Captain David Barclay are mentioned on pages 31, 41, 72 & 73.
2020.8.4
Transcript of a tribute to the artist Kirsty Laird (nee Noel-Paton; 1934-2019) given by her children at Mortonhall Crematorium in August 2019. Much of Kirsty’s art was inspired by Tiree, where she spent many years working from her house at Brock.
2020.8.3
Booklet ‘Smuaintean bho Cheann a’ Bhara – Òrain agus bàrdachd le Niall M Brownlie’, 2016. A collection of Gaelic songs and poems written by Niall Brownlie, Barrapol (1925-2015), compiled by his niece, Flora MacKinnon.
2020.8.2
Insurance claim receipt made out to MacLaren Grain and Co., 1885. The claim was to recoup losses as a result of the steamship ‘Ardandhu’ colliding in 1883. Paid out by the insurance company William Euing & Co. Brokers. Before this incident, in 1881, the SS Ardandhu sank after colliding with another ship on the River Clyde. It went on to become wrecked on Hough Skerries off the west coast of Tiree during a storm in 1891.
