Copy of the Scottish Islands Explorer magazine Aug-Sep 2022, with articles about ‘An Iodhlann: Tiree’s special heritage centre’ by Roger Butler (pp 17-20; 8 photos), and ‘Longships on the sand’ by John Randall (pp 42-43; 5 photos) about the 2nd edition of John Holliday’s book by the same title.
Digital copy of Description of Tiree from a book published in 1808. Consists of a handwritten transcription from a book, and includes mentions of: Island House, crops, livestock, caves at Ceanm-harra [Kenavara], the Reef, duns [brochs], St Patrick’s Chapel, the discovery of coins in ‘small earthen vessels’, and the discovery of human and horse skeletons in Cornaigbeg. The document also mentions that the ancient name of Tiree was Riog-Hachd-bar-Fathuim, ‘the Kingdom whose summits are lower than the waves’.
Click to view a transcript of this item.
Click to view a record for this item on Inveraray’s online catalogue.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Digitised copy of Observations on Tiree by Dr Walker, 1765. Dr Walker’s observations are arranged under the following headings: situation, extent, hills, harbour, tides, springs, sea, soil, rieve [reef], climate, crops, inhabitants, longevity, diseases, antiquities, agriculture, inclosures, cattle, grain, change of seed, hay, manures, turneps [turnips], price of commodities, price of labour, exports and imports, manufacture, fishery, hemp, natural productions, marble, copper, porphyry. There is no transcript for this item but see 1997.273.1.
The Rev Dr John Walker, minister of Moffat and a pioneer of scientific botany and geology, was sent to the Hebrides in 1764 and 1771 by the Commission for Annexed Estates to report on the social conditions, population and the state of manufacture, agriculture and fisheries.
Click to view a record for this item on Inveraray’s online catalogue.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
Softback booklet ‘Prehistoric Rock Art in Scotland’, 2021. Produced and published by Scotland’s Rock Art Project (ScRAP) and Historic Environment Scotland to raise awareness and appreciation of the thousands of rock carvings made by early farming communities throughout Scotland over 4,000 years ago. Pages 27 and 43 include photographs of Dr John Holliday, Balephuil.
21 small pieces of bog iron iron found by Dr John Holliday at Pàirc na Coille, Balephuil, in 2021. Bog iron ore occurs naturally in wet ground associated with sand. It was refined and used by Iron Age settlers to make tools etc.
Photocopy of an academic paper ‘Dun Ara: a Norse-period harbour in Mull?’ by Dr James Petre, 2020. Explores the history of the site known as Dun Ara in Mishnish, north Mull. Comparisons are made with sites at Dun Mor Vaul, Kenavara and Milton, Tiree. A digital copy of the full article is held in An Iodhlann.
Click here to view 2021.12.1 extract
Black & white photograph of Medieval skeletons in two burial pits discovered during excavation work at Kirkapol Parish Church.
Pages from the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society, 1862, with an article titled ‘Alteration of Sea-level in the Island of Tiree’ by Alexander Scott, describing traditional rock fishing methods of ancient origin at Hynish Point, which indicate the drop in sea level since ancient times.
Click here to view full text 2021.7.3
Pages from the Antiquary Magazine, 1907, with an illustrated article titled ‘Some Antiquities of Tiree’ by WG Collingwood, about duns and ancient chaples on the island. Mentions the Temperance Hotel in Scarinish and the prosperous appearance of local housing.
Click here to view 2021.7.2
Colour photo postcard of two children at Dùn Mòr Bhalla / Vaul broch in around 1980.
