Thatched house in Salum
Photograph of John Lachie MacInnes’ thatched house in Salum.
Courtesy of Mr Alan Boyd
J. Morton Boyd photographed John Lachie MacInnes’ house in Salum in the 1960s. This was the last house in Tiree to have its thatch held down by sìoman-ruadh or coir rope. Straw rope was used until the mid-19th century; nowadays chicken wire or plastic netting is used instead.
Tiree houses were made as far as possible from local materials – stone, lime, clay, straw rope and the thatch. Only glass and wood for the roof timbers, doors and windows were imported. They look utterly immovable but nothing could be further from the truth.
Islanders moved around a great deal, either by choice or because the factor gave them no option. The thatch had to be discarded but the turfs and roof timbers were taken down and put into the back of a cart and the stones moved on sledges, load by load, to the new site.
Colour photograph of John Lachie MacInnes`s house in Salum.
John Lachie MacInnes`s house in Salum photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh Dhonnchaidh Bhain in Bail` Ur, Balephuill.
Taigh Dhonnchaidh Bhain in Bail` Ur, Balephuill, photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 50s.
Colour photograph of Kate MacDonald and Johnny MacKay in Bail` Ur.
Kate MacDonald (Ceit Chalein) and Johnny MacKay in Bail` Ur, Balephuil, photographed by Jean Irwin.
Black and white photograph of Iain Neill an Drobhair Bhain in Barrapol.
Iain Neilidh Neill an Drobhair Bhain in Barrapol photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 50s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh Ceit Chalein, Am Bail` Ur, Balephuil.
Taigh Ceit Chalein in Am Bail` Ur, Balephuil, photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh Neill Oig, Bail` Ur, Balephuil.
Taigh Neill Oig in Bail` Ur, Balephuil, photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh Alasdair in Baugh.
Taigh Alasdair in Baugh, photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh Alasdair in Baugh.
Taigh Alasdair and the stackyard in Baugh, photographed by Morton Boyd in the 1940s or 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Taigh MacKay in Bail` Ur, Balephuill.
Taigh MacKay in Bail` Ur, Balephuill, photographed by Morton Boyd in c 1950s.
Black and white photograph of Alasdair Mor MacDonald and Rena MacDonald in Kilmoluaig.
Alasdair Mor MacDonald and Rena MacDonald in Kilmoluaig, photographed by the Glasgow Herald in the 1960s or 70s.
