The stackyard at Whitehouse
Photograph of Donald MacLean with his sons Donald and Tom in the stackyard at Whitehouse.
Courtesy of Mr Reg Knapman
Donald MacLean and his sons, Donald on the right and Tom on the left, are finishing off a ‘mulan’ (corn stack) at Whitehouse. Once the stack was about seven feet high, a small eave or ‘calpa’ was made by putting two layers of sheaves back to back.
The stack was thatched with ‘sealasdair’ (iris) or ‘cuilc’ (reeds) or very occasionally hay. The point or ‘toman’ was often finished off with a cockscomb of bound iris or a small sheaf whose seed had been neatly removed. This was called ‘am boideanan’.
When the ‘mulan’ was finished, it was weighted down by three heavy ropes and stones for a few days to allow it to settle. Then ‘sìoman ruadh’ (sisal rope) was criss-crossed over the top and weighted with six stones.
Black and white photograph of Donald MacLean and his sons at Whitehouse.
Donald MacLean, with his sons Donald on the right and Tom on the left, building stacks at Whitehouse.
Black and white photograph of Alexander MacLean (1855-1937).
Alexander MacLean (1855-1937), known as Sandy, whose father of the same name emigrated to New Zealand after his wife died leaving Sandy in the care of his uncle Donald at Ardbeg.
Black and white photograph of Lachlan MacLean and his wife Euphemia MacKinnon.
Missionary Lachlan MacLean of Creagan Breac, Cornaigbeg, and his wife Euphemia MacKinnon of Vaul on their wedding day.
Black and white photograph of Margaret MacLean at Whitehouse.
Margaret MacLean feeding hens at Whitehouse.
Black and white photograph of Chrissie MacLean of Whitehouse.
Chrissie MacLean (1889-1989) of Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg.
Black and white photograph of MacLean girls of Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg.
The MacLean girls of Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg. L-R: Elizabeth or Liza (1879-1972), Christina or Chrissie (1889-1989) and Margaret Ann (1892-1982).
Black and white photograph of Donald MacLean, Ardbeg, and his wife Flora.
Donald MacLean of Ardbeg, Cornaigbeg, and his wife Flora MacLean (1837-1912) who were married in Glasgow in 1855. Flora was the daughter of Donald MacLean, Cornaigbeg, and Mary MacFadyen, Miodar.
Black and white photograph of Donald MacLean, Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg.
Donald MacLean (1845-1933), crofter at Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg. Donald was the son of Charles MacLean, turner, and Christina MacDonald, the sister-in-law of Rev. Archibald Farquharson.
Colour photograph of an early painting by Duncan MacGregor Whyte.
An early painting by Duncan MacGregor Whyte. On the the left is one of the three thatched house behind Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg; on the right is the old manse.
Photocopied letter from the factor Hugh MacDiarmid dated 20/3/1893.
Letter from the factor Hugh MacDiarmid dated 20/3/1893 to the Duke`s chamberlain about assistance to roof Archibald MacLean`s house in Cornaigbeg, the selling of a cottar`s house in Balephuil to pay for funeral expenses and another cottar family setting up residence in a byre in Balevullin.
