The Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937

Photograph of the Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937.

Courtesy of Mrs Mairi Campbell

The Paterson family are pictured in 1937 sitting on a rick-lifter outside their steadings at Crossapol. The cart was used to move stùcanan (small stacks of corn) from the fields to an iodhlann, the stackyard behind the house, where about six to eight of them were carefully built into a mulan (corn stack).

Initially the cut corn was bound into sguaban (sheaves), eight to ten of which were lined up into an adag. Once the seed had hardened, after about ten days if the weather was good, the adagan would be put into a stùc which can stand up to the winds that are common at that time of year.

Stùcanan could be left out if the weather deteriorated. If there was a dry spell, however, the adagan could be taken straight to the stackyard, as every time the corn was handled some grain was lost.

Black and white photograph of the Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937.

The steadings at 6 Crossapol in 1937. The cart was used to move ricks from the fields to the stackyard. L-R: Sarah MacPhee née Paterson (George’s sister); George Paterson with his son Angus; Betty MacLean née MacPhee, Sarah’s daughter (at back); George and Meta’s children, Mairi and Iain; Hamish MacPhee, Sarah’s son.