A spiral bound paperback book. 298pp
An Caolas Tirisdeach
Caolas, Tiree
An Island Township through Three Centuries 1600-1900
by Donald E. Meek
2026.18.11
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Tag Archives: crofting
2026.18.9
Paperback book
Crofting Crucible. Glimpses into the Economic, Social, and Cultural History of Balephuil in Tiree.
John Randall (Editor)
Islands Book Trust 2025
Based on a two-day conference organised by the Islands Book Trust in Tiree in September 2024 entitled “In Search of Balephuil’s Hidden Past – Tracing the History of a Tiree Township and its People”. The book brings together accounts from each of the twelve speakers.
2026.3.10
From a collection of photographs and items from Lodge Farm, Kirkapol.
A horse buckle from Lodge Farm
2026.4.1
From a collection of items from a byre in Brock
A 6ft (180cm) pit saw blade
Pit saws were used to cut planks from tree trunks, for house and boat building. The “pit” in Brock would have been a hollow in the sand dunes. The log was placed horizontally across the pit or frame and the saw was usually operated by two men: a top-man above and a pit-man guiding the saw from below. This may have been a one-man saw
With the absence of local sawmills the use of pit saws would have continued long into the 1800s and possibly even the 1900s
2025.37.3
The Crofter Revolt Against Landlordism by John Murdoch
Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette 1886
Booklet 63 pages
2022.36.3
Digitised Plan of the Farm of Kenavay [sic] In the Island of Tyrii, now divided into Thirteen Farms nearly to four Male Land each Surveyed and Divided By Geo[rge] Langlands, 1802.
Contains a map of Kenovay with houses and a table of Acres in each Division. The table records Arable Ground in rotation of Crops, Arable & past[ure] aloted [sic] for Grassing, Acres in each Farm or division, as well as for the Reef keeper’s croft.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle.
2024.20.1
From a collection of photographs relating to Balephuil.
Men L-R: John MacKay, Donald Sinclair, Willie MacNeill, Duncan MacDonald
Girls L-R: Betty Daff, Mina Lindsay
2024.9.3
Yesterday’s News No. 3 – Egg Production in Tiree
From a collection of historical accounts by Dr John Holliday
2022.32.2
Digitised copy of a letter from D MacInnes to Lord Archibald Campbell, 7 April 1885.
In the letter MacInnes (4 Battery Terrace, Oban) describes a conversation with an unnamed Tiree man who was born and brought up on the farm of ‘Hianous’ (perhaps Heanish). This unnamed man believes that the people of Tiree are better treated than on any other estate, but that only one half of the population can afford a comfortable living. He describes the situation on the farm of Scarinish, and mentions Sandy MacLean. He writes that four of the crofts there each maintain a horse, two cows, and a ‘stirk or two’ for £15 rent, and that the tenants have ‘unrestrained liberty’ to use as much sea ware (seaweed) as they like for manure and kelp making.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2022.31.6
Digitised copy of a letter from John McKinnon to the Duke of Argyll, dated 30 January 1894. In this letter McKinnon (Moss) complains that he was due to inherit a croft from his cousin, Catherine Sinclair (Moss), but that it was claimed by his cousin Neil Sinclair (cottar, Balephuil) and that the Factor, Mr Wyllie, entered Neil Sinclair’s name on the rent book. McKinnon references the work he did to improve the croft, that he took care of his cousin in her old age, and his current hardships. He was summoned by Mr Sproat (Procurator Fiscal) in Tobermory and failing his appearance was told his cow would be poinded. McKinnon also mentions that Sinclair was one of the first to take up their abode in Moss.
From the archives of the Dukes of Argyll at Inveraray Castle, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.