Colour photograph of Bella MacKinnon and Reg Knapman on Balevullin beach in the early 1990s.
Bella MacKinnon and Reg Knapman collecting carrageen on Balevullin beach in the early 1990s.
2003.105.19
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Tag Archives: seaweed
1999.97.1
Black and white photograph of Charles MacLean, Kenovay.
Charles MacLean (Tearlach Mac Ghilleasbuig), Kenovay, with a cart-load of seaweed. He was the 6` 4″ tall grand-uncle of Dr. William Armstrong and grand-uncle of Hugh Campbell, Garraphail. Note the fork stuck in the back of the cart to stop the seaweed slipping off.
1998.323.9
Harbcak book `Simply Seaweed` by Lesley Ellis.
A cook`s guide to seaweed.
1998.323.11
Journal extract `A Key to the Genera of the British Seaweeds` by W. Eifion Jones.
A guide to identifying British seaweeds.
De-accessioned 20.2.2026
1998.323.14
Paperback book `A Field Guide to the British Red Seaweeds` by Sue Hiscock.
Comprehensive and fully illustrated key to identifying British red seaweeds.
De-accessioned 21.3.2026.
1998.323.10
Paperback book `A Field Guide to the British Brown Seaweeds` by Sue Hiscock.
An illustrated key to identifying British brown seaweeds.
1998.323.3
Paperback book `Animals on Seaweed` by Peter J. Hayward.
Illustrated guide to the animals that live on seaweed.
De-accessioned 20.3.2026.
1998.152.1
Photocopied newspaper cutting about the seaweed industry.
Article about Edward Curtis Stanford (1837-1899) who managed the seaweed factory at Middleton for the North British Seaweed Co.
1999.113.22
Black and white photograph of a crofter gathering seaweed by horse and cart.
A crofter gathering seaweed by horse and cart to be used as fertiliser.
2003.18.18
Johnny MacKay of Balephuil
Photograph of Johnny MacKay of Balephuil transporting tangles with a donkey and cart in 1957.
Courtesy of Mr Alan Boyd
Morton Boyd photographed Johnny MacKay of Am Bail’ Ur in Balephuil in 1957 transporting dried kelp, known as tangles, with a donkey and cart. The tangles would be sent each year to the mainland for processing into alginates which are widely used to thicken food and size cloth.
Seaweed has also been used from the earliest times as animal fodder, for medicinal use, for human consumption – a milk pudding made from carrageen is still widely eaten on Tiree – and as a fertiliser for hay meadows and particularly for potatoes.
Crofters collecting seaweed divided the shoreline between them but occasionally disputes arose. As late as 1914 the Land Court had to adjudicate between crofters in Caoles, one of whom was ‘only allowed to take seaweed from the boundary of Ruaig to Ardeas until Old St. Patrick’s Day’ while his neighbour had free access to the beaches.
Black and white photograph of Johnny MacKay in 1957.
Johnny MacKay of Bail` Ur, Balephuill, collecting dry tangles in 1957.