Black and white photograph of an unknown man with cows from a small album from Silversands.
`Am Buachaille` (the cow-herd or shepherd) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white group photograph outside Rhum View, Vaul in 1945.
Rhum View, Vaul in 1945. L-R: (back) Harry Johnston (Margaret`s father), Iain MacKinnon (Catriona`s grandson), (front) Nan MacClounnan, Margaret Doig nee Johnston, Catriona MacKinnon (Margaret`s aunt). Catriona`s sister Mary Flora married Jimmy Pettigrew, the brother of Harry Johnston`s wife.
‘Aig a’ Mhuc Mhara’
Photograph of a stranded whale.
Courtesy of Mr Ronnie MacLean
Before the development of paraffin lamps, lighting in Tiree’s houses was provided by small oil lamps known in Gaelic as ‘crùisgean’. Oil from various fish was used but whales stranded on the shore were another important source.
The Statistical Account of 1845 recorded that ‘…shoals of small whales sometimes frequent our bays; and the people have become very expert at driving them ashore with boats… They are commonly from 15 to 20 feet long, and their blubber yields about a barrel of oil, each.’ From this description, they are most likely to have been Long-finned Pilot Whales.
This photograph titled ‘Aig a’ Mhuc Mhara’ (At the whale), of what is probably a Northern Bottle-nosed Whale, came from a small album from Silversands in Vaul and dates from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of two unknown women and a dead whale from a small album from Silversands.
`Aig a` Mhuc Mhara` (at the whale) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white postcard of Vaul Bay postmarked in the 1930s.
Postcard of Vaul Bay postmarked in the 1930s.
Black and white photograph of three unknown women outside Silversands from a small album from Silversands.
Three women pegging out what is probably a shawl on the grass to dry using feathers, from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of a coal puffer on Gott Bay from a small album from Silversands.
`Bata guail ann an Camus Ghot` (the coal boat in Gott Bay) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
The wedding of Captain John MacKinnon and Elizabeth Lamont
Photograph of the wedding of Captain John MacKinnon of Vaul and Elizabeth Lamont in Glasgow in the 1930s.
Courtesy of Mrs Anneen Black
Captain John MacKinnon (Teònaidh Dhòmhnaill Bhig) of Vaul, one of MacBrayne’s legendary captains, worked for many years as master of the ‘Lochearn’ and ‘Claymore’ on the Oban-Tobermory-Coll-Tiree-Castlebay-Lochboisdale run.
In January 1953 a ferocious gale swept across Scotland causing the tragic loss of the Stranraer to Larne ferry. The ‘Lochearn’, however, under the command of Captain MacKinnon made safe passage from Castlebay to Oban.
He married Elizabeth Lamont (Lìosaidh Bhàn) of Ruaig in the 1930s, and the couple had one daughter. Captain MacKinnon was awarded the MBE in 1957 and died in 1975. He was well known for his kindness to passengers and is remembered with affection and respect.
Black and white photograph of the wedding of Captain John MacKinnon and Lizzie MacDonald in the 1930s.
The wedding of Captain John MacKinnon (Teonaidh Dhomhnaill Bhig) from Vaul and Lizzie Lamont MacDonald in the 1930s. John was Commodore of the MacBrayne fleet before he retired.
Black and white photograph of poet Alasdair MacCallum of Vaul.
Poet Alasdair MacCallum of Vaul.
(original is in 2026.3)
Black and white photograph of Donald MacLean of Vaul and Duncan MacKinnon of Lodge Farm, Kirkapol.
Donald MacLean of Vaul and Duncan MacKinnon of Lodge Farm, Kirkapol, on a tractor drawn binder, probably taken around 1950.
Black and white photograph of poet Alasdair MacCallum of Vaul.
Poet Alasdair MacCallum of Vaul. (He had mental health problems and stayed in the house for years.)
