Photocopied extract `The Buildings of Scotland – Argyll and Bute` by Frank Arneil Walker, pp 594-600.
Descriptions of townships and buildings, churches and chapels, burial grounds and cemeteries, monuments and memorials, duns, forts and broch, standing stones, airport and piers, Sandaig museum, Skerryvore and the Hynish complex.
Photocopied newspaper article about a visit to Tiree by George E. Meston in 1935.
Article about Tiree with paragraphs about the ferry and freight services, golf, the beaches, snipe shooting and bird watching, the lochs, air ambulance, the coal boats, wireless sets in Balemartine, Soroby graveyard and the Skerryvore workshops at Hynish.
Black and white photograph of Balemartine School in 1948-49.
Balemartine School in 1948-49.
Jean Fletcher (3rd L),Alasdair MacDonald (4th L), Jannette Hendry (5th L), Hughie Ferguson MacDonald (6th L), Jenny Penman (next L at front), Joan Kennedy (next L at front), Ellen Penman (next L at front), Margaret Sinclair (next L at front), Helen Montgomery (next L at front), Jean Whitelaw (next L at front), teacher Mrs Mary MacArthur, Jemima Montgomery (6th R), Donald J. Kennedy (5th R), Margo MacKinnon (4th R), Archie MacArthur (3rd R), Kenny Stewart (2nd R front), Isabella MacArthur (1st R back).
Schools in Tyree 1863
Transcription of John Ramsay’s report on Tiree schools in 1863.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
In 1863, John Ramsay, MP for Falkirk Burghs, reported on the state of Tiree schools to the Royal Commission on Education in Scotland chaired by the 8th Duke of Argyll. Ramsay assessed the condition of the buildings, the quality of the teaching, the progress of the scholars and their attendance at school.
At the time of the report, there were eight schools on Tiree, two supported by the Church of Scotland, four by the Free Church Ladies Society and one each by the General Assembly and the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. Only three made a good impression.
The recommendations of the Argyll Commission were put into effect by the Education Act of 1872. Primary education was made compulsory for children aged five to thirteen and the control of schools placed in the hands of popularly elected school boards.
Photocopied feu charter by the Duke of Argyll in favour of the Tiree School Board dated 1886.
Feu charter dated 1886 by the Duke of Argyll in favour of the Tiree School Board for a piece of ground in Balemartine. (Bundle 2501)
Letter of 1847 from the Secretary of the Board of Fisheries
Transcription of a letter of 1847 from the Secretary of the Board of Fisheries to the Marquis of Lorne.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
The failure of the potato crop in 1846 led to widespread food shortages in the Highlands and Islands. In an attempt to provide work for people suffering from destitution, the government decided to improve ‘certain creeks on the west coast of Scotland’.
The Board of Fisheries sent an inspection team to Tiree and neighbouring islands to examine the state of the fishing boats, lines and piers. They concluded a total of £2,199 was needed to develop the fishing industry on Tiree, Mull and Iona and that the Duke of Argyll should pay half the costs.
The Marquis of Lorne argued against this proposal with some justification as the estate had tried for many years to encourage islanders to combine crofting and fishing with little success. However, in 1847 the Duke agreed to pay £690 towards building four new piers at Balemartine, Hynish, Milton and at the Green in Kilmoluaig.
Photocopied letter dated 18/1/1847 to the Marquis of Lorne from Mr Dick Lander, Secretary of the Board of Fisheries.
Letter dated 18/1/1847 to the Marquis of Lorne from Mr Dick Lander, Secretary of the Board of Fisheries, acknowledging receipt of £690 10/- being half the sum required to improve certain creeks on Tiree.
Colour photograph of Cnoc Mor, Balemartine.
Cnoc Mor, Balemartine.
Colour photograph of of the interior of the shop at Cnoc Mor, Balemartine.
The interior of the shop at Cnoc Mor, Balemartine.
Colour photograph of of the interior of the shop at Cnoc Mor, Balemartine.
The interior of the shop at Cnoc Mòr, Balemartine.
