Period: Nineteenth century
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1911 Exhibition in Glasgow
Palace of History: catalogue of exhibits, with illustrations (1911) Glasgow: Dalross
https://archive.org/details/palaceofhistoryc02scot
Page 819
‘HEBRIDEAN BURIALS, PROBABLY OF STONE AGE.
Skeleton of an Adult, about 23 years of age, probably a male, discovered and excavated in 1907 by Mrs. A. W. Farquhar and Ludovic McL. Mann. It was interred several feet deep in ancient drift shell-sand, and immediately beneath it was the ancient compact hard gravel of the 25 foot beach.
The body was placed in a crouched position on the right side, somewhat breast downwards, with knees drawn up. At the neck was found a Bone Pin, perforated at the thicker end. (See small box within the case.) No cist-structure was present. The bones are in wonderfully good condition, owing to the preservative action of the shell-sand, which in those parts is com- posed of the finely comminuted particles of the shells of
certain land snails. The interment was exposed with the utmost caution, and photographs, drawings, measurements and compass bearings were taken at the various
stages in the work, to ensure the utmost accuracy when the time came for reconstructing the burial (as has now been done with the co-operation of Prof. Thos. H. Bryce) in its precisely correct original position and in the original soil.
The bones of one foot disclose slight traces of rheumatoid arthritis.
In 1910, within a few yards of the same place, another burial was similarly excavated by Mr. Mann, with the assistance of A. Henderson Bishop and J. Graham Callander.
The Child’s Skeleton then discovered is shown at farther end of the case in its original environment; and on the opposite wall is a life-size photograph taken at one stage in the excavation work. In the photograph may be seen a foot-rule, which lies magnetic north and south. The head of the body was placed to the south. Supporting the left shoulder was a stone. A small flint flake was found in close association with the bones of the right hand. The relatives or friends of the deceased had apparently placed within the hand of the dead child this tiny Cake of flint, then perhaps hafted in a small handle of wood or horn, now perished. The child was about six years of age, as shown from the dentition and the bones.
On an old land surface above the interments, and apparently of less antiquity, were found about a hundred prehistoric objects shown in this case. They are :
A massive Domestic Hand-made Pottery Vessel, bucket-shaped, about 17 ins. high, with beading outside about 5 ins. below rim. It was found embedded in a layer of dark soil, closely associated with bones of the lower animals and pottery fragments.
Bone Implements and Objects, some or known types, but some of quite uncertain purpose and unique.
Implements, Discs, and possibly Ornaments of stone, chiefly of flint, porphyry, and quartzite.
Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.’
p. 554 Wecht or weght is a very ancient name for an instrument in the form of a sieve, but without holes. This one is made of goat’s skin. From Tiree. Used for winnowing husks from oatmeal, barley meal, and rye meal. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.
p. 560 A Sea-weed Gatherer’s Hook. Tiree. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.
p. 571 Scottish Iron Cruisie, with long nose and angular ratchet (hook and spike gone) from Ballavoullin, Tiree. Lent by L. McL. Mann.
p. 583 Case of Tallow Dips, from Tiree. Lent by L. McL. Mann.
p. 842 Small Pear-shaped Object of Lead, with truncated butt and perforation at the narrow end ; from Kilmaluaig, Tiree; a sinker. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.
p. 842 Two Pear-shaped Stones, each with perforation at narrow end, perhaps sinkers. One from Kilmaluaig, Tiree, and the other from Auchnagatt. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.
p. 842 Hammer Stone from Tiree, Lent by A Henderson Bishop
p. 875 Six “Craggans” from Tiree and Coll; and a pottery Churn, from Coll. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann.
p. 875 Three ” Craggans ” and a Pottery Churn, from Tiree. Lent by A. Henderson Bishop.
p. 905 Casting Line of Hair, a survival, from Tiree. Lent by Ludovic McL. Mann -
Third pier at Scarinish harbour
Used at very low tide. A series of metal stanchions and a concrete ramp were installed, possibly during the Second World War. There is a small quay at the water’s edge.
‘The Boat Slip is making good progress. Bags of cement, one upon the other, are laid in front, and already the slip is proving of some use for boats going out to the steamers. Mr MacArthur and his assistant spare no pains in making the slip a complete success. It will be of the utmost value to the island. ‘ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser 27 October 1900, 6) -
Reading Room, Scarinish
‘READING ROOM — The reading room kindly erected by the Duke of Argyll is a great boon to the island. It is exceedingly neat and handsome, and will be most useful for those waiting the steamers, who have hitherto had to endure much wet and cold in former years. There are quite e number of papers and serials in the reading room, and friends are expected to send more. The editor of the Strand Magazine sent several books; some were sent also by Mr Campbell, Inverness, and others.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser – Saturday 24 September 1892, p. 6)
1891: Tiree cattle show’s contribution to building a reading room and waiting rooms at Scarnish £45 13s. This was erected in 1892 by P. and R. Fleming of Glasgow at a cost of £102 2s’ (Factory Act Books, An Iodhlann cat. no. 1998.151.1)
It was divided internally by a partition. The east end contained shelving and was used as a Reading Room. Coates of Paisley donated books. The west end was the waiting room. After the Gott Bay pier opened in 1915, it was no longer used for this purpose, but as one of the few public rooms on the island it came to be used for weddings and ceilidhs, once as a shelter for shipwrecked sailors, an office for the Caledonian Construction Company who were building roads on the island during the Second World War, home for the pier master, a dentist’s surgery, and a polling station. It is now home to An Iodhlann, Tiree’s historical centre.
‘NOTES.—Mr Watson, photographer, Edinburgh, has presented the Tiree Reading Room with two fine pictures beautifully framed, viz.— “Oituar Scarinish agas Cleite Ruaig” and “Tra Bhaigh agus Eilean nan Shiliag.” They are very valuable pictures, and Mr Watson has already got a medal for them. Mr Watson, one of the masters in the Merchants School, Queen Street, Edinburgh, is taking holidays in the island at present. He is staying at the Baugh Manse.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 4 August 1894, p. 6)
‘READING ROOM.—The Committee beg to acknowledge, with thanks, a number of illustrated papers, viz., “The Sphere,” received occasionally from an unknown donor, with a postmark of Liverpool, also a number of magazines from Lady Victoria Campbell, Miss Goodrich Freer, and Miss R. M. Laudon. Contributions of this type are highly acceptable. It is hoped that those interested in the Reading-room will do what they can in this way.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 8 March 1902, p. 6)
Mr Jas. [James] Coats, jun, of Ferguslie House, Paisley, has presented the Tiree Reading-room, Scarinish, with a very handsome contribution of useful books. The committee feel exceedingly grateful for this valuable gift, which will be found most useful during the winter months in a lonely island like Tiree, where there is no access to other libraries. Besides the books, Mr Coats has also kindly given book-cases.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 5 September 1903, p. 6)
‘His Grace the Duke of Argyll has presented to the reading room, Tiree, the following books :—“Organic Evolution”; “Irish Nationalism”; “The Unity of Nature”; “Our Responsibilities for Turkey”; “Guido and Lita”; “Burdens of Belief”; “Rome”; “Crofts and Farms in the Hebrides”; “ A Gift Book for the Home.” Of all of these volumes, the late Duke was the author.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 6 May 1905, p. 6)
‘Parish Council.—A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Saturday last within the Reading-Room of Scarinish Library for the purpose of judging of applications, numbering over a dozen, for the medical officership rendered vacant by the death of Dr. Alex. Buchanan. Ratepayers and all concerned are anxious that the post now vacant for a period of almost six months be filled with the minimum of delay. Dr. Campbell, assistant to Dr. Currie, Oban, is giving temporary supply, and his services are much appreciated by all classes of the community.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 16 September 1911, p. 6)
‘SCHOOL BOARD— A special meeting of the School Board was held in Scarinish Reading Room on Saturday last, Mr H. McDiarmid, chairman of the Board, presiding.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 17 August 1912, p. 6)
See KING C. The Rise and Decline of Village Reading Rooms. Rural History.
2009; 20(2):163-186. -
An Tunga, Hough
This small graveyard is known as An Tunga.
NL 94662 47475
Internal dimensions: L 4.8, W 2.2, H 1 m -
Lazy beds, Balephetrish
Here ‘lazy’ has the Scots meaning of ‘fallow or untilled’ (Dictionary of the Scots Language). A form of spade cultivation where the soil is thin. A line of turf is dug and folded over, the then another is dug so that the lines meet. Potatoes or barley were planted inside the ‘sandwich’, usually with a little seaweed. It was widely used on Tiree by cottars in the nineteenth century (potatoes were introduced to Tiree around 1758), particularly on ground near the shore or on the sliabh or moor. -
The Glassary, Middleton
Edward Stanford built a kelp processing factory in Middleton in 1863. It was partly demolished in 1940 to provide hardcore for the RAF Tiree runways.