1876
Ordnance Survey map for 1876 (but also see 1873, ante and 1895
post) shows the following:-
Travelling west to east, Kinlochmoidart Pier, Corn Mill, Millhouse,
Boathouse.
After this is Schoolhouse which comes immediately before the farm
steading. Following the steading is Parsonage and St Finnans
Church (Episcopalian).
The Princes Walk to the house is shown, which has kennels
near Orchard Burn.
Immediately south is Mount Margaret.
On either side of River Moidart Bridge is Post Office (north) and
Smithy (south).
The road link between the Post Office and Orchard Burn has not yet
been built.
Bonnalie/Impey Papers, Ref 33.
1881The school on Eilean Shona shown for the first time in
the valuation rolls and rated. Miss Isabella Middleton is named
as the teacher. Logs and registers for the school are available
at HC Archives 1878-1980 Gordon Barr
1881 Census available at Fort William Library on microfilm
- Gordon Barr
1881 Six out of ten people in Argyll were still native Gaelic
speakers. The Education Act of 1872 had the aim that all school-children
should be able to read and write in English, but they were taught
in English, whilst at home the common language between the children
and the parents was Gaelic and the parents, being able neither to
read nor write in many cases, were unable to be much help to the
children. Go Listen to the Crofters, AD Cameron, page 116
1882 During a crisis in sheep farming, one of the larger farms
on the Kinloch estate was thrown back into the owners hands.
At the same time a large delivery of stock occurred necessitating
the payment of £10,000. To raise this, the property had to
be disentailed upon payment of another £10,000. The very high
interest rates upon these borrowed sums prevailing at the time were
more than the property could meet, especially as the bottom had
dropped out of the sheep and wool market at the same time. The property
had to be sold, thus ending an association of over 300 years with
the MacDonalds. Moidart Among the Clanranalds p 197 Charles MacDonald,
Ed John Watts
1882 The Kinlochmoidart MacDonalds received the property
by feu charter in 1593 and it passed continually down the male line
until the death of Donald in 1804. It passed to his sister Margarita
who was married to Lt Col David Robertson and the family changed
their name to Robertson-MacDonald. Their son, William Frederick
Robertson-MacDonald sold the estate to Robert Stewart in 1882 and
died a year later in 1883. Moidart Among the Clanranalds p245
Charles MacDonald, Ed John Watts.
1882 Annual Valuation rolls exist from 1869 and are
in Inverness archives. They track on an annual basis various occupations.
E.g. Baker at Dorlin in 1882, pilot on Eilean Shona 1889, Smirisary
Crofters described as Fishermen, several weavers, wool spinners
and shoemakers. The rise and fall of sheep farming can be traced
too. - Gordon Barr
1883 The Napier Commission heard evidence at Arisaig and
later at Salen in Mull. The reference is available at Inverness
Public Library and is published in Volume III, p2070-2127. It includes
evidence from Ardnish, Mingary, Dalnabreac, Eilean Shona and Polnish.
NAS also have records of returns by Estates on AF50/7/1 to 7/19
(for crofters) and AF50/8/1 to 8/7 (for cottars). Gordon Barr.
When in Salen on Mull the Commission heard evidence which was
out of the ordinary for them. It concerned club farming
which was a concept they had not encountered before when attending
hearings at which crofters described their tenure and conditions,
prior to the land reform acts which followed (The Crofting Acts).
Charles Cameron, who was 65 and one of five crofters of Acharacle
in Ardnamurchan explained to the Commission that each of them could
keep four cows and a horse on his own lot and that they had 100
sheep which they held in common on the hill. It had been a club
farm ever since he could remember: There is one mark for all
the sheep which belong to all the tenants in common. One of us is
chosen to go and sell the stock, and whatever he gets we are all
agreeable to it. We get as much for the wool as pays for the smearing
of the sheep, and sometimes a little over, and we sell perhaps thirty
or forty lambs and a few aged sheep at the end of the season.
The Acharacle crofters found the club system worked well for them
but it did not make them rich. Because their rents were high, £18
a year, they had to take any work they could, such as ploughing
for smaller crofters. Charles Cameron also relied on his grown up
daughters earnings in England What she is able
to give me helps to pay my rent and, he added support
me. Go Listen to the Crofters, The Napier Commission,
AD Cameron
1883 Lord Howard of Glossop died and was succeeded by his
only son. He had run the estate on the axiom that on small
estates like Dorlin
the real way to improve the condition of
people was to enlarge their holdings
This would ultimately
convert crofters into a well-to-do class of small farmers, thus
doing away with the two great drawbacks of crofter estates, viz.
A population looking to the proprietor for employment, and brought
to the verge of starvation when this is not got, and the perpetuation
of a class who are chronic feeders of the pauper rolls
Moidart Among the Clanranalds p220 Charles MacDonald, Ed John
Watts
1883 Lord Howard of Glossops return to the Napier Commission
was described by the author AD Cameron as, signs of a kindlier
landlord. The entry illustrated was as follows:-
Cottars
Ann McDonald, 2 persons in cottage, No Rent, Has cottage cowhouse
and some potato ground and grazing for her cattle, 2 cows kept.
Roderick McDonald, 6 persons in cottage, No Rent, Cottage and land
for potatoes and oats and grazing for two cattle, 2 cows kept.
Allan McDonald, 6 persons in cottage, No Rent, cottage and some
potato ground and grazing for one cow, 1 cow kept.
Peggy MacKenzie, 1 person in cottage, No Rent, cottage and piece
of land.
Duncan MacMillan on John McGregors croft No4 sheet 1 and pays
him £1.1.8 for grazing one of his cows entered as McGregors
Peggy McVarish, 1 person in cottage, No Rent, cottage, pauper.
Ann McDonald and Mary McDonald, 2 persons in cottage, No Rent, cottage,
paupers.
James McGillivray, £5, Blacksmith and house and smithy.
Go listen to the Crofters, The Napier Commission, AD Cameron
1884 Kinlochmoidart House was completed in 1884 at a cost
of £9,048.00 and was described in an article at the time as
mansion
house with electric light laid on
five public roomes
ten
family bedrooms
ample accommodation for servants
outbuildings
shooting
over 15,000 acres of which about 1,000 are of wood, 3,000 acres
arable, 6,000 acres grouse ground, clear of sheep and the rest hill
pasture without heather
Kinlochmoidart House, Stephen
Jefferson, 1995
1884 It was in January 1884 that Mr Stewart obtained 30,000
(two boxes) of eyed Loch Leven trout eggs from Howietoun
..He
placed them in artificial redds in the burn between Loch Nam Paitean
and Loch Mhadiadh. The following year no trout were observed, but
in August 1886 a shepherd informed Mr Stewart he had seen a few
fish rising, so a fly-rod was taken up and twelve well-conditioned
trout, averaging about half a pound, were caught in Nam Paitean
.In
September 1886, larger fish began to rise and four were killed in
Loch nam Paitean, the largest weighing one and three quarters pounds.
In the same year it was found that a number of trout had ascended
the burn to Loch Mhadiadh. Successful Fish Culture in the
Highlands, by John Bickerdyke, Page 835 Journal December 1893,Bonnalie/Impey
Papers Ref 20
1885 Kinlochmoidart Estate (as described in the
deed of entail as being the mains of Kinlochmore, Kinlochuachdrach,
Brunery and Badnacraggan; plus the merklands of (a) Caolas-Ian-Oig,
Caolas more and Shonaveg, (b) Ulgary, (c) Assary, (d) Glenforslan
and (e) half merkland of Duilad)comprised 9349 acres valued
at £1,008 per annum (Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, Vol 2,
p408. Edinburgh 1885). It is situated at the head of Loch Moidart
extending for some 4 miles along its northern shore and up both
sides of the little River Moidart, being about 9 miles in length
from East to West and about 4 miles from North to South. In addition
to the Home Farm it comprised the large farm of Glenforslan and
a smaller farm, Kinacarra or Low Farm, at the western end of the
estate. The small estate known as Lochans or Glenmoidart, situated
on the north side of the River Moidart was reserved as a residence
for the bailiff of Clanranald, and although it was in the middle
of the Kinlochmoidart Estates it did not form part of it, or belong
to the Kinlochmoidart family. Commentary upon the description
of the property comprising the Kinlochmoidart Estate as set out
in the deed of entail dated 7th October 1795 and referred to subsequently.
Bonnalie/Impey Papers. Ref 50.
1886 Robert Stewart also bought Glen Moidart from Hugh Robertson
Ross Kinlochmoidart House Stephen Jefferson 1995 One of the
properties in the district which oftener than any other has passed
from one owner to another, since it was sold by Clanranald, is that
of Lochans, or Glenmoidart. It has been in the hands of Banker Macdonald,
Lachlan Chisholm, Captain Grimstone, General Ross, and has finally
been acquired by Mr Stuart (sic) of Kinloch. Although small in size
it has many attractions, the house for instance, being picturesquely
situated in front of the River Moidart and of a small lake through
which the water flows on its way to the lower end of the glen. This
house was enlarged by General Ross, to whom also are due the fine
plantations in its vicinity, and which help so much in diversifying
the scenery of the place. It is now being pulled down to make way
for a larger building. Moidart Among the Clanranalds, Charles
MacDonald, Ed John Watts p215
1886 The Crofters Act passed through Parliament, a watered
down version of the Napier Commission recommendations. It brought
all crofters security of tenure, the right to pass the land on to
another member of the family, the right to improvements should they
ever give up the tenancy, and a new land court, The Crofters Commission,
with the power to fix fair rents. Go listen to the Crofters,
The Napier Commission, AD Cameron
1886 There were, at the time of the Crofters Act, 29,00 crofts
in 26 mainly crofting parishes. They supported 200,000 people; there
were 70,000 acres under tillage, 95,000 cattle and 1,000,000 sheep.
By 1952, the crofts had risen to 30,000 (but many being part-time),
and the tillage had halved to 38,000 acres; there were 58,000 cattle
but still 1,000,000 sheep. Highland Folk Ways, IF Grant, page
58
1886
on Monday 28thSeptember we steamed from
Tobermory to Salen
.we got a very old-fashioned but comfortable
brougham from the hotelkeeper to take us to Mingarry School-house
where our next (electioneering)meeting was to be held
.Shiel
Bridge, marking the boundary between the counties of Inverness and
Argyll is a solid stone structure
Crossing the bridge
.at
the School-house, we were cordially welcomed by the genial Priest
of Moidart, the Rev. Father Charles Macdonald, a native of Inverness
and one of the first scholars enrolled on the books of Dr Bells
institution
Before the meeting, we drove back to Shiel Bridge
following the river to opposite the fine Highland Residence of Lord
Howard of Glossop
.While Father Charles went to ask Lord Howard
for the key of the ruined Castle (Eileantyrim) I walked over
and had a look at the exterior
When Mr Hope Scott bought the
adjoining property from the late Lochshiel, he took steps to have
the inner court cleared of debris
.a workman discovered a small
heap of coagulated coins, which were Spanish and German silver dollars.
..Ultimately they passed into the hands of Admiral Reginald Macdonald
of Clanranald, so that, after a lapse of one hundred and sixty years,
they may be said to have returned to their legitimate owner
..A
few years after this, that portion of Moidart known as Dorlin was
bought from Mr Hope Scott by the late Lord Howard of Glossop
.Amid
the many schemes for improving the estate
was one for opening
up of a path along the cliffs towards
.Briac. When the cutting
had reached one of the roughest spots
.was discovered
a
heap of loose stones
.and revealed a pile of silver coins of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The Celtic Magazine VOLXI
1886, Bonnalie/Impey Papers Ref 7
1887 In 1887 Robert Stewart threw up a dam in Loch nam Paitean
to channel the water to an electricity generator. Successful
Fish Culture in the Highlands, by John Bickerdyke, Page 835 Journal
December 1893,Bonnalie/Impey Papers Ref 20
1889 The shooting extends to about 15,000 acres of
which 1,000 acres are wood, 3,000 are arable, 6,000 acres grouse
ground, clear of sheep the rest being hill pasture without heather.
Quote of description of amenities of Kinlochmoidart Estate by
Stephen Jefferson, Kinlochmoidart House (originally cited in the
Estates Exchange 1889).
1889 Moidart or, Among the Clanranalds
is in the hands of the publisher
.I am anxious to see how they
turn out . Indeed the whole work, small as it is, (265 pages) is
giving me the same anxiety that a schoolboy feels when he has to
stand up and face his examiners
.Mr Stuart (sic) has
made wonderful changes undoubtedly and the work has given
employment to many in the country. But all that is over now
or nearly so - so that Kinloch estate will be a much more private
and reserved property than ever it was before. The whole generation
of new Southern Proprietors has a strong tendency to be exclusive
.Letter
from Father Charles Macdonald to Admiral DR Macdonald, dated 30
August 1889. Bonnalie/Impey Papers Ref 6
1891 Census return available at Fort William Library on microfilm.-
Gordon Barr
1894 Father Charles Macdonald died in Helensburgh.. St
Finans Isle, Its Story by Alastair Cameron (North Argyll),
page 15 - Jean Cameronand Bonnalie/Impey Papers, Ref 38
1894 Royal Commission on the Highlands and Islands took evidence
in Arisaig (which at this time was the end of the road
Mallaig not yet being built) concerning Moidart. This is
available in Inverness Public Library.- Gordon Barr
1894 The West Highland Railway (Mallaig Extension) Act was
passed on 31 July and the Guarantee Bill two years later. This provided
shareholders with a guaranteed return of 3% on £260,000 of
the cost and made a grant of £30,000 towards the £45,000
cost of Mallaig Pier. Lady Margaret Cameron of Locheil cut the first
sod at Corpach on 21 January 1897. The West Highland Railway
By John Thomas, page 95.
1895 Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council set up. Parish Councilors
present at first meeting on 18 May were: Col MacDonald of Glenaladale
(Chairman); Messrs Donald McVarish of Rhu, J Kerr, Arisaig, Angus
McIntosh of Cliff (Dorlin), John McWilliam, Blain, Simon McDougal
of Langall, Thomas McPherson of Arisaig, Ronald MacDonald, crofter
of Bunicault and (Absent - Arthur Nicholson, Arisaig House). The
council were responsible for local matters of health, poor relief
and education. Notes made at Inverness Public Record Office from
the Minute Book of the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April
1896 to 30 March 1906.
1896
A meeting of Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council took place to revise
and adjust the Roll of Paupers and to fix their allowance for next
6 months. There were about 40 paupers in the parish equally divided
between Arisaig and Moidart and, besides financial assistance at
the rate of about 1/8d per week, help in kind was also given. For
example, the Moidart paupers were given:
Christina
Kennedy, Eilean Shona one boll meal per quarter
Marion MacDonald, Dalnabreck offer ticket to Poorhouse
Angus MacDonald, Langall Poorhouse, admit at 1/5 per week
John MacDonald Langall Poorhouse, admit at 1/5 per week
Lexie MacDonald Langall Poorhouse, admit at 1/5 per week
Widow John Gillies, Creag Mor 1/3 admit to another Poor house
Donald MacEachan, Keppoch 1/8 per week plus 10d per week for attendance
and have him certified as a pauper and a lunatic
Notes made at Inverness Public Record Office from the Minute
Book of the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April 1896 to
30 March 1906.
1896
The Inspector indicated to the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council
that he was resigning as from 15th February 1898 and the Parish
Council agreed to advertise for his successor at £35 per annum
with free house and garden (or £10 in lieu of a house). Notes
made at Inverness Public Record Office from the Minute Book of the
Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April 1896 to 30 March 1906.
1896
The poor state of the road between Kinlochailort and Arisaig was
noted and the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council called for the
contractor of the Mallaig Railway to repair it immediately. Notes
made at Inverness Public Record Office from the Minute Book of the
Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April 1896 to 30 March 1906.
1897
Parish Council of Arisaig and Moidart outgoings in December included
payments to Mull Combination Poor House of £20.17.5 and to
Inverness Asylum of £25.0.0 with £4.9.3 being paid to
R Stewart of Kinlochmoidart for fuel supplied to paupers. The list
of some of the Moidart paupers at this time, together with their
ages and weekly allowance for poor relief were:
· Margaret MacDonald, Eilean Shona 72 1/8 weekly allowance
· Mary MacDonald, Blainard 78 1/8
· John MacGregor, Moss 77 1/3
· Janet MacGregor, Moss 84 1/3
· Margt MacEachen, Dalnabreck 61 1/8
· Catherine Grant, Langall 86 1/8
· Mary MacNeill, Kinlochmoidart 81 1/8
· Sarah MacIsaac, Kinlochmoidart 87 1/8
· Misey MacDonald, Kinlochmoidart 70 1/8
· Catherine MacEnnis, Kinlochmoidart 48 1/3
· Jane MacDonald, Roshven 71 1/8 plus 9/- per quarter for
fuel
· Christy MacDonald, Roshven 76 1/8
· Catherine MacDonald, Smirisary 63 1/8
· Widow Duncan Kennedy, Eilean Shona 43 1/8
Also Misey MacDonald or Gillies, Alexander Gillies, Angus MacDonald,
John MacDonald, Lexie MacDonald of Langall and Janet MacDonald of
Dalnabreck. Notes made at Inverness Public Record Office from
the Minute Book of the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April
1896 to 30 March 1906.
1897 Robert McAlpine ("Concrete Bob") was appointed
contractor to the Mallaig railway; his pioneering use of the material
was much admired and, having proved successful (Glenfinnan Viaduct
has twenty one standard spans) was also much copied. To assist construction,
a pierhead was built at Locheilhead and camps were also established
at Mallaig, Morar Beach, Arisaig and Lochailort. The workforce comprised
Irishmen, Lowland Scots, Highlanders, Scandinavians and men from
the islands who spoke only Gaelic. The largest camp was established
at Lochailort, which housed 2,000 of the 3,500 navvies who worked
on the line. The old schoolhouse was converted to an eight bed hospital,
the first in the British Isles to be built at a construction site.
The West Highland Railway By John Thomas, page 96.
1897
At the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council meeting, it was reported
that there were 58 applications for Inspector and Alexander Gibson
of Dunoon was appointed.
Widow Duncan Kennedy's son enrolled as an apprentice to a tailor,
John MacIntyre, Shiel Bridge and the Parish undertook to pay £3
per quarter for his indentures. Notes made at Inverness Public
Record Office from the Minute Book of the Arisaig and Moidart Parish
Council, 11 April 1896 to 30 March 1906.
1898
New Parish Council Committee was appointed for Arisaig and Moidart
including William Blackburn, Farmer of Irine* and John Charles Stewart
of Glenmoidart. Col MacDonald of Glenaladale was again elected Chairman
unanimously. Notes made at Inverness Public Record Office from
the Minute Book of the Arisaig and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April
1896 to 30 March 1906.
* Irine was later renamed Roshven Farm- Ken Bowker
1895
Ordnance Survey of Scotland, Surveyed 1871-1875, but revised 1895
(see 1873 and 1876 ante), Tobermory Sheet 52, Scale 1 inch to the
mile shows for Moidart:-
Egnaig, Aultgil, Kylesmore, Kylesbeg, all linked by footpath from
Glenuig.
Footpath then runs east along Loch Moidart, with Port aBhata
opposite.
Then footpath comes to pier and then to Millhouse just beyond where
road starts.
St Finnans Church appears next and then the drive turns off
to the big house.
Up the Glen past Glenmoidart House the road goes to Glenforslan.
Inchrory, Assary and Ulgary are shown, but there is no dam yet at
Glenforslan.
General Rosss cairn (1863) and Captain Robertsons cairn
(1868) are shown.
The route of the new road from the bridge at KLM to
Orchard Burn is shown.
Bonnalie/Impey Papers, Ref 1
1899 The Clanranald launched and taken up to Loch Shiel to
take over route experimentally opened the year before by the Lady
of the Lake. Oban Times, 18th March 1899, Bonnalie/Impey Papers
Ref 8 The first Clanranald arrived in the Spring of 1899, a
very fast boat but drawing too much water for the River Callop at
Glenfinnan. St Finans Isle, Its Story by Alastair Cameron
(North Argyll), page 22 - Jean Cameronand Bonnalie/Impey Papers,
Ref 38
1899 About half a mile from the Post Office is Shiel
Bridge, where Mr CD Rudd, of Ardnamurchan, is having a large mansion
built by Messrs MacDougall, contractors, Oban. Oban Times, 18th
March 1899, Bonnalie/Impey Papers Ref 8
1900 It was reported by Gibson, as Parish Clerk to the Arisaig
and Moidart Council, that a name change was proposed from Kinlochailort
to Loch Ailort. This had been supported by Mrs. Head, the proprietor
who was in favour of changing the name of the Post Office to Loch
Ailort and of Mr. Nicholson of Arisaig, owner of the Hotel. Furthermore,
the Railway Company had the permission of Mr. Nicholson to call
the railway station Loch Ailort Railway Station. It was also noted
that Professor Blackburn strongly objected to the proposed name
change. "Kinlochailort was called that when first I came 60
years ago. It is a piece of land. Loch Ailort is a loch". However,
the Parish Council did not support him and endorsed the proposed
change of the Post Office to Loch Ailort Post Office. Notes made
at Inverness Public Record Office from the Minute Book of the Arisaig
and Moidart Parish Council, 11 April 1896 to 30 March 1906.
1900 Clanranald II made her appearance on Loch Shiel in the
fall of 1900
.She was seventy feet long, fourteen feet in the
beam and with a draft of three feet six inches
.She was certified
to carry 187 passengers and a crew of five. St Finans Isle,
Its Story by Alastair Cameron (North Argyll), page 22 - Jean Cameronand
Bonnalie/Impey Papers, Ref 38