The Moine Thrust, in all its glory!

21/03/2024

I was lucky enough to be in the far north of Scotland when this quarry was discovered. For those of you interested in geology, and have read my page on the Highlands Controversy, I don't think there is a better view of the Moine Thrust than that found in this quarry. If the image excites you as much as it does me, do please contact the North West Highlands Geopark, which looks after all this amazing geology.

                                            Recent Additions:

Travellers' Accounts, Photo Albums and some Loch Sketches

18/03/2024

I have been hard at work over the last week or two. I have added two more accounts to the "Travellers' Accounts" pages, one by the Hon. Sarah Murray of Kensington, and the other by Daniel Defoe. The former has written a wonderfully detailed guide, with advice ranging from what carriage to use to what Inns to avoid at all costs. I did refer to her Companion Guide in The Immeasurable Wilds but I did not include anything from Defoe's Tour. 

I have also added some more photos in various categories....

....and I have also added photos from two albums, and some Loch sketches by John Fullwood, a listed English artist.

Various Additions

27/02/2024

I have added various images over the past few days, including this fairly rare map by Thomas Taylor, issued in 1715, with a later edition in 1716.

Aquatints of Sutherland, by the Duchess, c.1830

18/02/2024

I have returned from Edinburgh in a state of triumph, for I have added a most important item to my collection: a set of 22 aquatints by the Duchess of Sutherland titled "Views on the Northern and Western Coasts of Sutherland", published c.1830 by F.C. Lewis. My delight is for two reasons. First, this set is extremely rare, and as I have emphasised on my website, early images of the Far North are extremely rare because of the difficulties of access. Secondly, at a personal level, eight of the images portray most of the coast around the Kyle of Tongue, an area I know particularly well as my parents retired to Talmine in the 1980s. I am hoping to persuade one or two of the museums in the North to display this set as I think it is an important addition to the early images of the region. In the meantime, you can view them on this website, where they form a sub-page to "NW Scotland in Art".

In addition, I have started a new page, "Travellers' Accounts; a Selection", in which I intend to extract details that interest me from specific narratives by visitors to the Far North. Some of these accounts I did not incorporate in my book The Immeasurable Wilds, so the information may be new, and will I hope shed light on what life was like in the Far North in the 18th and 19th centuries. I start with Caledonian Sketches by Sir John Carr, which was published in 1809. He provides a good deal of information regarding what he saw on his travels, though they did not take him further north than Inverness.

A Mystery: Staffa?

02/02/2024

I have today added to the page titled "Staffa"  this remarkable photograph. It is a postcard, but there is no indication on the back of location, nor of publisher. It was sold to me by a reputable dealer as being Staffa, and certainly that could well be right. But if we are looking at Fingal's Cave, then the land ascending on the right does not fit the picture as I know it. Also there appears to be a shelving beach, which again I don't expect to see at Staffa. The dealer confirmed to me that he could not be sure of the location. He had suggested Staffa not only because it looked like Staffa, but also because the card came with a number of others, all from nearby locations. They were all dated 1915 or thereabouts. 

What do you think? Any help on this would be much appreciated.

We are off back to Edinburgh next week, where I have my eye on some items in an auction.......

More Items Added 

28/01/2024

I have added two more pages to the website over the last few days. One is a collection of 22 sketches, of which 18 are of Scotland.

They are all unsigned, but the locations are noted. The traveller did not go far to the north, but these are beautifully drawn, almost certainly a professional artist. The question is who is it? My guess is William Leighton Leitch, but that is only a guess. What makes the question more intriguing is that it could well be the same artist as he/she who did the drawings in the 1849 sketchbook, also on the website. You will find both as sub-pages under the Scottish Sketchbooks heading, one titled "1849 Sketching Tour" and the other "More Sketches from the same hand?" If you know who the artist might be, do please let me know.

The other page I have added is titled "Evan Baillie of Dochfour Portfolio." It is a sub-page in the "NW Scotland in Art" set. The Baillie family have owned Dochfour House (near Inverness) for some 580 years. There were several Evan Baillies, so it is not clear which one the artist was, but he adds Junior to his name which helps a little in identification. The artwork is not of a staggeringly fine quality, and only three of the nine watercolours are titled. Still, the provenance is interesting, and I think it is a portfolio that should be added to the website.

Various New Items Added

15/01/2024

Happy New Year to you! After some Christmas jollities in Edinburgh and a short bout of Covid, I have leapt back into action, adding various items from my collection to the website displays. This interesting postcard, for example of a ferry being summoned by trumpet at Dornie:

I also have bought recently two small sketch books full of drawings of mountain scenery in Scotland. 

Not necessarily great art, but I was pleased to find a selection from Sutherland. Such views are rare by any standards. Please see the sub-page titled "Mountain Sketches" in amongst the "Scottish Sketchbooks."

Then, in the "Scotland Mocked" sub-pages you will find some Scottish Military caricatures, by the Belgian artist Draner. He reflects the usual French fascination with what is worn under the kilt.

Finally, there is a new page titled "Lowland Industry: a painting." This reveals a painting by John Levack that I have recently purchased. It shows a poor family from the country coming into an industrial landscape, either to settle, or to sell their merchandise. They may even be evicted tenants from the Highlands. In my experience, such paintings depicting industry in Scotland (in this case Airdrie) in this way,  with the poverty it caused, are rare.

Kirkwood's Memorial: Concern for the Highlands 1703

26/11/2023

I have not been entirely idle since I last added to this blog agenda. I have added a number of images in various categories, and today I have supplied the text of a scarce 'Memorial' to a new page. It is by James Kirkwood, dated 1703, and it shows that there were small pockets of concern for the Highlanders at the start of the 18th century. Kirkwood was keen to establish educational opportunities in the far north, and in the Islands. In this he was not wholly successful, and it was to be a number of years before his wishes came to fulfillment.

Kay's Caricatures

29/10/2023

I am in Edinburgh at the moment, but I have found the time (while rain falls outside) to add a page to the 'Scotland Mocked' section on John Kay's wonderful caricatures. Most of them were drawn at the turn of the 18th/19th centuries, and whilst most depict Edinburgh figures, a few originate in the Highlands - for example William MacDonald from Lairg. Such is the quality of them all, however, that I think it worth drawing your attention to them if you don't already know of them. 

Road Tolls in Scotland

17/10/2023

Off to Edinburgh again on Thursday, with the prospect of a week in Cardross celebrating my 70th birthday with my family. But I have found time before leaving in which to construct a page on road tolls, which I have added as a sub-page to that titled "Roads to the North." I've said before that roads may not seem a fascinating subject to everyone, but I have found it most interesting in regards to those of the far north. This Road Toll page is another facet of the whole picture, and it takes in Dundonnachie's stand at Dunkeld, which is captured in the above photograph. Perhaps it is time for a similar stand at Dartford??!

A Sunday Letter: A Moral Tale in Hieroglyphics

13/10/2023.

In homage to Catherine Sinclair, whose Scotland for the Scotch I much enjoyed, and incorporated in my book, I have added a sub-page to the 'Oddities' section which displays a moral tale she published for children in 1862. It is told partly in pictures, a style popular at that time that can be called 'hieroglyphic'. Presumably it encouraged children to read by attracting their attention through the frequent pictures.

King of the Cherokees: a Scottish Caricature

30/09/2023

I am very fond of old caricature cartoons. I like the way that they convey history in such a pithy and palatable fashion. So I was delighted to obtain recently this Scottish example with the unlikely dedication to "The King of the Cherokees". I have given it a sub-page to itself in the Scotland Mocked section of my website, though there are others already listed that have similar sentiments: a fear in England of Scottish influence. Researching it has taught me a little about England and the Cherokee tribe, as well as the premiership of Lord Bute.

Random Observations

27/09/2023

I have today started a project I have been meaning to embark on for some time. I have lots of snippets that I consider interesting relating to all sorts of aspects of the history of the Highlands. Not all of them have found their way into my book, or other pages on this website, so I intend to add them under the general title "Random Observations." I will put them under various sub-categories such as "Roads", "Geology", "Houses", etc. It will of course be a gradual process. I start off today with two categories: Geological Observations, and Cross-References.

18th Century Palying Cards with Scottish Maps

13/08/2023

I have been adding some interesting items recently to this website, none more so than this set of French playing cards. Published c.1750 (the British Museum have a set of similar items which they date 1763), the 14 cards I have make up a full suit. All are on a Scottish theme, with cards II to X depicting a number of towns within various regions, and the Jack, Queen and King, respectively Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also an extra card of a complete map of Scotland after Nicolas de Poilly. These are very scarce items, a fascinating variation on the classic playing card design.

Watercolours from Algerina Peckover......and Some More Sandbys

09/08/2023

I am delighted to have come across this set of watercolours by Algerina Peckover. It appears that she made a trip to the far north-west of Scotland in 1879, and possibly another in 1874, and she has left sketches of the landscape that few had recorded before her. So, for example, on 14th June, 1879 she painted the above image of Ben More Assynt, from Inchnadamph. This is the earliest painted view of the mountain (Conival, actually, if one is going to be precise) that I have seen, though possibly there are sketches by early geologists lying somewhere. The Peckovers were a wealthy banking family based in Wisbech, Lincolnshire who travelled widely. The sketches that were on offer covered all of England, Scotland and Wales. I bought the 12 that depicted the far north-west, and have put them on a page on this website.

I have also added another page of wonderful engravings by Paul Sandby. I have a folder of 56 prints, at least 26 of which are thought to depict Scottish scenes. Not much from the far north, though the oval engraving of the surveying team is among them, but there are some fascinating views, including many of Edinburgh that I think well worth adding to this website. The image above, for example, shows Hamilton Collegiate Church that was later demolished, with Edinburgh Castle in the distance, and buildings on the Royal Mile.This set complements nicely the other page of Sandby's Drawing Book of Figures.

Back from Staffa......

                           and Some Notable Sandbys.

03/08/2023.

I am now back from my most recent trip to Scotland. Most of it was spent in Edinburgh, but we managed a short spell on Mull, staying with friends. This allowed us to make a visit to Staffa on a lovely day, as you can see from my photos. As with Faujas St Fond, it did not disappoint! We were also left on Lunga, a small island nearby, which allowed us to watch the large colony of Puffins there. They were not at all frightened by our presence - in fact the guide said they welcomed it as we kept their predators away. So there we were, inches from birds that usually keep their distance.

Two New Pages: James Loch & Donald Murchison

01/07/2023

This week I have added two pages to the website. I have been exploring James Loch's important book An Account of the Improvements on the Estates of the Marquess of Stafford.....which was published in 1820. It was in part an apologia for the Highland clearances, which brings me into a sensitive area. The Duke of Sutherland was of course ultimately responsible for the clearing of the glens  that led to so much bitterness in the 19th century, a pain that is still deeply felt in the far north. But the Duke also contributed a number of improvements in the area that benefitted everyone. I think of the road over the Moine, which saved much hardship for those having to make the journey from Hope to Tongue, a journey so graphically described in the diaries of the Rev. MacDonald of Durness (see page 61 in my book). It is those improvements that I explore this week, in roads and buildings in particular. Loch provides some good maps and town plans that should not be ignored because of the controversial contents of his text.

Summer Sailings with Archibald Young

10/06/2023

This week I have been exploring Archibald Young's Summer Sailings by an Old Yachtsman. The book was published in 1898, complete with illustrations, some of which were handcoloured. I have chosen extracts from the first chapter in this delightful book in which he visits the very far north.

Re-organisation, Geology and Roads.

23/05/2023

I have spent the last day or two re-organising the page index on the website. There are now many more sub-pages, which are grouped together in vague subject category. I hope this makes exploring my website a little easier.

I have also added two pages recently. One is for geologists, a set of Victorian and early 20th century geological images from magic lantern slides, most though not all depicting Scottish scenes. They are of limited interest - I suspect photographers like George Washington Wilson saw an opportunity to recycle photos in his stock under a new title, "Geology"- but I thought they might be of interest to a few. 

Hollowed Dyke, Eigg. A photograph by A.S. Reid. A British Association Geological photo.

The other page that I have added is on the Great North Road, now known as the A9. The SNP has recently caused irritiation in the Highlands by cancelling the promised upgrade to this important road north from Edinburgh. The sections of it vary from single to dual carriageway, which causes frequent accidents. All the more remarkable, then, are photographs such as the one below, showing 'traffic' on the road c.1930!

Two Sketching Tours, in 1849 and 1967

10/05/2023

I have added images from two sketching tours to the Highlands. The travels are recorded only in drawings, with no text other than the titles on each image. One is by an anonymous artist, possible a professional, who dates his or her drawings August 1849. The other is by Victor Papworth, an artist based in Devon. He chose to go to Skye in November and December, 1967, though the drawings suggest a warmer season than deep winter. Both are lovely records of their travels. It is unusual to find such a record in the 1960s, recorded not by camera but by pencil and crayon.

More Geology in Scotland

20/04/2023

I have just returned from our latest trip north of the border. Most of it was spent in Edinburgh, but I did manage a few days of exciting geology in Ross-shire, where I also took part in a book presentation with fellow authors Pete Harrison and John McLellan. The geology included a trip to a remarkable quarry recently discovered by Pete Harrison, and a short trek along the River Oykel beneath snow-capped Ben More Assynt, as seen in the photo above. On the previous day we had been in Strathcanaird  just north of Ullapool. This was all very much the Moine Thrust region that I write about in The Immeasurable Wilds in the chapter on The Highlands Controversy. I remain essentially an armchair geologist, but when I manage to force myself out of my comfortable seat, I am still amazed and excited by what is pointed out to me in the rocks of the Far North.

Whilst in Edinburgh, we visited Siccar Point, which describes itself a "arguably the most important geological site in the world." Not everyone, I think, would agree with that, but it undoubtedly has an important place in the history of the science, for it is where James Hutton began to understand the enormity of geological time. He could see that the almost horizontal red sandstone lay in such a way on top of the vertical greywacke rocks that suggested that a geological event had taken place between the two formations. In fact, it was 65 million years of geological activity, the rocks laid down and then eroded before the upper layer of red sandstone was formed

Hutton viewed the scene from a boat, but it is easy to see what geologists call this 'unconformity' without even descending the steep grassy banks down to the shore. In the right-hand photograph, the almost horizontal red sandstone can be seen on the left, with the verticle greywacke rock on the right. I hope Hutton enjoyed the good weather that greeted us on our brief visit.

A small geological knowledge has added so much to my appreciation of the Scottish landscape, especially in the far north. Should you find yourself there, perhaps travelling along the NC500 road route, do please visit the sites found in the North-West Highlands Geopark. Various displays have been laid out along the way, and the enormity of the geological features can be enjoyed over soup or coffee at the Rock Stop Cafe which overlooks the spectacular Lochs Glencoul and Glendhu. I hope to be there myself next month!

Geologists and Sketches.

06/04/2023

I am now back in Scotland for ten days, where amongst other things I will be doing a bit more geology under Pete Harrison's expert supervision, and taking part in a presentation at Ullapool Bookshop on the evening of April 11th. Do please introduce yourself if you attend this event. Before heading north I added two new pages to this website: one titled "Some Victorian Geologists", and the other "Still More Scottish Sketches." The former contains images that are not confined to Scotland (the above, for example, shows the discovery of the Stockton Ichthyosaurus), but I thought it worth adding them as Victorian geologists do not feature widely in images online. The latter part of the page shows the men involved in the Highlands Controversy.

The page on "Still More Scottish Sketches" at the moment shows only those by the Surgeon-General Alexander Hunter. I shall be adding more to the page when I return home in the middle of April.

As always the best way to view the images in the slide-show format is to click on one, and then proceed manually. The images displayed in the slide-show are sometimes not complete.

L'Ordonnance Eludee! ou Les Sans Culottes Ecossais.

18/03/2023

I am delighted recently to have taken possession of this scarce caricature engraving, from France. I have added it to the 'Scotland Mocked' page, but it merits a page on its own. The cartoon depicts a scene in Britain, with Highlanders claiming they are within the law that demands they wear culottes, or breeches. This is of course a reference to the Act of Proscription, which banned the wearing of kilts after Culloden. In 1807, the Reverend James Hall noted that "The Highlanders, being compelled to lay aside the kilt, or philibeg, after 1745, and to have each man a pair of breeches, though they did not always wear them, but used the old kilt at home, and when they went abroad, carried their breeches, swung over a stick, resting on their shoulders." This is exactly what is depicted here by the man at the table. Others, behind, are wearing their 'culottes' on their head, or on the upper part of their body. The artist has perhaps got his British history a little confused, referring to the "Ordonnance de la Re. Elisabeth", but it is a fine depiction of an aspect of Scotland during the Act of Proscription.

France had its own use of the phrase "sans culottes": it was used to describe the lower orders of the population from 1791. Whether that is what inspired this caricature I can't say. Basset was said to be publishing engravings under the imprint 'Chez Basset' from 1785 - 1819, so it might well be why the caricature was created.

Highland Forts and Barracks

08/03/2023.

This week I have completed a page on the old Highland fortresses and barracks that were erected by the Hanoverian government in response to the various Jacobite rebellions in the first half of the 18th century. Most are in a ruined state now, some barely visible, but Fort George is the "fort that never fought" and it can still be seen in all its glory near Inverness.

A New Bridge at Brora

03/03/2023

My latest page celebrates the opening of the new bridge at Brora in August 1929. I bought a collection of postcard photographs which came from the office of the architect, Sir E. Owen Williams. Perhaps not the most important architectural event of the 20th century in Scotland, nevertheless I thought it worth preserving this set which shows the construction gradually taking place.  The photographs are presented on a slideshow format. As always you can click on the image as it passes if you want to slow it down, or see the full image. You can then proceed manually.

Geology: Amateur and Professional

24/02/2023

I have at last finished my rather long page 'Scottish Geology: Amateur and Professional.' I realise that geology is not for everyone, though I hope the wonderful landscape of the far north of Scotland causes everyone to wonder, even just for a moment, what processes formed it. In my research, I have always been pleased to stumble on references to geology or geologists in the accounts of visitors, and it is these I have recoded on this new page, rather than the actual scientific work during the 18th and 19th centuries. I am certainly not a geologist, and would be unable to impress, or mystify you with detailed geological jargon or science. It is a page, therefore, for both the geologist, and the non-geologist.

Shipping, Large and Small. A selection of Victorian photographs.

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Good News!

  23/01/2023

Good news! I continue slowly to get to grips with the new website. I have discovered that I can, after all, add images to the old slide-show pages, and I have already started to add items to a number of pages, such as this attractive view of Ben Eighe. Once I have added all those to the relevant pages, I will turn my thoughts to more articles relating to my book and my interests.

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Rowlandson's Caricatures for Boswell's 'Tour of the Hebrides'.

14/01/2023.

I continue to grapple with the new (to me) loading format provided by one.com, and am getting there slowly. I have discovered that I cannot add images to the slide show pages which I had previously designed on simplesite. However, I can load up slide shows on one.com, and will add images to suitable pages above the old simplesite series. You will find, for example, 5 new photographs at the top of the page 'Mountaineers.'

I have also added a new slide show page, showing the 20 caricatures by Thomas Rowlandson which he drew for an edition of Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides in the 1780s.

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Vernon MacAndrew's Photographs of Sutherland and Caithness.

5/1/2023.

Happy New Year to you all!

I have just added a page of photographs taken by Vernon MacAndrew. They are thought to date from 1919, and show parts of Caithness and Sutherland when he was staying on the Bighouse estate in Halladale. The images include that shown above, an attempt to tempt the salmon by pouring whisky into the waters! An old libation tradition - or a waste of good whisky?.....

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George IV's Visit to Edinburgh, 1822

23/12/22

I have just added my first full page since 'migrating' from Simplesite to One.com. It has been a learning experience, but I think I am getting there slowly. My page is on George IV's historic visit to Edinburgh, which led to the creation of a Scottish history we still feed into today, with clans, tartans and traditions that may or may not be authentic. My starting point was the wonderful exhibition put on at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh in 2019, and I thoroughly recommend the booklet Wild and Majestic, Romantic Visions of Scotland which was published to go with the event.

I can't match the excellence of their collection of course, but I have provided on my page some images, mainly from books that were published in the mid-1800s, and that attempt to establish those Highland traditions that the King's visit inspired, and seek out earlier ones. I hope it will be of interest, and if there are gremlins present, they can be put down to my inexperience on the new website builder.

Addendum: Yes, I think there were gremlins, but I hope the whole page is there now!

Alastair.

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Happy Christmas!

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28. Nov, 2022

Highland Food

28/11/2022

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