Thatched Croft House
This is a fine photograph of a thatched croft house below the finger in Cleadale. Two ladies are standing to the right. The one with the hat is obviously a visitor, probably Catriona’s aunt Dorothea Christian Dewar nee MacEwen (1883-1967), and the other with a white apron is presumably a crofter. The building has a central flue in the roof and the window to the right is glazed. It was a house when the picture was taken, but later became a byre when it was replaced by the present timber-framed croft house to the south west. Duncan Ferguson’s typescript “The Island of Eigg” describes the house as follows: The next house is today (1974) Angus Kirk’s. The present house is constructed of wood and corrugated iron. The original house was stone built and is today used as a byre. The first tenant of the old house as far as I know was William MacLeod. His son Ronald took over after him. Ronald was married to Catherine Campbell a sister of John Campbell the blacksmith. They had 4 of a family.……… When Ronald MacLeod died the croft was taken over by his son John but he died young. His brother Donald then took over. Donald was married to Margaret MacQuarrie of Cnoc Oilteig – their family was Mary, Katie, John, Ronald and Donald Archie. Mary was married to Sandy Fraser – no family. ……… Donald Archie who took over the croft after his father died was married to Catriona MacLellan from Eriskay.…… Donald Archie was appointed as gamekeeper on the Estate after he returned from Canada in 1925. Donald had also been estate gamekeeper, and features prominently in the Ishbel Anderson Collection. If the pictures were taken in 1913 or 1914, then the crofter is probably Donald’s wife Margaret MacQuarrie.
| Island: | Eigg |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Catriona White Collection |
| Location: | Cleadale |
| Tags CleadaleCroft HouseMacEwenMacQuarrie |
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Group on Muck
A group on Muck: Back row Alan MacKinnon and Hector MacDonald; Front row Johnny MacDonald, Lachlan MacDonald (all three MacDonalds Pier House, Muck) and Hugh MacKinnon. Lachlan married Marybell MacQuarrie who had a croft in Cleadale (see Peggy Kirk Collection No 26). Hector and Johnny now and again were boatmen on the Muck Estate boat for Commander MacEwen
| Island: | Muck |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Hugh MacKinnon Collection |
| Location: | Muck |
| Tags MacEwenMacQuarrieMacKinnonMacDonaldBoatmen |
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John MacKinnon
John MacKinnon, Hugh’s father who lived at Port Mor on Muck, putting winter feed into the byre. The MacEwens allowed each household to keep one cow for their own use. The thatched byre had formerly been a house, built by Hugh’s grandfather.
| Island: | Muck |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Hugh MacKinnon Collection |
| Location: | Port Mhor |
| Tags MacEwenPort MhorJohn MacKinnon |
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Muck Games
Muck games: Commander MacEwen is on the left of the jump. Charlie MacDonald is jumping, and the two on the right are guests of the MacEwens. The spectators are all out of the picture. The Muck games were started by the MacEwens for the enjoyment of the local lads. Only islanders participated.
| Island: | Muck |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Hugh MacKinnon Collection |
| Location: | Muck |
| Tags MacEwenCharlie MacDonaldGames |
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