[Ian:] That's it running now, the tape and this That's all you get a quiet hum in
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] the background there.
[speaker002:] Who's going to start?
[speaker003:] Hey?
[speaker002:] Who's going to start.
[speaker004:] ask a question.
[Ian:] Aye I was just asking really I was just gonna ask, Well were you all born in this house?
[speaker004:] No Andy and Ann were born here
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] and Mrs was born in over the river. That was the farm
[Ian:] Oh yes, I
[speaker004:] where our forebears came to
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] in seventeen twenty.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] So they came from.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] They Near at any rate. So that's a long time ago, seventeen twenty.
[Ian:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] Two hundred and sixty sixty years is that right?
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER]
[speaker004:] Yes?
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER] You're quicker than I am. [] That's just That's a long time to be You must be the oldest family in do you think.
[speaker004:] Pardon?
[speaker003:] No. I think are older.
[Ian:] Really.
[speaker003:] They were longer Yes.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] The.
[Ian:] But you'd be one of the oldest.
[speaker003:] Aye they would be the oldest family.
[Ian:] Aye. I see. And s and so wh when did you er who s who built this house or when did you move to this part?
[speaker003:] In nineteen seven.
[Ian:] Nineteen seven. Nineteen seven. Just when you and why did you leave? Was there
[speaker003:] Well there she
[speaker002:] didn't
[speaker003:] had the two places going you see.
[Ian:] Oh Ii see. Yes. You mean you mean you
[speaker003:] This place was big until my father took it over and he kept the places going and we still have the two places.
[Ian:] Aha. But the house at now is ruining I think, is it?
[speaker003:] Well it's they're going to sort it out.
[Ian:] Oh that's good.
[speaker003:] Mhm
[speaker002:] Mr at the Lodge
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] sister in law,
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] She's married and they think they're going to make a holiday home of it just now.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] But they are beginning to sort it up.
[Ian:] Oh that's good. Cos I I remember looking at that house years back, you know, when I was a boy walking about you know.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Er and do you remember living there at all or well.
[speaker002:] No I was two years when I left there.
[Ian:] Two years
[speaker002:] Yes I can't remember anything about it.
[Ian:] No.
[speaker004:] But of course I was back and forth.
[Ian:] Oh yes. Yes.
[speaker002:] But that wasn't my father's house until he got married.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] My grandmother lived just nearby you see in the
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] .
[speaker003:] Yes bits of walls.
[Ian:] I think Aha I think know where it is.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] I think I know where it
[speaker003:] Cos that's where my father was born and brought up in that old house.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] He never went into the new house until he got married. And that
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker003:] was in the beginning of eighteen ninety nine.
[Ian:] Aha. What was your father's name?
[speaker003:] John
[speaker002:] John.
[speaker003:] John.
[Ian:] John. And who did he marry like?
[speaker002:] Well my mother was from North Uist, that's the Hebrides.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And erm they got married in eighteen ninety nine.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] That's a long time ago.
[Ian:] It's a great date though eighteen ninety nine.
[speaker002:] She was.
[Ian:] Ah. from Uist.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] Ah. Well what do you know what brought her over this way at all?
[speaker003:] She was a housekeeper in
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] with.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker002:] Yes she had her aunt was a widow there at the time when she came to and she just lived about a year.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And that's how she met my father you see.
[Ian:] Oh I see. Oh. Right.
[speaker002:] See.
[Ian:] And obv and that's your your father and mother.
[speaker002:] My father and mother Yes.
[Ian:] Aye. And do you remember them well?
[speaker002:] That's away ba Away back in seventeen twenty,
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] there were two brothers came. One took a farm up in the the Brays. That's a fern way.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And then the other brother took
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] over.
[Ian:] Right. And there's no no from the other brother now is there?
[speaker003:] Not now they're all dies out.
[Ian:] That's a shame.
[speaker003:] They might be abroad of course cos some of them went abroad I know.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But er there's none of them about here.
[Ian:] Oh that's a shame mm.
[speaker002:] And my father I think just went to school in the Wintertime. His father died when he was seven years of age.
[Ian:] Mm yes.
[speaker002:] And he was the second oldest of the family.
[Ian:] So he would have had to do quite a lot of work.
[speaker002:] So he'd quite a lot of work to do when he was quite young.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And he just went to the sc school in the Wintertime.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker002:] So
[speaker003:] I think he was two Summers in school. But apart from that there was just the
[speaker002:] In the Winter.
[speaker003:] the Winter.
[Ian:] When things would be quieter maybe on the farm.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[speaker002:] Yeah exactly.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Right. And that would that have been school?
[speaker003:] Yes.
[Ian:] The same same
[speaker003:] N n no no. It was er that building beside the Free Church. The old school house.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] That was the old school house there.
[Ian:] Oh I didn't
[speaker003:] The old school school was below
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] and the teacher's house was next door.
[Ian:] Oh I didn't that either. That's really
[speaker002:] That was the Free Church school house.
[Ian:] Right so it was it specifically was
[speaker002:] That was the time of the disruption. When you
[Ian:] Aye y
[speaker002:] be have the history of that I don't suppose.
[Ian:] A little bit. I know a little how. But it would have been the other school as well?
[speaker003:] Yes yes. The other school was there. it was a Church of Scotland school.
[Ian:] I see.
[speaker003:] But all those have come out in eighteen forty three at the time of the disruption.
[Ian:] Ah.
[speaker003:] To the Free Church
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] where they did build a school for them you see.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker003:] Because it's the churches that run the schools in those days.
[Ian:] I never knew that.
[speaker003:] Until about er eighteen seventy two I think.
[Ian:] Aha aha.
[speaker003:] And the the school board was born then.
[Ian:] Aha. Do you Would there have been many people in that school at the time.
[speaker003:] Oh I'm sure there would be.
[Ian:] Quite a lot
[speaker003:] Because there were a lot of people on the staff at that time.
[Ian:] Aye. There'd be records somewhere I'm sure of them.
[speaker002:] What did my father say? He remembered when there was fifteen smokes went up here on this. Fifteen families.
[Ian:] In this one
[speaker002:] This one place that we have now.
[Ian:] That's an that's a
[speaker003:] Well I was looking at I I was looking at the... what do you call that now? Census
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] for eighteen forty one.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And there was forty two people living in. I eighteen forty one.
[Ian:] Hard to believe, that's amazing.
[speaker003:] And today it's three old fogies and a dog.
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER] Oh dear. []
[speaker003:] So other places would be equal to that
[Ian:] Yes. So if you if you took that up and down there'd be quite a lot.
[speaker003:] Yes.
[speaker002:] So you may know, there wasn't very many rich people about anyway.
[Ian:] No.
[speaker002:] Except the themselves, whether they were rich or not I don't know.
[Ian:] No.
[speaker002:] That's the that was the state of affairs
[Ian:] And most of these folk, were they just being farm workers or croppers or
[speaker003:] Yes.
[speaker002:] That's right. They'd just be living off the land.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] There there could be weavers amongst them.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And thatchers.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] Masons.
[speaker003:] And masons.
[Ian:] Masons aha.
[speaker003:] And maybe an odd carpenter.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] But.
[speaker002:] While you're on weavers, there was a weaver over at that little cottage on the other side Oh well I I can't explain. You know where
[speaker003:] Cottage.
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] When you're passing by and going to go down to. You know where is?
[Ian:] Yes. Yes.
[speaker003:] [cough] Well you cross that iron bridge there's
[Ian:] Aye.
[speaker003:] an old cottage on the top.
[Ian:] Yes I know it.
[speaker003:] Well that cottage.
[Ian:] Oh right.
[speaker002:] and what relation is to him?
[speaker003:] Well the the was Ninian's great great grandparents.
[speaker002:] And he's the governor general of Australia today. Sir Ninian.
[Ian:] Oh.
[speaker002:] He used to come for holidays as a wee boy. I remember him.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] Aye. Of course they weren't er well off or anything there but he was a clever boy you see
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] he went in for law.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] So he was a he was a lawyer or a judge I think in
[speaker003:] I think he was a judge in India.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker002:] I just can't tell you. So he's the present Governor General of Australia and that was his great grandfather that was a weaver over in that little cottage.
[Ian:] That's amazing.
[speaker003:] [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] Connection.
[speaker002:] They're they're related to us too.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] We're connected with them you see.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] They're mostly the country old country people now. Related to one another.
[Ian:] Yes yes they would be. They wouldn't out Aye. Well that's
[speaker002:] It's quite interesting that.
[Ian:] It is see the difference.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] Now again. It's just across the river here.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] There were a woman born and brought up there, she was Annie before we married, and her grandson is
[speaker002:] .
[speaker003:] the Duke of Edinburgh's private
[speaker002:] Er not a pilot but
[speaker003:] No.
[speaker002:] What is it
[speaker003:] Navigator.
[speaker002:] Navigator.
[Ian:] Oh yes yes.
[speaker002:] Yes well he's he's promoted since then.
[speaker003:] Yes.
[speaker002:] And he's
[speaker003:] Queen's flight.
[speaker002:] Yes I think he's er... the leader of the Queen's flight what do you call that?
[speaker003:] Commander
[Ian:] I suppose something like that.
[speaker002:] Mhm. Well he used to come here for holidays. And it shows how some people get on.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] Yeah he was just
[speaker002:] You never know You never know, you might get on like that.
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER] Oh no. We'll see. [] We'll see.
[speaker003:] Ah he used to come up here when he was a wee boy with his granny.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And when the granny come up again without him she told that when he went to back to Glasgow, if he came in hungry, he would say, Oh for a plate of porridge.
[speaker005:] [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] Very good.
[speaker003:] porridge now, not with the Duke.
[Ian:] Yeah. No maybe that's. [LAUGHTER] It kept him going. I was I was gonna ask you who or what does the mean, the name?
[speaker003:] The mouth of the river I think.
[Ian:] Mouth of the river.
[speaker003:] Inver is the
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] mouth and
[speaker002:] I think
[speaker003:] is
[speaker002:] I thought you thought it was the confluence.
[speaker003:] Well it's where the where the and it meets.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker003:] I think it's that's the inver you see.
[Ian:] Oh yes. Aye.
[speaker003:] At the mouth. The mouth of the river.
[Ian:] .
[speaker002:] And and means... the face of the sheep cotes.
[Ian:] Really.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] I didn't know that.
[speaker002:] It's Gaelic.
[Ian:] It's Gaelic is it?
[speaker002:] Aha.
[Ian:] Well what would the original Gaelic have been for that? Ah.
[speaker002:] It's to to analyze that, you would think it was the cat's face, but it's the face of the cotes. Sheep cotes.
[Ian:] Face of the sheep
[speaker002:] The sheep
[speaker003:] [spelling] C O T E S [], not [spelling] C O A T S [].
[Ian:] [spelling] C []
[speaker002:] [spelling] C O T E S []
[speaker003:] [spelling] C O T E S [] like a dovecote you know.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker003:] A sheepcote a shelter for sheep.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Right.
[speaker003:] down South they would call it.
[Ian:] Aha mhm.
[speaker003:] Sheep.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Right. Because you often you see the English word, you've no idea where it comes about it's just an odd word when it's been
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] changed you know.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Anglicized or whatever..H how how long is it since was deserted?
[speaker003:] Oh well er I think it was the last.
[speaker002:] .
[speaker004:] .
[speaker003:] Och no no.
[speaker004:] Oh aye.
[speaker003:] I think. . It'd be in the fifties.
[Ian:] Aye. Er
[speaker003:] I think so.
[Ian:] another thing I was gonna ask you as well, your father Your parents both spoke Gaelic obviously.
[speaker003:] Oh yes yes.
[Ian:] and did did they speak it to you when you were children?
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker003:] My mother did but my father didn't very much.
[Ian:] No?
[speaker003:] He mostly spoke English to us younger ones anyway.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] But er we used to answer when our mother'd speak to us in Gaelic, we'd answer her back in English.
[Ian:] Oh.
[speaker003:] Us younger ones.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But er Jeannie and my older sister Mary, they were perfect Gaelic speakers.
[Ian:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] They used to speak Gaelic to one another when they were children.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] Converse in Gaelic. But we were never as fluent as that you see because er they went to school then and they started coming home with English you see ad speaking English and we just
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] never got the same chance.
[Ian:] No I and and and was it not discouraged a wee bit at school.
[speaker003:] No I don't think so here. I heard it had been said that it was discouraged but er
[Ian:] I heard that said aye.
[speaker003:] I don't think so never heard of it.
[Ian:] Aha. Right but but you understand quite a bit of it still.
[speaker003:] Oh I understand it as good as English.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Aye anybody speaking Gaelic there is just the same to me
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] as though they were speaking English.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] [cough]
[Ian:] Right so. There'll not be many Gaelic speakers left here now.
[speaker003:] No.
[speaker002:] Very few. Gerald I believe.
[Ian:] Yes. Yes.
[speaker002:] Gerald
[speaker003:] And his wife.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] And little.
[Ian:] Oh yes? Is he?
[speaker003:] Aye he's a Gaelic speaker. Although if you if you say anything to him in Gaelic, he answers you in English I notice.
[Ian:] Yes yes.
[speaker002:] .
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker002:] He speaks Gaelic.
[speaker003:] Yes.
[Ian:] Yes. He's just recovering of course.
[speaker003:] Mrs.
[Ian:] That's right yeah. I think Megan has been learning Gaelic I think, she's not a native by any means but But Ian 's wife you know
[speaker003:] Ian 's wife.
[Ian:] She's learned Gaelic recently.
[speaker003:] Is that so.
[Ian:] Aye. She's getting quite good I think.
[speaker003:] Oh well.
[Ian:] not a native.
[speaker002:] Dawn can speak Gaelic.
[speaker003:] Och not very well.
[speaker002:] No but he understands it quite well.
[Ian:] I ask you when when you were younger did you would there have been many of the folk in the place spoke Gaelic or was it dying out then or
[speaker003:] Oh no quite a lot. The older folk.
[speaker002:] The older people.
[Ian:] Right.
[speaker003:] The older people's all Gaelic they would speak.
[Ian:] So yes. So you would get quite a quite a lot of it you would hear.
[speaker003:] Oh yes.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] of course you there would just been my father and mother'd be speaking Gaelic all the time in the house you see.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] And we were it was just to us like English.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Only we didn't practise speaking it you see.
[Ian:] Yes. Yes. Aye.
[speaker003:] And the ploughmen that were here, too they would they come from the West.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And they would have Gaelic.
[speaker002:] So we was brought up in that atmosphere.
[Ian:] It would have been quite interesting having the two languages. It would have been quite
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[Ian:] quite er
[speaker002:] We just
[Ian:] You do you g get a a best of both maybe I would imagine you know. be quite sort of interesting It was just er d I was gonna ask you about your name as well,, it doesn't sound very
[speaker002:] It's not very high.
[speaker003:] It's a name.
[Ian:] Aye aha.
[speaker003:] I think.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And it was
[speaker002:] Yes I think originally it came from in.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] That's where the first
[Ian:] Aha?
[speaker002:] And I think that's where the the chief of the clan is I think
[Ian:] Mhm.
[speaker002:] he's Adrian.
[Ian:] Aha. Aha.
[speaker002:] But whether he's still alive or not I don't know. But there are quite a few round and these places.
[Ian:] Aha. Mm. That's good.
[speaker002:] So I think Jimmy traced back to the first
[speaker003:] Aha.
[speaker002:] who was descended from William the Lion.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] That was the first.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] A descendant of William the Lion that was king of Scotland at one time. I wasn't very good at history myself.
[Ian:] No. No no not not that far back anyway.. That was just that's quite interesting. Erm I was also gonna ask you about the the farm. Would you all have worked in the farm, when you were young.
[speaker002:] Oh we did a little bit anyway.
[speaker004:] Yes. May used to to drive the horses even in the binder.
[Ian:] Aha. With with a binder with a
[speaker004:] Yes with three horses in it.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] She she had to cut the harvest one year. was away up at or something.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] So that wasn't bad going.
[Ian:] No not at all.
[speaker004:] Well was the harvest.
[Ian:] Aha. You you Aha.
[speaker004:] working at the horse.
[Ian:] You you liked the horses?
[speaker004:] I liked the horses yes.
[Ian:] I I'm scared of horses myself. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker004:] Oh well.
[Ian:] I I like to see them.
[speaker004:] I I liked I liked sheep.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] .
[Ian:] Sheep.
[speaker004:] So I work on down the lambing quite a few times.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] Now we've we haven't got you see.
[Ian:] When did you actually give up the the farm as such. I mean when did you stop
[speaker003:] I think in seventy seven I think.
[Ian:] Seventy seven aye.
[speaker003:] you see.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker003:] Let it for the Summer and Autumn.
[Ian:] Right.
[speaker003:] Cattle and sheep.
[Ian:] But I mean do you not it's not your
[speaker003:] That's right.
[Ian:] Not your stock.
[speaker003:] .
[Ian:] Do you miss the the the farm work a lot.
[speaker003:] Oh yeah.
[Ian:] Oh aye.
[speaker002:] Oh he cuts peats, he's been busy cutting peats.
[Ian:] Aha. Do you cut well where do you cut your peats round here?
[speaker003:] Pardon?
[Ian:] Where about do you cut your peats?
[speaker003:] Away up across the overhead bridge here you cross the you know the overhead bridge
[Ian:] Aye the railway line.
[speaker003:] Aha.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] You cross that and you go way up the hill about a mile.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] .
[Ian:] Aha. you take them back with the with the Land Rover there?
[speaker003:] No the tractor. I still have the tractor and trailer.
[Ian:] Oh I see. Aha. What time of year do you cut the peats?
[speaker003:] Well er the best time is the month of May.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But this year you couldn't, the weather was so
[Ian:] So bad.
[speaker003:] bad. I never cut them all till about beyond the middle of June.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But they're fairly dried out. That er
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] good hot days we got and those breezes too.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Dried them out very well.
[Ian:] I must admit when I when I came in the door there the first thing I noticed was the peat smell.
[speaker003:] Oh well yes. Yes.
[speaker002:] Yes yes you would.
[Ian:] And it's lovely.
[speaker003:] Takes your right off.
[Ian:] It's lovely it's really it's a great smell you know. It's it's like it's like going back in time the feeling about it.
[speaker003:] Aha.
[Ian:] It's a great smell. And I I I never I never thought to ask you about if you cut peats now.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] And I remember we used to do it erm at the distillery. Och while back now since we stopped. I remember cutting the peats you know.
[speaker003:] Ah.
[Ian:] My father and a few of us would would take the tractor and stuff. But nobody I think does it now up there.. I do I don't know why. I mean it's good fuel
[speaker002:] Yes but it's too much like work, we're too busy doing everything.
[Ian:] Aye I think so.
[speaker002:] I think that's what it is.
[speaker003:] But the distillery itself used to cut a lot of peat for their own
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] For the distillery's use
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Oh they used to cut a big lot. But they stopped it I'm sure twenty years ago.
[Ian:] Yes they get all mechanized now.
[speaker002:] Is it finished?
[Ian:] Oh no it's a good bit yet. I cannae can't quite see.
[speaker002:] What's the next head? [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] Well just It's one of the other things I was gonna a It's still about the farm actually, I was gonna ask er about things like H your tasks your was there anything like things like the harvesting would you have people coming in to help you? Would other farmers help?
[speaker003:] No not often.
[Ian:] You would just do it yourselves.
[speaker003:] Do it ourselves, yes. Yes.
[Ian:] You would There wasn't a traditional
[speaker003:] They did occasionally.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] A neighbour might come in or two neighbours might come in and help.
[Ian:] Aye.
[speaker003:] With the in
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] .
[Ian:] And you would have built erm haystacks was it.
[speaker003:] Yes round stacks.
[Ian:] Oh aye aye. Cos I think there was all different styles of those wasn't there?
[speaker003:] That's right.
[Ian:] have your own. Did you not have to be off the ground a wee bit or something.
[speaker003:] Well we used to put er branches below them to
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] keep them from sucking the
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] wet off the ground.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] Yes and and a cone inside you know, with three legs a tripod.
[speaker003:] A tri A tripod.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] And then if they got in good condition built up solid.
[Ian:] Aha. And how how many haystacks would you have in a good year.
[speaker003:] Oh well, latterly we'd have about ten haystacks right.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And I remember the most corn stacks we had was twenty five.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But er as a rule there'd be about sixteen or there about.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Corn stacks.
[Ian:] That's quite quite good though.
[speaker003:] Oh yes.
[Ian:] Quite.
[speaker002:] .
[Ian:] So that's what you would have done with the corn The hay was the hay the stalk?
[speaker003:] That's right, the hay and the straw. You thresh the straw you see and
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] the straw.
[Ian:] Aha. Do you know if there was any mills around about? Meal mills or.
[speaker003:] Oh right. This was one, just behind the.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] .
[Ian:] Yes. I know.
[speaker003:] Well
[Ian:] I know.
[speaker003:] I remember.
[Ian:] And that would have been. made the meal was it.
[speaker003:] Made the meal yes.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] For the local people.
[Ian:] Would there have been anybody like like a baker who would have baked it or
[speaker003:] No I don't think there
[Ian:] No.
[speaker003:] was a baker here.
[Ian:] No.
[speaker004:] home-made.
[Ian:] All home-made.
[speaker004:] .
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] .
[Ian:] Aha aha.
[speaker004:] the bread.
[Ian:] Aye.
[speaker002:] There was a carding mill at where they carded the wool you know.
[Ian:] I didn't know that at all actually.
[speaker002:] That's where er Mrs used to live there. I remember. Who's in it now? Somebody took it over.
[speaker003:] You know where the council houses are?
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] And there's that square house down to yeah?
[Ian:] Oh yes yes.
[speaker002:] That's a carding mill.
[Ian:] I'd I'd heard it was a mill. I didn't know it was a carding mill.
[speaker003:] Aye it's for carding wool.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] it was away during the war for scrap but we or maybe not, maybe they took the works away too
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] for scrap.
[Ian:] And do you know when that stopped at all?
[speaker003:] About nineteen six I think.
[Ian:] Aha. Quite a while back.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Quite a while.... I was just thinking about also sheep shearing and stuff. That you'd have done that yourselves as well?
[speaker003:] Yes we used to... A whole lot would come here and I'll go somewhere else the next day you know, we used to help one another to sheep shearing.
[Ian:] Oh right.
[speaker003:] [cough]
[speaker002:] Yes there were quite a crowd.
[Ian:] Aye.
[speaker002:] the sheep shearing.
[Ian:] And would had to make food for them and stuff like that?
[speaker002:] Yes we did.
[speaker003:] Yes yes.
[Ian:] It would be quite a a busy time.
[speaker002:] Well it was just a dinner you made for them you see.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And they'll get tea at in the stack yard or wherever they were.
[Ian:] Aha. Oh.. And they would be all the hand shears of course.
[speaker003:] Oh all the hand shears.
[Ian:] Mhm. And how many days would it take?
[speaker003:] Oh maybe a matter of four or five hours we'd take here.
[Ian:] Oh right.
[speaker003:] We we had
[speaker002:] [yawn]
[speaker003:] two hundred and fifty sheep. But if you'd
[speaker002:] They did the harvest first you see.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And then they did the sheep with the lambs.
[Ian:] Right. And that
[speaker003:] was the biggest that had been about here.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] There's be about twenty clippers at it.
[Ian:] That's quite a lot.
[speaker003:] There would be about a thousand to do in a day.
[Ian:] Aha. Quite hard work.
[speaker003:] long day quite hard.
[Ian:] Nobody'll need a hand clipping around here now.
[speaker003:] Not very much.
[Ian:] They all
[speaker002:] doing it the other day.
[speaker003:] I was doing it the other day yes.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] down the valley.
[Ian:] They're still doing a wee bit there.
[speaker003:] But er there were two boys who a machine beside.
[Ian:] Another thing I was gonna ask you about was erm I'd heard somebody mention ploughing competitions with horses.
[speaker003:] Oh aye yes.
[Ian:] I wondered if you remembered any of them at all.
[speaker003:] Yes because I I competed.
[Ian:] Ah you did.
[speaker003:] [LAUGHTER] Yes. [] I was at the first one when I was fifteen.
[Ian:] Aha. Was it quite a a big thing around here was it.
[speaker003:] Oh what a great day match.
[Ian:] Where where would they hold it?
[speaker003:] Oh on different farms. Say here one year, maybe another year up and
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Different places.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Well they'd just get a suitable field to keep the whole lot. You get half an acre each to do.
[Ian:] Half an acre, that's quite a lot.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[speaker002:] The horses would be all dressed up and everything. Decorations and.
[Ian:] Be lovely that.
[speaker003:] Nineteen thirty first was the ploughing match.
[Ian:] Nineteen thirty five.
[speaker003:] Here. They still have it in with But we never had a one here.
[Ian:] No no, it was just
[speaker002:] the same.
[Ian:] No no I wouldn't think so.
[speaker002:] Horse were nice.
[Ian:] Would would they have been the big heavy horses, the big Clydesdale
[speaker003:] Well they were mostly the Clydesdale but oh there were some light horses in it too.
[Ian:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] But it was mostly the Clydesdales.
[Ian:] That would be it would a a s the straightest plough would it be or the straightest line would it have
[speaker003:] Yes that was counted in it too and it had to be well parked. Each furrow parked against the other to keep the you see. If you had holes in the seed bed that was a fault.
[Ian:] Aha. It sounds like quite a skill. [break in recording] Ah. Just I was just gonna ask you really to maybe just a change you know the difference between day and know, maybe you can see quite a difference just er
[speaker002:] Well of course you will, the population was
[speaker003:] Yes and er the motor car. No nobody with motorcars when we were young.
[Ian:] Aha er you mean, all horse transport or
[speaker003:] or or walking.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Or the bicycle of course. But hardly anybody had a car.
[speaker002:] But
[speaker003:] Well except the the the.
[speaker002:] And the doctor.
[speaker003:] Who? Oh the doctor.
[speaker002:] relations.
[speaker003:] Yes we remember going to school would see the doctor's car.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] If he happened to come up the way.
[Ian:] The the roads would they have been quite good or
[speaker003:] Oh they were quite good. Well not as good as they are now. They were er what you would call er broken metal on them.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And and rolled in. Rolled in and what you called er water bound roads. Er they done the broken metal and then they put on the top of it and then they come along with a watering cart and er splashed water on it and then
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] drove the down between the
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] the broken metal and then the steam roller was back and fore on it and It was quite a good surface you know, but
[Ian:] Aha. Mm.
[speaker002:] It was pretty rough and we used to go in Summer you know, barefeet,
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And we'd run in the middle of the road and today we couldn't stand it.
[Ian:] No no no tough. It would quite suitable for horses and stuff
[speaker003:] It would be very suitable for horses, even more so than on the present roads there's there's there's a better grip.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] For horses. But er that kind of road would be no use today with the speed of the cars, it would just
[Ian:] Too noisy.
[speaker003:] slacken up in no time and
[Ian:] Aye. Oh yes.
[speaker002:] We used to see a lot of shepherds and flocks of sheep
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] you know, on our way to school and it was just grey flocks of sheep with perhaps
[speaker003:] Oh aye.
[speaker002:] two shepherds with them.
[speaker003:] Coming from C as far as Caithness.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker003:] I don't know where they'd been making their way South.
[Ian:] What quite big flocks of sheep?
[speaker003:] Big flocks of sheep
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] and two or three shepherds with them. And I remember it was a a one lot was a a. A Mr from Caithness.
[Ian:] Aha. How long would he
[speaker002:] Walking to the South.
[speaker003:] Be walking a way down South.
[Ian:] Aha. Mm. Would he would he ever stop and down on the way or something like you know overnight?
[speaker003:] Well that's in er either stopping He stopped here one night. Do you remember the deaf shepherd we called him.
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker003:] He left his flock up there and stayed here all night. I think that's the only one I ever remember.
[speaker002:] Cos we were off the road a wee bit you see.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker004:] I remember er a flock staying here and the shepherds got their supper here and then they went on to for the night.
[speaker003:] Oh aye.
[speaker004:] Was a long long time ago.
[Ian:] would have been a a a drover-wood I suppose at some point. This would have been quite a popular route.
[speaker003:] Oh it would really yes. An old inn you see. I think it was
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] built about seventeen forty five I think.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] the origin of Inn.
[Ian:] Aha. That's a bit old.
[speaker002:] And now they're taking it down.
[Ian:] That's quite sad.
[speaker002:] Aye.
[speaker003:] Aye.
[Ian:] Very sad indeed actually. I'm not really sure what they're gonna put in its place. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker002:] When d when did the road go through here?
[speaker003:] Oh well the
[speaker002:] In I mean.
[speaker003:] Oh well it er... General, he made the first road.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] When would that be, about seventeen something. About seventeen twenty
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] I think.
[Ian:] Something along that line.
[speaker003:] up to anyway. and then there was It was improved after that. It was known as the old Edinburgh road.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] The improved one. It's followed 's Road most of the way but it's it went different routes some places just to take away a steep.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But I think the pre er well not the present A nine but the A nine that was there before they made the new one, it was made about eighteen thirty I think.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Up through to
[Ian:] Yes..
[speaker003:] See the other roads went by.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] And this was up by Bridge End and up
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] by.
[speaker004:] And there's a new for the place since the railway went through.
[Ian:] Oh really.
[speaker004:] Yes it means the hill of the juniper.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] There is a juniper hill at the back.
[Ian:] Yes I used to play on it when I was a boy.
[speaker004:] Is that so.
[Ian:] My favourite place to play.
[speaker004:] Well it was it was known as before. My father always c called the place.
[speaker003:] Well well well the well the first post office was built, just where now, it was on Estate, so they called the post office.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker003:] And did away with the stuff there.
[Ian:] Right yes.
[speaker003:] And then when the railway come through, the station was also Estate.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] It was called Station.
[Ian:] Aha. Oh I see. And then
[speaker003:] And before that it was known as.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] A nicer name.
[Ian:] It is really.
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker003:] that station.
[speaker002:] Well is quite nice in the Gaelic but er when they change it into English they
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] it loses its flavour.
[Ian:] It does I agree with that. It's much much nicer name for the whole area really
[speaker002:] Yes yeah.
[Ian:] Do you know what the means at all..
[speaker003:] ?
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] The white
[speaker002:] The well
[speaker003:] The white river.
[speaker002:] No was white you see it was an Irish word I think, and it was known as the. That's how we'd you see.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker002:] And I think it means the white.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker002:] And originally the white goddess.
[Ian:] Oh.
[speaker002:] That's what it came from. It's Irish.
[Ian:] I'd never have guessed that.. It's a nice r it's a nice river.
[speaker002:] It's six sixty miles long.
[Ian:] The the.
[speaker002:] Yes if you sort of.
[Ian:] I see. It's a lovely river.
[speaker002:] Oh yes.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker003:] There's another down in er Perthshire,.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And this was but they put a D in it to
[Ian:] Ah.
[speaker002:] To distinguish.
[speaker003:] to distinguish the two.
[Ian:] Yes, I see.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] The Gaelic is.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And you see, Ireland is.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] You see, it came from the same thing.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] or something.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[Ian:] It's an old sounding name.
[speaker002:] Mhm.
[Ian:] I was meaning to ask about the would you you wouldn't have any idea the number of people who would have been in your your early days here?
[speaker003:] Oh no.
[Ian:] No? Would there not be Would there be two or three times the number now or.
[speaker003:] Oh no I don't think so. Of course the distillery distillery had been made bigger it er put up the population a good bit.
[Ian:] Ah.
[speaker003:] But then a lot of the other part of the er disappeared in the olden days.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] Yes well when did they they start emigrating, about eighteen fifteen or thereabouts eighteen si
[speaker003:] Eighteen twenty. Well in eighteen twenty one th the population was one thousand one hundred and twenty odd.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] If I remember right. One one thousand one hundred and something anyway.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But I think when I was young we used to say that er the population about here was five hundred.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But I don't know what it is now.
[Ian:] I think it's hundred or something. I'm not sure.
[speaker002:] We don't even know the people now.
[Ian:] No.
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER].
[Ian:] Well well you know, how many people would you know in in now at all.
[speaker003:] Not awful many.
[speaker002:] Not very many, the.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] Oh well yes
[speaker002:] And the down of course.
[speaker004:] anyway.
[speaker003:] There're all them in the farms, we know all them right enough
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] A whole lot in the council houses the distillery I don't know them at all.
[Ian:] Yes yes.
[speaker002:] I don't know
[speaker003:] Och aye. well I know the, Alec and his wife and Ian and the wife. But the other keeper I don't know.
[Ian:] Mhm. It's it's amazing how it changed really
[speaker003:] Yes.
[Ian:] . Do you think there was more of a sense of community then or
[speaker003:] Pardon?
[Ian:] Do you think there was more of a sense of sort of community in those days? Where people would know each other better or
[speaker002:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] Oh yes, I think they would. Each other Everybody would know one another in the olden days.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker004:] Well a way back in the last century they they had to go looking for a life a living elsewhere because of the poverty of the place.
[Ian:] Yes yes.
[speaker004:] There was far too many people for the land.
[Ian:] I see you couldn't
[speaker003:] And there was no other work besides.
[Ian:] Aye.
[speaker003:] To keep them going.
[Ian:] . Did you ever travel anywhere yourselves from from at all?.
[speaker003:] Well.
[speaker005:] [LAUGHTER]
[speaker002:] the borders.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker002:] But
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker002:] He used to go here and there.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] the Western Isles. I reached the borders.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] I just saw England, I was never in it.
[Ian:] Ah right.. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker002:] But I was in the most of the islands you know.
[Ian:] Yes. But you've you've mostly lived here.
[speaker002:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] Yes.
[Ian:] Yes. So this is definitely home. I was just goon interesting to ask about was erm well just how how how people pass evenings you know, did they go visiting each other or
[speaker003:] Yes there were a lot of that done.
[speaker002:] Yes they would.
[Ian:] There was a lot.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[speaker002:] What they called Ceilidhs.
[Ian:] Aha aha. And what what what would happen in a Ceilidh?
[speaker003:] Oh well just talking and when anybody came here they used to just talk about about old stories and things like that.
[Ian:] Aha. Oh yes.
[speaker003:] Maybe the local gossip that was going at the time.
[Ian:] Ah yes. Would there be anybody singing at all or
[speaker003:] No I can't remember an anybody singing.
[speaker002:] Not unless a drunk man came in. [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER]
[speaker003:] . But occasionally a tramp would come
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]
[speaker003:] and er he'd a night's shelter and a in the stable.
[Ian:] Aha. Oh.
[speaker003:] Oh we'd some regulars that used to come here.
[speaker002:] Oh they used to come with boxes of jewellery and stuff and thing.
[speaker003:] Oh aye
[speaker002:] this
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] jewellery.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker003:] They used to go peddling you see.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] a box on their back and they'd open it out and there'd be brooches and tiepins and oh we though that was great.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Yes we didn't see many
[Ian:] Who where would they get that? Or would they make it or
[speaker003:] No they would buy it somewhere and sell it at a profit you see.
[Ian:] I see.
[speaker003:] What you called a peddler.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] went round the houses.
[Ian:] And they were quite friendly were they?
[speaker003:] Oh yes yes.
[Ian:] Oh. Oh that's Did you ever have many sort of musicians at all in in in those days?
[speaker003:] Musicians?
[Ian:] Aye people fiddlers or
[speaker003:] Oh yes there were quite a few.
[speaker002:] Michael 's father was a fiddler.
[speaker003:] So was.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And er Jimmy my brother, he was a piper.
[Ian:] I'd heard that, yes. I'd heard.
[speaker003:] Yeah. Dave 's father, he was a piper too.
[speaker002:] 's grandfather.
[speaker003:] Yes. And Don he was a grand piper..
[Ian:] So there w would have been quite a tradition of music as well.
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] Would it be all self taught or or how
[speaker003:] Well well er Jimmy you know used to go down to to learn to read the music.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] And I think Don could read the music too but they'd be more or less self taught otherwise but then they would have started playing by ear.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] And then they learnt the music later on some of them and
[Ian:] Ah. Aha.
[speaker003:] took it off the books then.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[Ian:] I was just gonna ask you another thing as well, was there any any tradition of local songs at all? Do you know any local songs or rhymes or anybody ever
[speaker003:] Well
[Ian:] poems even.
[speaker003:] Well 's father was a a bard.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] He'd a book of poems.
[Ian:] Have you ever seen it now. Was it just one he wrote himself was it.
[speaker003:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] Oh. Was it ever published or was it just
[speaker003:] Yes yes.
[speaker002:] Yes yes.
[Ian:] Aha. I must find out about that. You don't have a copy or anything.
[speaker003:] Yes I can get a copy for you.
[Ian:] Aha..
[speaker003:] I d I don't think you would get them to buy now, but
[Ian:] No.
[speaker003:] I know there's a copy in the house somewhere.
[Ian:] Aha. I'd be very interested to to see
[speaker003:] I'll give a look for it before you go.
[Ian:] Aha. That was that was 's father.
[speaker003:] 's father yes.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Oh was great poet too.
[Ian:] I I'd heard he wrote a few things.
[speaker003:] Oh that was a very good poet.
[Ian:] I I've I've been trying to see the 's about it and about getting copies of some of his poems so that people could see them you know. And I I don't know what's happening but that. I just wondered if you knew any of them off hand or.
[speaker002:] We did have them somewhere but I I just don't know
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] where they are.
[Ian:] Did did you ever ever sing or play anything yourselves or
[speaker003:] No.
[speaker004:] You used to play a lot.
[speaker003:] Och.. I never mastered it though.
[Ian:] You had a go though.
[speaker003:] I used to try.
[Ian:] No no.
[speaker004:] Do you play yourself, anything?
[Ian:] I'm learning the mandolin. A wee bit.
[speaker004:] Oh well I see.
[Ian:] Yeah. Very slowly. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker004:] Mhm.
[Ian:] I don't think I'll ever master it. [LAUGHTER] But er I'm trying you know. Trying. I was just thinking there w there would be more music playing in those days, because there wasn't a television or or things like that you know maybe just to distract people make their own entertainment you know. I was just wondering about well about that. I was also gonna ask you about, was it a morbid subject but about funerals. Was there any undertaker locally or
[speaker003:] Undertakers?
[Ian:] Aye who would who would take care of that?
[speaker003:] Well er Mar Mary 's father used to do do the coffins.
[Ian:] Oh I didn't know that.
[speaker003:] And there were other joiner over and Do you know what is?
[Ian:] Yes yes.
[speaker003:] Well William, he used to do them too.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] In fact I think in in those days er it's mostly the local men that
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] did the undertaking.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But that's during my time that I remember.
[Ian:] Yes. So if somebody died they would they would the body or or make the coffin and
[speaker003:] Make a coffin and take it to the
[Ian:] Take it to the house.
[speaker003:] Take it to the house.
[Ian:] Yes. And would how would the would the the coffin be carried to the churchyard in those days?
[speaker003:] Mostly, yes.
[speaker004:] Shoulder high.
[Ian:] Sho Aha.
[speaker003:] High on the shoulder.
[Ian:] And walk all the way to the
[speaker003:] Walk all the way yes, in the olden days.
[Ian:] Aha. Must have been quite a Would there have been a procession behind it or anything?
[speaker003:] Oh aye yes and they'd be changing over
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Every now and again.
[Ian:] Was there anything like an places where they used to rest the coffin or anything like that?
[speaker003:] Well er they would rest it in the parapet of a bridge I think.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker003:] But I think there's some places though, special places for resting a coffin.
[Ian:] Aha. Aha.
[speaker004:] And then in the old days when they used to have this body snatching,
[Ian:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] You know for the for the doctors.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker004:] they had a little watch house. You'd see that in and.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] There's a little watch house.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] Where the people watched for so many days there
[speaker003:] For six weeks.
[speaker002:] Six weeks.
[speaker003:] Yes after the
[speaker002:] Their relatives you know
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] bodies you see in case they would lift them.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] And they they even had a gun in with them and if they didn't go by the third shot They fired in the air you see.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker002:] They were liable to get shot properly.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker002:] So.
[Ian:] It's quite nice of them.
[speaker002:] Quite gruesome.
[Ian:] Indeed.
[speaker002:] What why why would they steal the bodies?
[speaker003:] For er dissecting it for the
[Ian:] Ah.
[speaker003:] Doctor
[Ian:] Ah I see, the money yeah.
[speaker003:] Because they were busy experimenting at that time and
[Ian:] Ah I see.
[speaker002:] You've heard of Burke and Hare.
[Ian:] Yes. Yes.
[speaker002:] Well, that's what it was.
[Ian:] I never thought it went on up here though.
[speaker002:] Oh yes there were watch houses here
[speaker003:] Yes there was.
[Ian:] Oh
[speaker003:] In all the churchyards. And they had to watch there for six weeks. There'd be tonight, now for tomorrow night, the two that was on tonight had to find the next two.
[Ian:] Oh I see.
[speaker003:] To go in their place.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] If not they would have to stay on another night.
[Ian:] Oh.
[speaker003:] But they would only get two you see, and they would go on and that two would have to find another two to go on the following night.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] For six weeks.
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] Mhm.
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] Aye.
[Ian:] A lot of work and sleepless nights.
[speaker002:] That's why there were these flat stones on the graves you know the old
[Ian:] Yes. So
[speaker002:] So that they couldn't easily get them out.
[Ian:] I see. I didn't I didn't know that. But there would've been nobody would have stolen bodies here though. Surely.
[speaker003:] Well.
[speaker002:] I think they did.
[speaker003:] There was er a man here his his name was James and I I don't know was it one of his relatives that was buried, but he dreamt that they came to snatch the bodies
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] The body. And he reported it and the put on a double watch that night.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And during the night, the watchmen saw a coming over the the dyke.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And they shouted at in a while they saw it coming up again, they give another warning.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] The third one was the the shot was to be fired you see.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] He disappeared.
[Ian:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Whether there was any truth in it or not I don't know but it was told to me that he dreamt it
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] that they came in to snatch the bodies and they put a a double watch on. But I w I was wondering myself did the watchmen make up the story or did it come? I don't know.
[Ian:] .
[speaker003:] Right. But er
[speaker002:] What about the tramp that was found beside dead beside the road up the glen somewhere.
[speaker003:] Oh aye but he wasn't snatched.
[speaker002:] No no but he was put into the church.
[speaker003:] He was found dead at the roadside and er church.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] And there was a Miss living in the croft beside and she dreamt during the night that er he he was stolen.
[Ian:] Mhm.
[speaker003:] She got out of bed and went out and went through the churchyard and went into the church and started feeling in the dark with her hand
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] At last she touched him, Oh you're still there, poor. And she'd away back up the way to bed again. Once she once she was satisfied that her dream
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker003:] wasn't right. It was
[Ian:] Very brave.
[speaker003:] She wasn't she hardy?
[Ian:] Oh indeed.
[speaker003:] A woman.
[Ian:] Very I wouldn't do that myself.
[speaker002:] No. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker003:] You knew John?
[Ian:] No.
[speaker003:] Oh you didn't know John?
[Ian:] No.
[speaker003:] Oh well it was his great aunt
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] that did it.
[Ian:] Aha. Right.
[speaker002:] .
[Ian:] I think I've heard the name but I
[speaker002:] Yes well his widow is in the in the house opposite to Mrs there.
[Ian:] Ah.
[speaker003:] Across the road.
[Ian:] Yes. Oh yes the wee white house?
[speaker002:] She's got a wee doggie.
[Ian:] Yes.
[speaker002:] .
[Ian:] Oh yeah.
[speaker002:] That's his widow there.
[Ian:] Oh.
[speaker002:] Yes.
[Ian:] I didn't know didn't know him actually.
[speaker002:] And John would be away one night,. I I was er a manager up at what's that place now?
[Ian:] Ah I see. That's another thing I was gonna ask you was about weddings too, was there be you know, quite a few weddings locally. They would be quite different from weddings nowadays would they or
[speaker002:] They used to have them in the in the houses you see.
[Ian:] Oh aye.
[speaker002:] In their houses. My father and mother were married in the other side. They were married in was it in the barn or or
[speaker003:] No the house in the
[speaker002:] In the house they were married and they had the reception where in the barn?
[speaker003:] In the barn yes.
[Ian:] Oh I see, yes.
[speaker002:] quite a crowd of people I think.
[Ian:] Oh I'm sure.
[speaker003:] as a rule it would be I think.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] In the olden days.
[speaker002:] They did, they were married in deep snow and it was a job for people to travel about.
[Ian:] Oh yes yes.
[speaker002:] In January.
[speaker003:] But er long before our time a a wedding in a district like this would last for about a week.
[Ian:] Really?
[speaker003:] There were, the wedding would come off right enough but the reception would linger on night after night
[Ian:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] Aye.
[speaker002:] singing. drinking.
[Ian:] Yes oh indeed [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER]
[Ian:] . What what about funerals, was there ever any wakes funeral.
[speaker003:] Oh aye, there used to be wakes at one time.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Not in our time I don't think. at one time at that too.
[Ian:] Yes yes.
[speaker004:] And at the funeral there was bottles of whisky
[speaker003:] Oh yes.
[Ian:] Oh yes.
[speaker004:] at the churchyard and
[speaker003:] Oh aye when they used to carry it they they were drinking a dram now and again on the road going to it.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker003:] Oh well aye but I think they overdid it sometimes.
[Ian:] [LAUGHTER] Yes. I I mean, I'm quite sure. Quite sure. Ask I was gonna ask about was there any organized dances or anything in in the hall? Was there a hall
[speaker003:] Oh yes there used to be very often dances in the hall.
[Ian:] Would they be quite quite regular sort of?
[speaker003:] Yes. Yeah especially in the shooting season time when
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] the lodges were full.
[Ian:] You would get a lot of people coming down from there.
[speaker003:] Mhm..
[Ian:] Aha. And and who would play at these dances?
[speaker003:] Oh well s sometimes it'd be the local boys.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] But er quite er often they got a band from Inverness.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Maybe a fiddle and a melodeon.
[Ian:] Aha.
[speaker003:] Sometimes the pipes.
[Ian:] Yes and they would they would go on quite a while these dances would they?
[speaker003:] Oh yes.
[Ian:] Quite late..I I'll just stop this here actually. [recording ends]