Sunday 20 February 2011

The Jetty - 1

For most of us, the jetty near The Ferry Stores is a place to launch pleasure boats, a meeting point on a summer's evening where the children fish for crabs while the adults talk, and a centre for the annual Kilchoan Regatta (pictured). But it has a long and important economic history, and continues to be used by local fishermen.

While the Diary hasn't found anyone who knows exactly how old it is, Malcolm MacMillan of Grigadale believes it to date from the early 17th century. It's certainly far older than the Calmac pier which was built in the early 20th century.

In those days it wasn't called the 'jetty' but the 'slipway'. The earliest photos on the West Ardnamurchan Vintage Photographs site, above, show it as a stone structure protected on the western side from the worst of the weather by large blocks of rock.

Another, perhaps later picture shows the more organised structure of the slipway itself, built of unmortared but dressed rock (many thanks to Iain MacDonald who posted both pictures on the WAVP site).

We know that around the late 19th century the ferry man, Duncan Cameron, used the slipway for his busiess. He built the Ferry House which stands on the opposite side of the road. He was related in some way to Allan Campbell who had a house on what is now the site of The Ferry Stores because, when Duncan and Allan drowned in separate incidents, Duncan's sons, Lachlan and John Cameron, inherited the job of carrying people to Tobermory and out to the passing MacBrayne ferries.


This photograph shows what is probably a Cameron brothers' boat loading sheep to be taken by sea to market in Oban - many thanks to Mary Khan for posting this on the WAVP site.

The jetty played a pivotal role in supplying the Kilchoan area. All 'imported' goods, such as coal and food, came in to Kilchoan Bay, usually in one of the famous puffers which beached and was unloaded at low tide. The original shop, which Lachlan Cameron built on the site he inherited from Allan Campbell and which is now the dwelling house for The Ferry Stores, was conveniently placed for these goods - there was, for example, a coal storage area or 'coalree' where the present shop structure stands.

The West Ardnamurchan Vintage Photographs site is here.

8 comments:

  1. My mum (Colina Stevenson from Sanna) told the story of the time she was returning home from Glasgow, probably some time in the 40s.The ferryman picked them up from the MacBrayne ferry and since my mum was local the ferryman didn't charge her for the journey. A visitor took great exception to this and refused point blank to pay his tuppenny fare.The ferrynman was very upset and later sent the visitor a letter, the letter simply said "Give me my tuppence" .....the ferryman didn't put a stamp on the letter.
    Helen Hendry

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  2. Barbara MacLennan23 February 2011 at 10:09

    The man at the tiller of the boat on the right is John [Jonac] Cameron. He wore a wig, having lost his hair through illness. Schoolgirls of my mother's [Flora MacNiven, born 1912] generation used to skip behind him, hoping to flick off the wig.

    The man climbing from one boat to the other looks like Campbell MacKenzie.

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  3. Many thanks for the information, Barbara, and for the story.

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  4. Jon,

    Can you tell me anything about Grigadale in the 1800's please?
    My great grandfather John Cameron the son of Alexander and Mary Cameron was born there about 1838
    and died in New Zealand.Alexander and his two brothers Donald and John lived there also
    Thanking you
    Ann Munro, NZ

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  5. Hi Ann-

    I will ask around, but there are very few records kept locally - sadly.

    Jon

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  6. Thank you Jon.
    Headstone Old Kilchoan Cemetery: In Memory ALEX CAMERON Late Tacksman Grigadale who died 9th Feb 1855 aged 72 years.This stone is placed here by his affectionate spouse Mary Cameron.
    I have 1851 census for the three brothers; by 1861 John and family are living at Ormsaigmore and Alexander's widow is living at Kilmallie.
    My main interest is,was Grigadale a township or a large farm worked by many tennant farmers.
    Regards
    Ann

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  7. The jetty was built by local crofters probably about the early 1900 one of the men was Mary Mac Gillivrays Father

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