Tigh Phadruig
Posted: Monday, 30 October 2006 |
5 comments |
Padruig (Peter) Campbell was the tenth child and sixth son of Ruaraidh Mor (see blog of 16 January 2006). Like the rest of Ruaraidh's family he was born in Molinginish - in about 1843. He was a fisherman for much of his active life. There were nine fishermen recorded in the 1871 census in Molinginish, which with a crew of about five to a boat would have meant two boats' crews. He prospered well at the fishing and built this house, probably around 1873 when he married Margaret Campbell, who was originally from Berneray, but by this time lived with her sister in Kyles Scalpay. Padruig's brother Murchadh married Margaret's sister Effy the following year. Tradition also says that the two brothers used to row all the way to Berneray to visit the girls - and apparently they knew the way so well that they did not need to turn around until they arrived. Neither couple had any children. Padruig's house was advanced for its day in such a remote location. Built of stone and lime with tall casement windows and a felt roof and with chimneys at either end it was the last word in comfort in its day. Padruig was well known as a genial friendly man who could be relied on to help out in time of need. A religious man, he was well known in his day for the composition of spiritual songs. In his old age Padruig moved to Tarbert where he passed away, at the stated age of 88 in 1933. His neice Catriona Dhomhnuill Bhig and her husband and family moved into the house for a time before they moved to the Bays. It then fell into disrepair. Later, one of the remaining people in the village knocked down the eastern gable and constructed a byre inside the house. The remainder of the house stands today as a testimony to Padruig, his hard work and his long life.
Posted on Molinginish at 22:22
Comments
itz great to se that that house is still standing. its only a matter of time before the gable end wall falls through. seriously would look into restoring it. have you done much with the speal. (can't spell it). now that the midges are gone.
gregor from forren parts
Hi Gregor. I hope to get some braceoing timbers put up soon to hold the gable stable for the winter. Alasdair Ruadh thought it is good eneough for restoration. Just need to stabilise it meantime. Speal is away now!
Murchadhmor from Molinginish
Very interesting. I assume the house is in Molinginish (area). Too bad the eastern gable was knocked down. Technically I assume it could be rebuilt as it would be reverse image of the western one. Are there good dry wallers in the Molinginish area, or do you the renovation/consolidation around yourself? # Would I be correct to assume that basic vegetables for the household could be grown on the hardscrabble? Did the inhabitants salt/smoke and keep some of the fish? How did they prepare/transport their catch to market?
mjc from NM,USA
Hi mjc. The walling is stone and lime mortar which is an even bigger challenge, but there are some about who can take it on. I will do separate blogs on the matter of growing crops and fishing. Some of it is barely believeable nowadays.
Murchadhmor from molinginish
It is great to see people like yourself caring about our stone heritage.All over Europe features such as this house are being restored, so good power to you
Norman Haddow from Crieff
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