Merry Christmas from us all!

The group met up for the last time today before having a well earned break over the Christmas period - although, I know that they will still be carrying on their research - when time allows.

The freezing snowy weather has certainly scuppered our plans to visit the Inverness Archive, which has now been postponed three times!  The trip will now take place early in the New Year and I know we are all keen to look at the Valuation Rolls and other documents that will help us with our research.  All the census records have been printed off and distributed out among the participants.  Many of the participants have already started to collate their street information into databases and street forms - it looks like we are on track!  The group has effectively combined the use of local memories and historical documentation to great effect in this project.

The Streets Where We Live Invitiations

Coming your way soon!

The main task today was organising the invitations and questionnaires for distribution to the members of the local community.  The invites contain information about the community talks/discussions that will take place in the New Year.  Everybody is welcome to come along!

Elizabeth Richardson busy getting the invitations ready!

Community Illustrated Talks/Discussions 2011

We would like to invite you to attend our programme of community talks in Timespan, which will include a history of the development of the ‘streets’ in Helmsdale and Portgower, old photographs through the ages and a look at some of the houses and their past residents.  We also look forward to talking to local residents about where they live and what changes they have experienced in their lifetime – and correct our mistakes!  If you want to learn more about your house then come along and get involved – there will be good banter and a cup of tea for all!

All talks on Saturday mornings from 10.30pm to 12.30pm in Timespan

15^th January - Shore Street  

22^nd January - Dunrobin Street

29^th January - Sutherland Street

5^th February - Stafford Street, Trentham Street & Lilleshall Street

12^th February - Stittenham Street & Old Caithness Road

19^th February - East Helmsdale and the Bogholes

26^th February - Glebe Terrace & Rockview Place

5^th March - Golf Road and Strath Road

12^th March - Portgower Streets

Uncovering street features from the past

There are many old architectural features still to be found in the streets of Helmsdale, which are the lasting remnants of a way of life long gone, but not forgotten!  The members of the group have been collecting this information and many interesting sites have come to light.

Belgrave Hotel in Dunrobin Street

The two most Easterly windows at street level facing Dunrobin Street, have iron spikes inserted in the window sills.  This was done to discourage the practice of men congregating at Street corners for a blether and if a window sill was at a convenient height it could be used as a seat.  A regular window sill where this practice was carried out was opposite the above mentioned windows, where the window at Alf's Corner was used.

Spikes on the window sill of the Belgrave Hotel

Rutherford Terrace (Old School)

Original school bell still in situ.

AR McLeod's store in Trentham Street

A wooden hatch fitted in the wall at North end facing Trentham street, enables coal to be shoveled from a lorry into the shed when McLeod's sold and delivered coal circa 1955-1964. 

Trentham Street east pavement 

Outline of the covers where the three petrol pumps and one diesel pump existed, circa 1948-1996.

Co-op Lane

A hatch was built into the wall of the former CO-op bake house at ground level.  Fresh bread and rolls could be purchased from the bakers at this hatch in the early morning before the main shop opened.

The Green Stag (part of the Bridge Hotel), Dunrobin Street

A curved stone canopy, where a post-box used to be located, still exists in the wall at the corner of this building. 

Stone canopy for a post-box (post box now long gone)

La Mirage in Dunrobin Street

A very unusual barrel-shaped stone feature exists on the top of the front wall, at the western corner, where the roof meets the wall.  This is the usual location for datestones.  The barrel symbol may relate to an earlier use of the building as a public house.

Unusal barrel feature on roof of La Mirage

Wall on Stittenham Road

This wall has many interesting features such as blocked up doorways and an unusual masonry block inserted into the wall, with what looks like pre-historic cup-marks on it.

Possible pre-historic cup-marks on a masonry block inserted into the wall

Do you know of any more architectural features?

If you do please get in touch and share this information with the Helmsdale community!