Where is East Helmsdale?

Over the last few weeks the project researchers have focused their attention on the area known as East Helmsdale - but where is it!

 Timespan audience attending East Helsmdale presentation

A map by John Kirk dated 1773 refers to the whole area to the north of the river as Easter Helmsdale and comprises old rig and furrow cultivation and a few small clusters of houses.  This map also refers to a place called 'Boggallan' (known today as the Bogholes) in the area between the village and Navidale.  A later map dated c.1819 refers to East Helmsdale as being between the village and Navidale and the other part as the 'Moor of East Helmsdale' (known today as Old Helmsdale).  It also refers to 'Widdows Cottages' which is the earliest date for the existance of the Almshouse (known today as The Barracks).

 Photo of The Barracks c1930s coutesy of Esther MacDonald, Protgower

By 1820 the area of East Helmsdale was the land at either end of the village, excluding the village itself.  The first Ordnance Survey map dated c1873 shows the location of houses in both these areas, some of which are annotated as 'ruin', as well as the houses on Strath Road.  This map also shows the location of an 'Almshouse' (known today as The Barracks).  

The later developments of East Helmsdale incude the building of the following streets, i.e. Simpson Crescent, Rockview Place, Farr Crescent, The Glebe (a reference to the chuch lands in the area) and Golf Road (locally known as the Pens).

A member of today's audience Edward Mackay shed some light on the Pens.  He informed the group that the original location of the sheep pens was on the land now occupied by part of Golf Road and where his house is located.  He said that he used to play on the Pens Parkie.  This is where the annual sheep sales would have taken place in the 19th century.  He said that the location of the pens for the sheep sales was moved to the other side of the river next to the Helsmdale Graveyard and near the railway station.  This allowed the sold sheep to be easily taken to the station for transportation south.

 Margot Macgregor selling sheep at the Helmsdale sheep sales

 

Talking about Sutherland Street

The programme of street talks is well underway and audiences in excess of 30 are coming back again and again to enjoy the banter and learn about the houses in Helmsdale.  The first talk focused on Shore Street and the development of the early fishing village and then proceeded with the second talk about Dunrobin Street and the early commercial development of the village in the early 1800s.  The latest talk on Sutherland Street was presented by Joan Murray, a member of our research group. 

 

 Joan has really looked into every house in some detail and was able to recount the history to each house to a captivated audience.  She informed the group that there used to be a smiddy (blacksmith) on the street in c1873, but it was gone by c1906.  She showed the group an image of a house called Valhalla, which was formerly the old police station.  A few entries from the police log book gives a fascinating insight into the life of a local bobby back in 1874.

Monday 2 March 1874

At 8 am, left my Station and patrolled the village generally during the day. Completed weekly and monthly reports. Also reported the number of men employed on the Railway between Helmsdale and County March for week ending Saturday 28th ultimo being as follows, viz; Railway Labourers 227, Masons and their Labourers 26, Platelayers 30, Wirefencers 9, Telegraph men 9, Carters 4, Joiners 2. A  total of 307 men. 

Attended the arrival and departure of afternoon trains. Called on D. Macdonald, Station Agent, Helmsdale. Called on Mary Sutherland or Fraser, Lotter, West Helmsdale and warned her according to the CC instructions anent my report of 13th and 19th Ultimo to tie up her dog or destroy it. 

Forwarded an Application for a Pedlar’s Certificate for Ian Harper aged 26 years a Hawker, presently residing at Upper Helmsdale. Patrolled the village during the evening. Attended the departure of mail coach at 8.40 pm. 

Night Duty – At 9.30 pm patrolled the village, visited the Porter and Ale House occupied by Jane Sutherland or Mackay at 11.5 pm, visited Anderson’s Inn at 11.10pm, found them regular. Returned to my Station at 11.30 pm.

The current owner of the house kindly allowed us to photograph the original windows of the cells at the rear of the house, complete with iron bars.

 

Chatting in the street!

The Wednesday sessions have progressed from desk-based research to walks around the village to locate houses, take photographs and chat to local residents. It is so nice to see people meeting up to chat about the streets project and some residents have kindly invited us into their homes and gardens to see features from the past. The main aim is to locate the different houses on a street and note where houses used to be, in the past, before they were demolished.

The recent walk along Old Caithness Road brought back many memories by group members Christine Cowie, Jean Sargent and Jim Mackay. Christine used to go to the old school (now called Rutherford Terrace)and then attended the new school built in 1955. She is pictured here sitting on the steps outisde the school as a child in the late1950s and sitting on the steps today - she hasn't changed a bit!

 Christine (back left) sitting on the school steps late 1950s

 Christine sitting on the school steps today

Trip to the Inverness Archive

The new archive centre in Inverness houses a large collection of records from this area, including valuation rolls and census records.  The research trip that took place on Wednesday 12th January was very productive and a second trip is planned for mid February.  The members of the group were able to browse through valuation rolls dating back to 1874 through to the 1980s.  A number of valuation rolls have been copied for both Kildonan and Loth Parishes and  are now available in the Timespan Archive to consult.

Group photograph inside the Inverness Archive

Bruce the baker on Lilleshall Street

G. Bruce, the baker on Lilleshall Street, Helsmdale, c1910

Some members of the streets group took a walk around Helmsdale last Tuesday to deliver invitations and speak to residents.  Gerry Wood, who is researching Lilleshall Street, spoke to the residents of Kindale Guest House, who informed her that their house used to be an old bakery (G. Bruce) and the remains of the shop ovens still existed in their back garden.  This was an opportunity not to miss and the owners kindly allowed access to see and photograph these rare features.  It became apparent that the ovens were housed in a separate building once attached to the house and main shop.  The owners said that evidence of burning was revealed during renovation work to the house.

 Kindale Guest House (Previously G. Bruce, the baker)

 The remains of the bakery oven in the back garden

Street talk goes down well in Timespan!

 Group attending talk by Nick Lindsay in Timespan

Today, Nick Lindsay, the Chairman of Clyne Heritage Society, presented a talk about his research on the houses and past residents in the Parish of Clyne.  He informed the group that he had used the information obtained from census records, valuation rolls, statutory registers, and graveyard records, compiling it all into computer searchable databases.  He said that colour coding the information was a useful way of following a house or property and its occupants through the ages, i.e. 1841 to 1901.  There were many questions from the 20 strong audience, some of which had traveled from Brora for the event.

Nick told the group that during the course of his research he had found out that some street names had changed over time, i.e.  Commerce Street in Brora changed to Roselyn Street by 1871.  He also indicated that the first ever valuation roll numbers recorded in 1849 were allocated to existing tenants in alphabetical order according to surname and that these numbers were the original croft numbers, some of which are still used today.

He had also noted that some census records contained ‘bynames’, as well as the correct surnames.  This was probably done to distinguish between the many families with the same surname, i.e. Robert (Bain) Sutherland.

He finished his presentation by informing the group that his research would take another five years to complete - and he wished the Timespan group well with their ongoing research!

A view from Helmsdale Rock

Happy New Year 2011!

Stunning view of Lilleshall Street courtesy of Brian Adams, Helmsdale

Latest news on the streets!

STREET TALKS/DISCUSSIONS

Don't miss our Saturday programme of talks in Timespan.  We will be looking at the different streets in Helmsdale, starting with Shore Street on Saturday 15th January in Timespan from 10.30am-12.30pm.  This event will include a look at an amazing collection of old images of the oldest street in Helmsdale, a presentation of the most current research carried out by the group and a discussion about daily life and stories.  We would be delighted to hear from any past residents and hope that you will come along.

The streets project will get back on track this week after a short festive break.  The snow has nearly gone and our long-awaited research trip to the Inverness Archive will be re-scheduled to take place in the next two weeks - keep watching the blog for updates.  The next workshop is on Saturday 8th January in Timespan from 10.30am-12.30pm - everybody welcome.

Local researcher, Nick Lindsay (Chairman, Clyne Heritage Society), hopes to join us on Saturday 8th to talk to us about his research on the Parish of Clyne and its past residents.

A selection of Valuation Roll extracts for Kildonan and Loth Parishes has been ordered from the Inverness Archive covering the period from 1874 to 1981.  This information will greatly enhance the genealogy resources freely available to consult in the Timespan public archive.

APPEAL FOR PHOTOGRAPHS

We would be delighted to hear from anyone who has old photographs of houses in Helmsdale or Portgower, i.e. before and after renovation work, past occupants, old features etc.