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Hellisay
Hellisay maps
Historic maps of Hellisay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Hellisay maps
Hellisay area books
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Memories of Hellisay
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Isle of Hellisay memories
Bentangval
I was broutht up at 16 Bentangval with my grandfather Phoom, also my grandmother. I have great memories. I believe the house has now been knocked down and a new house is there now. I have not been there for 33 years.
Lingerbay, Growing up
I was brought up in Lingerbay in a house that I believe was built by my grandfather in 1926. The family are still in that house and there have been many changes to it over the years. There in the family home were eight children - four girls, four boys. And, from my own recollections a happy childhood was had by all.
Finsbay Lodge
I have enjoyed visiting Harris ever since 1970. I was fascinated to learn that there had been a large and charismatic fishing lodge/hotel at Finsbay; even more odd was the fact that its origin and history were hardly known. I delved into its history, and it was remarkable to find that this had been one of the largest fishing organisations ever in the UK, founded by a group of prosperous, but highly philanthropic and wide-thinking, Glasgow businessmen who formed a company, The Hebridean Sporting Association Ltd, in 1903. Local people in the South Harris community supported the venture which was greatly beneficial to everybody concerned. It provided a lot of employment and probably marked the start of a new era of welcoming visitors to the Isle of Harris.
Unfortunately, the financial aspects were over-ambitious. When the First World War was declared, visitors to Harris were virtually embargoed, yet the Hebridean Sporting Association's rents and leases still had to be paid. Financial failure became inevitable, and the fine Finsbay... Read more
Stayed in Quidinish
My father Ewen Mackay was born in Quidinish. He came to New Zealand after the Second World War and died in Dunedin in 1958, aged 35 years. In 1991 my brother Ian MacKay, his wife Pauline and I travelled to Harris to meet our family and see where our father had spent his early years. My thoughts of our time there are tinged with sadness as my uncle Allan MacKay and aunt Rebecca Gillies (my father's siblings) have since passed away.
Peace on Earth
First visit, New Year 1972/73 with Donald McIntyre [Donald Baan] brother of Rory, sons of Mary & Rodger. Continued every Hogmany till 2002/3. Moved to Colonsay 2003, Craig Mhor, built 2004/5, health, and incomers deteriated so had to return to England [reluctantly], fond memories of good friends, my heart lies there.
My Grandma
My Grandma was born and grew up in Balallan. Her grandfather (My great-great grandfather) Montgomery? started the first school in Balallan.
Childhood Memories of Linshader
During my childhood we went to Linshader every summer holiday and stayed at my auntie's house (No 7). It was great ... we enjoyed collecting eggs, putting the cow out to pasture, helping to make haystacks with my uncle, feeding the calves with my auntie, visiting people through the village, waiting for the Co-op van to come round so we would get a lollipop, rowing over to Callanish with my uncle, playing on the rope swing my cousins would put up for us in the byre, watching my cousin weaving Harris tweed on his loom. We also loved to watch Auntie milking the cows and then skimming the milk and making butter in her yellow churn. They were happy days, out in the fresh air all day long with not a care in the world, running wild up the hills at the back of the croft. When we would come back to Stornoway I would feel that it was closing in on me after all the open space we had... Read more
