Life Around the Holy Loch(1813 – 2013)

How has life changed around the Holy Loch over 200 years?

We can discover this by: Investigating census returns and parish records Looking at maps, photographs and postcards Looking at written descriptions of the areaHandling and examining things that were used in

the past.Talking with people!

How can maps show us how life has changed?

Roy Military Survey (1747 - 52)

1869 Ordnance Survey

1900 Ordnance Survey

We can see that…Taigh a' Chladaich (Cladhouse, stony beach)

changes its name to ‘Sandbank’.The village grows in size considerably!Some terraced houses appear.The first school, churches and various hotels are

built. There is the emergence of various businesses (Blacksmiths, Shoemakers, Grocers)

The pier into the Holy Loch is built attracting tourism and trade.

What was life like in the 19th century?

Let’s imagine a world without…..

Electric Light

Cars and buses

Dishwashers

Central Heating

Washing Machines

Refrigerators

TV

InternetTelephones

Life at Home

• Most of the houses in Sandbank were small cottages built from stone from the nearby quarry and bound in lime mortar.

• The earliest houses would have had thatched roofs. As the village grew, the houses would have a roof made from corrugated steel sheets and, later, slate.

• Heating would be provided by a central fireplace in the kitchen. This would have been used for cooking as well. Other rooms would also have fireplaces.

• The fuel used in the fireplaces would have originally been wood and peat cut from a nearby bog.

The Kitchen• Back in the 19th century, domestic utensils and appliances were a lot

different to what they are like today. There was no electricity and everything had to be done by hand.

• Ingredients were mainly locally sourced from local farms. The farms grew things like potatoes, turnips, oats, barley, peas and beans.

• Up until the 19th century the main source of meat would have been beef. With agricultural improvement, sheep were introduced into farming.

• There would have been plenty of fish brought in from the Holy Loch.

• Milk, cheese and butter would have been an important part of the local diet. This was often made at home but steadily bought more from shops.

The Kitchen

How does your kitchen look different?

Activity 1: Food Preparation & ServingWhat objects did people use to prepare and serve food?

Activity 1: Food Preparation & Serving1. What’s the object called (check the

label)2. What would you be doing if you were

using this object? 3. How is the object used?4. Could it have more than one use?5. How easy / difficult would it have been

to use it, and why?6. What materials are used in the object?7. Why is it made of these materials?8. Are there any patterns or marks on the

object?9. Have you ever seen anything like it

before?

Life at Home : Household Chores• Before we had electric washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum

cleaners, people had to use human-powered equipment to keep things clean.

• Children would have been expected to help carry out these chores, like cleaning the dishes and washing clothes.

• Often, there would have been no access to a hot water tap, so water had to be gathered from the loch, or a well and then boiled over the fireplace in the kitchen.

• There wasn’t any washing up liquid, so solid soap had to be grated by hand.

• The 19th century created an increase in the availability of clothes that could be bought in shops, especially in larger towns. People often had to make their own clothes and ‘make do and mend’ if clothes became damaged – they couldn’t be easily replaced.

• Some large households, like Hafton House, were owned by wealthy merchants and landowners who would employ servants to carry out these chores.

Which items do you think are from the 19th century or the 20th century?

Activity 2: Household Chores

Activity 2: Household Chores1. What do you think the item would have been

used for?2. What’s the difference between this object and its

modern-day equivalent?3. How heavy is the object? Would it have required

a lot of energy to use?4. Does the object need something else to make it

work? 5. Is there more than one type of material used in

the object? 6. What size is it? How do you think this will affect

its function?7. If you had it use this item, how would you feel?8. Who do you think would have used these

objects? 9. Briefly look at the other team’s objects. Can you

group similar items together under headings?

Life at Home : Comfort & Wellbeing

• We often take for granted things that make us comfortable in our own homes. In the past we didn’t have double-glazing, electric heaters or electric light.

• We relied on different types of fuel to keep us warm and so we could see at night. Can you think of the different types of fuel we may have used?

• What would you do today if there was a power cut? How would you see, cook and keep warm?

Activity 3: Comfort & Wellbeing

Activity 3: Comfort & WellbeingLet’s swop these items amongst ourselves

1. Which item is involved in the manufacturing of another well known item? Can you guess what it makes?

2. What types of “fuel” do these objects use?3. Where would you source the fuel from?4. Can you guess how this item works? How

do you “turn it on”?5. Are there any unique markings on any of

the items?6. What would you be doing if you were using

this object? 7. Does it smell of anything?

Activity 4: LightingLet’s look at the items related to lighting

1. If you had a powercut in your home, would you prefer to a Cruisie Lamp, Candle or a Rush Light? Why?

2. Sort the Cruisie Lamp, Candle and Rush Light from most expensive to cheapest.

3. Both the Cruisie Lamp and the Rush Light Holder use rushes for wicks. What is ‘rush’?

Industry and Work : Forces of Change

• Lots of different types of businesses have emerged around the Holy Loch over the past two hundred years, the most famous being those concerned with the maritime industry and trade.

• There was rapid industrialisation across the West Coast of Scotland and the Holy Loch was considered to be an important transportation gateway.

• This caused the villages around the Holy Loch to expand.• There was also a growth in demand in tourism and leisure

including a desire for many wealthy merchants to build houses within beautiful surroundings, (e.g. David Napier).

Glenlean Gun Powder Works.• This was in 1832 opened due to a rise in demand for gunpowder for mining and to

accommodate new railways, canals and large scale building projects.

• It was one of four large gunpowder works which operated in Argyll during the 19th century.

• Alder and other trees needed for the manufacture of black powder were in plentiful supply.

• It was a perfect location because of its accessibility by sea.

• A river known as the Little Eachaig powered the mill.

• Barrels were needed to store the gunpowder and a cooperage in Sandbank was established.

• The rise in demand for gunpowder resulted in the company employing more people, more cottages and a school being built.

The ‘Lazaretto’ Quarantine Station• Created in 1804 in response to fears of disease and pestilence brought in from

overseas trading vessels.

• Used to hold many ships coming from the West Indies transporting tobacco and sugar.

• The cargo would be assessed and then most likely transported onwards to Glasgow.

• All that remains of the old station is the external wall.

• The station was officially closed in 1845, but the cholera epidemic of 1845 – 1849 meant that it was continued to be used.

The Shipbuilding Industry• There were many shipbuilders around the Holy Loch, but one of the most famous was

Alexander Robertson.

• In 1858, when Alexander was the age of 7, Alexander and his parents moved to Sandbank from Skye. They then set up the Sandbank Post Office which opened in 1859.

• This is a watercolour of the family store:

Alexander Robertson’s and Sons In 1876, at the age of 25, Alexander teamed up with Daniel Kerr to form Robertson & Kerr,

Boat Builders and Carpenters.

They built fishing ‘skiff’ boats and ‘clinker’ crafts in their small workshop.

Alexander had six sons, five of which all went on to work alongside their father in the company ‘Alexander Robertson’s and Sons’

The success of the business due to the availability of resources: The pier, sawmills, building-sheds, engine house, sail loft and workers' houses. A second workshop was built near the old distillery.

The company became famous across Britain for the production of high quality yachts.

Robertson knew that the Holy Loch was going to become more and more popular. He bought lots of properties around the Holy Loch.

Many of their boats were used in both World War One and World War Two, with the government placing large orders.

Boat building changed after World War Two. Demand decreased. The cost of materials for their specialised yachts became to much. They closed in 1980.

Alexander Robertson’s and Sons

Activity 5: The Maritime IndustryHave a look at the objects that are presented to you.

Let’s go through this together

Caulking Mallet & Iron

A Caulking Mallet was used to help waterproof ships. It would hammer oakum (a material made of rope fibres) between the planks of the ship. When finished, a layer of putty would be smoothed over it.

Write down the CODE of the item you think is the Caulking Mallet. Does the mallet need anything else to make it work? What do you think it would be like to use this tool?

Fids : A Fid was used to open the strands of rope to allow them to be spliced and joined. Fids of

different sizes were one of the tools of sail makers, who had to fit ropes to the finished sail. Write down the CODE of the item you think is the Fid What do you think the old sails were made of? What do you think they are made of today?

Net Mending Needle Used in net mending and making. It has an “inner” tongue. The tongue holds thin line or

thread so it is easy to pull through and wind. Write down the CODE of the item you think is the Net Mending Needle

The Blacksmith Villages like Sandbank usually had a Blacksmith (or “smiddy”) before large

scale manufacturing was introduced. The smiddy would often be the place to go if you needed something made of

iron to be manufactured, e.g. horse shoes, iron tyres, barrel hoops and tools. The Currie family ran the smiddy in Sandbank. John and Isabella 1851 and

had 5 sons. The smiddy was very busy thanks to the demand from the gunpowder mills

in Glen Lean. They manufactured the hoops for the gunpowder barrels and horseshoes for

the horses at the mill. When the yacht building yards were in full production, they were involved in

making tools. They also made lots of agricultural equipment. Can you think of some

agricultural equipment that a blacksmith might make?

Activity 6: Cobbler’s LastA Cobbler’s Last was a typical item made by a Blacksmith.

Sandbank had Greenlee’s the shoemaker who would have used a very similar item

Group discussion1. How do you use it?2. What material is made from?3. How do you think the material is made?4. Is it heavy? Why?5. Do you see a use for it today?

Life at School! The earliest reference school in the area was at Dunoon in 1638 and

then Kilmun in 1697.

From the 17th century until the 19th century schools were mainly run by the church. Subjects included Latin, History and Religious Studies.

The 19th century brought in a recognition that formal education was important. Grants became available to establish new schools.

The New Statistical Account of 1851 tells us that very few children in the area could read or write.

In 1860 a school was established in Sandbank.

Life at School!Can anyone tell what’s pictured here?

Activity 7: Life at SchoolDon’t forget to swop the items and discuss things!

The Slate Board• What would you have used against this to write?• How often do you think you could use it?• How would it compare to an pen and inkwell?

The Belt (Tawse)• The classroom was very strict and you weren’t allowed to talk.• This would have been used to discipline children• Look at the item carefully can you see anything unusual? Once you

spot it tell me!

Activity 8: Choose an Object Out of all the objects you have seen today it would be great

if you could select one of them that interests you and complete the following:

I have selected the… This object interests me because…

If you like to draw /sketch it would be great if you selected an object and made your own representation of it……. Be as creative as you would like!

You don’t have to do this today and you are free to look at the objects with your teacher!

What we have learnt…1. What life was like at home and at work in the past using real objects

from the past and surviving evidence.

2. What Sandbank was like as a village and how it changed through time.

3. We have discovered some of the people who lived and worked here.

4. The different types of industry around the Holy Loch and its national importance.

Let’s discover more about the past together!

Thank You!