The Heritage Centre is open for only a few hours a day in winter, so was lucky to have timed for an afternoon call. Started off by asking for information from the Comunn Eachdraidh, who were happy to help where possible. As is the case with all the historical societies in Lewis, they are run by volunteers and therefore have hardly time and/or resources to work through queries - I came with a list of about 30. I encountered the same problems in Shawbost, with the West Side CE in a lovely new building by the bridge, but nobody to man it for any length of time. CE Uig is by far the most active, with a volunteer doing a great one-person job on the website and social networking presences. However, upon request, all the historical societies in the island have been more than pleased to help.
The exhibition in the Ness Heritage Centre is worthy of a visit, with an interesting section on the now defunct Decca Station near Eoropie. There were some lovely items on display, but I dread to think what the environmental conditions in the exhibition space must do to the exhibits. A hygrometer was stuck firmly at 90%, and a thermometer would have struggled to reach much above 7C - the same temperature as could be found outside. Better go there on a sunny spring or summer's day.
I cannot show pictures of the exhibition, as there was a notice asking not to take photographs.
I had visited the Habost Cemetery before, but needed to revisit in order to register the private, family gravestones that refer to casualties of war. I found about 25. I'll close my report with a few outside pics. It was perishing cold on Tuesday.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The mainland hills, seen from the Habost machair"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Looking south, down the coast towards Dell"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Don't think these are very welcome"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Habost village"]
[/caption]
what kind of things are in the Ness Heritage Centre? What was the Decca station, arnish?
ReplyDeleteThere's an old Decca Station here, too, LL. Three huge masts. I'm sure Arnish could explain it better than I, though.......
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd like to know, too. I suppose it's something to do with the Decca navigation systems that ships carry? Or at least used to, I suppose it's all GPS now? Good photos, Arnish, and I like the geese even if no one else does.
ReplyDeletelove the geese-----fantastic security staff:smile:
ReplyDeleteit looks a lot warmer than-----just now -3°and still loads of snow
And there were also Red Slaves and (surely best of all) Purple Slaves, too, it would seem. Technically a bit over my head, but very interesting even so. Thanks Arnish! I'll stick with the satnav though :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Arnish, When you write "Mainland" about the fotie of the mountains, is this an "island Mainland" or the mainland of Bonny Scotland? Sorry about my ignorance, you wouldn't guess that I was actually good at geography in school. But it was a long time ago..
ReplyDeleteIn the Hebrides, Barney, the Mainland is always mainland Scotland.
ReplyDeleteAnd in Orkney, the Mainland is always mainland Orkney!
ReplyDelete