Following rhododendron clearance at Creed Mouth, we (Stornoway Trust) now know exactly where the Matheson’s were dinning in the 1870’s

The table was right outside Mac An t-Stronaich’s Cave!

The very old photographs  taken by Lady Mary Jane Matheson (nee Perceval) from the Matheson Family Album, courtesy of Museum Nan Eilean, together with recent photographs confirm the exact location.

Lady Mary Jane Matheson(c1820-1896), had a lifelong passion for photography and was a member of the Photographic Society of Scotland from its inception in 1856 until it disbanded in 1873. Prince Albert was the society’s patron and other members included the famous Scottish photographer George Washington Wilson (1823- 1893).Examples of Lady Mary Jane’s work are in the collections of the Musee d’Orsay, Paris.

The Stornoway Trust have now completed nearly 6km of cycle tracks in Lews Castle Grounds partly funded by the Comhairle’s Community Sport Fund and also the Scottish Government’s Rural Development Programme.

Half of the trails are wide and can be used by both walkers and cyclists. You can now walk on a new route from Willowglen towards Marybank Lodge and on towards Breedon’s Quarry, coming back on to existing paths near to Strawberry Hill. In the Gallow’s Hill area, you can now enjoy a stroll  on an upgraded old Matheson path circumnavigating the hill on the north side coming out at the top near the summit. A new descent on the south side of Gallows Hill has been established bringing you out near to the River Creed area. This whole area until recently was covered by dense impregnable Rhododendrums, now it has been transformed as has the area around Crow hill If you are a mountain biker, you can now go from Marybank lodge all the way down to the YM Bridge on special trails and you can also tackle a new challenging descent off Gallow’s hill.

The Stornoway Trust were pleased to unveil a new bench, Charlie’s Seat, near the River Creed mouth, in recognition of Charlie Nicolson’s many years of public service both in the Western Isles and in Moldova. Charlie Nicolson was a Trustee of the Stornoway Trust for 18 years and was latterly the Chairman of the Trust for six years prior to his retirement last year. At the surprise unveiling and presentation on Friday evening, the current Chairman Murdo Murray paid tribute and thanked Charlie for his many years of diligent and selfless service, which has spanned over two decades and extended to organisations such as the Trust, wider community groups, and to the people of Moldova. Charlie expressed his appreciation and surprise at the honour of having his own seat in the Lews Castle Grounds and wished the Stornoway Trust well in all the work of managing the Estate.

The bench, a single piece of elm, was carved by Stornoway Trust Forester, Iain Murray, from a windblown tree which fell near to the Shoe Burn.

Photograph shows Trustees Zena Stewart and Norman Macleod sitting beside Charlie, and standing Trustee Norman A MacIver, Factor Iain M MacIver, Forester Iain Murray, Trustee and Chairman Murdo Murray and Trustee Donald Crichton.

We have three PDF documents with scans of letterheads from local business dating from 1918 to the 1960s - a fascinating insight to some of the local organisations around then, some still around now.  View the letterheads scans online here - document 1, 2 and 3.  A few samples are shown below.