Kinloch Historical Society
The Kinloch Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the history, culture and heritage of Kinloch on the Isle of Lewis for over forty years. Oftentimes, in the lives of rural communities, our stories and lived experiences are forgotten or misrepresented. This collection is told by the local people of Kinloch and is a celebration of our connections to the land, to our faith, to music, and to our shared experiences as a community.
Salmaidh
Salmaidh documentary
As part of Museums Galleries Scotland’s Workforce for the Future Project, the Kinloch Historical Society partnered with pupils from Sgoil nan Loch on an intergenerational project to create a cultural documentary on the history of Gaelic Psalm Singing. Throughout the process, pupils accessed footage from the archive, interviewed local residents, ministers, academics, and Psalm Presenters. They learned about the significance of Gaelic Psalm Singing in supporting a community to engage in worship in their own language, its ancient origins, and its place in the lives of the Lochs community. This changed their perspective of the unique spiritual practice from something that is only for sad occasions, to something that unites generations and cultures.
Oral Histories
The Kinloch Historical Society has over sixty oral histories recorded with local people, the majority of which are recorded in their native Gaelic. These testimonies cover a variety of subjects from service in the war, church traditions, daily life, poaching, and many more. These videos are a vital resource in preserving the history and traditions of the people of Kinloch for many generations to come. A selection of these videos can be accessed via the society’s YouTube channel.
Local Flora and Traditional Healing Practices
Bog Myrtle
At the beginning of the twentieth century, communities on the Isle of Lewis continued to practice local traditional remedies known as cungaidh-leighis (cure/medicine). Stones, water, plants, animal parts, charms and incantations were all used to cure a variety of ailments, both in humans and livestock. Much of this information was passed down orally from family member to family member. Our archives hold a video of a presentation about Traditional Healing Practices in the Outer Hebrides, recorded on Friday 16 May. We also hold pictures of the local flora that would have been used in many of these traditional cures.
Recipes
Recipes and Housekeeping Tips from 1908
Published on Saturday 26 July, 2008, Recipes and Housekeeping Tips from 1908 is a printed copy of a notebook belonging to Ms Annie Mackinnon, Halfway House, 67 Balallan. Annie used to teach young girls the art of good housekeeping in preparation for entering the world of work as a housemaid or a cook. This is a very noteworthy piece of social history which is just as relevant now as it was over a hundred years ago.
Pipe Music
The Pipe Tunes of Pipe Major Alex M MacIver
The publication was a joint work with the Kinloch Historical Society, family members of Pipe Major Alex M MacIver and Hector Russell of Glasgow. Until its publication, no such work existed which showcased the pipe tunes of PM Alex M MacIver.
KHS also hold a CD with a recording of a piping recital by Pipe Major Roderick J Macleod MBE, organised by the Lewis and Harris Piping Society in conjunction with Kinloch Historical Society featuring pipe tunes composed by Pipe Major Alex M MacIver. Recorded at the Kinloch Community Hub on Friday 24 June, 2022. Listen here.
Pipe Major Alex M MacIver was the son of John MacIver (Iain Mhurchaidh an Bhain), of 12 Laxay, and Catherine MacKenzie (Catriona Murchaidh Sheorais), of 4b Achmore, Isle of Lewis. On his return from military service in 1947, he joined the 214th Boys Brigade in Glasgow as pipe tutor and composed many practice pieces and tunes. He successfully led the 214 BB Pipe Band to many Championship victories, winning the Juvenile Championship of the World no less than seven times. Through his tutorship and compositions, he has helped to keep this tradition alive.
Find out more about Kinloch Historical Society.