Thanks,
Tim Bennett
Rock star Ian Anderson owns the largest independent smoked salmon firm in
the United Kingdom. The Jethro Tull leader started Straithard in the band's
early days to support his country house in the Scottish islands. Over the
last twenty years, the company, located on the Isle of Skye, has grown to
the point where it now employs 400 people. And last year it turned out 900
tons of smoked salmon and produced $26 million in revenue.
Below is an explanation of the history of Strathaird and sa link regarding
its current use as well as a map of Strathaird, which was bought from Ian by
the John Muir trust in 1994
http://www.caledonia.org.uk/socialland/sconser.htm, with the exception of
the salmon hatchery facilities.Strathaird House is hidden 200 yards up a
tree-lined lane 1/4 mile from the well known track to Camasunary Bay. Built
about 150 years ago and joined to a much older farmhouse
LINKS
www.strathairdhouse.skye.co.uk
http://www.skye.ws/Property/KirSte.htm
http://www.seymourandcompany.com/Highlands_and_Islands_Commerci/The_Steading
s/the_steadings.html
http://www.ealaghol.co.uk/pictures/dunringill/
http://www.jmt.org/cons/maps/skye2.gif
http://www.henge.demon.co.uk/skye/dunringill.html
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Hty_Sct/High_Clr/Mem/Art_S
kye_A.html
http://www.higharch.demon.co.uk/leaflets/skye/skye1.html
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INTERESTING POST FROM THE NET
I first visited the Isle of Skye as an aircraft accident investigator
employed by General Dynamics, Fort Worth Division. An F-111F from RAF
Lakenheath, near Cambridge, had struck the side of Sgurr na Stri one night
in December 1982. I spent two weeks in Broadford, being transported to the
mishap site by a large U.S. Army helicopter. The particular mountain was
reportedly owned by Ian Anderson, the flautist of Jethro Tull fame...I
returned to Skye again in 1993, on holiday this time. Its beauty made a
lasting impression on me. When I got a Border Collie four years ago, I named
him Skye, of course. I'm very proud of this very smart dog, he holds two AKC
Obedience Titles and four NAFA Flyball title
HERE IS ANOTHER
anyone else notice the logo on the Tull shirts, with the hand holding up a
flute out of the water? It's a spoof of the Clan Donald insignia, whose
ancestral home was Skye; the clan received the island in a race, winning
because the Donald member chopped off his hand and threw it onto land before
his rival's boat could reach. The severed hand holding three crosses has
been on their crest ever since. Aren't you just thrilled over knowing this?
No need to answer.
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BRIEF HISTORY OF STRATHAIRD - John Kubale -June 98
The parish of Strath, bounded by Kylerea, Kyleakin, Luib, and Loch Coruisk,
which has been a clan home of the Mackinnons since at least 1354,includes
the Strathaird estate and to the present day there are more Mackinnons
living on the peninsula than any other name.
After the 1715 Jacobite rising the Mackinnon lands were forfeited by the
29th chief Iain Dubh. In 1723 the land was purchased for the family by Sir
John Grant and after Iain Dubh was pardoned in 1727 the land was returned to
his heir John, although Iain Dubh was still alive. John died in 1738 and
Iain was imprisoned for 12 months in a prison ship near Tilbury Fort for
supporting and befriending Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 Jacobite
rebellion. After the passing of the Indemnety Act in 1750 Iain was released
but sold the estate to the Macdonald trustees in 1753 for £280 to reduce
debt and with the possibility of his still being tried for treason.
In 1786 Alexander Macalister purchased the Strathaird estate for £8400, in
addition to land he owned in Glenbarr on the Kintyre peninsula. The estate
covers 15000 acres bordered by the stream below Blaven and stretching from
Elgol to the centre of Loch Coruisk.
During the course of the next 98 years of ownership the Macalister's added
the second house at Strathaird House in 1826 and built the church in the
valley in 1839,now used as a farm building, and also evicted 500 people
during the time of the clearances in 1851.
In 1884 Alexander Macalister II(the grandson of the previous owner),who
lived in France and also owned Torrisdale castle in Argyll, sold the
Strathaird estate to an Englishman Mr Bower.
Prior to selling the estate this man had to set aside an Entail provision
which had been drawn up by his grandfather determining the succession of the
estate through male heirs (and failing that through the male line of female
heirs).This required a descendant in Australia, Thomas Mewburn Macalister,
renouncing his claim to the inheritance on the dubious grounds that he was
illegitimate, his parents having married 6 weeks after his birth. Scottish
Law legitimised a child by the parents later marriage so that had the son
been born in Scotland he could have refused to renounce the claim.Thomases
great-grandson Max Milton Macalister, living in Melbourne Australia, is
presently disputing the line of inheritance and titles himself Macalister of
Strathaird!
An uncle of Thomas also migrated to Australia in 1817 and formed another
farmed Estate of 20000 acres titled Strathaird 150 miles south of Sydney.
In 1888 the Skye estate was resold for £15,000 to Sir William MacKinnon of
Balnakill in Kintyre.
Sir William Mackinnon had prospered whilst building up the British East
India shipping line and the East Africa Company. He apparently had great
plans for the Strathaird estate and had a new road made to Elgol in addition
to building Kilmarie house and the large Steading by Strathaird House.
Unfortunately Sir William died in 1893 before moving into Kilmaree House and
his plans never came to fruition.
The estate was then sold in 1897 to a Mr J Laurie Thomson (who had changed
his name from MacEwan and whose grandson now owns the Isle of Muck). He also
owned the Isle of Eigg and had a reputation as a recluse. He had previously
been in Japan and brought back many artefacts and pictures some of which
remained in Kilmaree House until its sale in 1975.In 1914 the Thomson family
sold the estate to the Johnson family who maintained the hill farming as
well as the fishing for 54 years whilst also owning farms in the Scottish
borders near Jedburgh.
In 1968 Walter Johnsons three sons Maurice, Mark and Stephen sold Strathaird
House by auction to John Kubale, my father.
They also drew up a contract to sell the Steading together with a small
amount of surrounding land. My father had considerable repairs carried out
to the roof and floors of the steading and used it for storage of furniture,
books and vehicles until after his death in 1984. Unfortunately he and his
solicitor never pursued the Johnsons to complete the transfer of title, with
the result that Ian Anderson took legal action to restore the Steading to
his estate. Though this was disputed by my father, after his death my family
reluctantly ceased the dispute on legal and financial advice.
In 1973 the remainder of the estate was sold by the Johnsons to a London
property speculator David Lewis for £720,000.The three Johnson brothers
withheld four plots of land and the fishing and shooting rights, and still
spend part of each year on the estate. Mr Lewis had virtually nothing to do
with the estate before reselling it to Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull fame) in
1978 for the reduced sum of £250,000 to the delight of anti-speculators.
Ian Anderson, when not touring with the Jethro Tull group, lives on a 500
acre farm in Buckinghamshire. However he has invested considerably by
restoration of Kilmarie House and the hill farm activities of the estate. He
has also created one of the largest salmon farming operations in Scotland,
with six sites around Skye including the hatchery in the Strathaird estate.
In 1990 there was a planning application to restore the Steading to provide
four flats and a fish-farming office and display, together with information
on Mackinnon Clan history. There had been no activity until 1996 and the
building seriously deteriorated.
In August 1994 the estate was advertised for sale for £750,000 with
exception of the salmon hatchery facilities which Ian Anderson will retain.
In September Kilmarie House was separately advertised with 100 acres of
woodlands surrounding it, for £295,000.Subsequently it was announced in
December 1994 that the John Muir Trust had acquired the estate of 15,000
acres including the sheep and cattle stock. Kilmarie House has been
purchased by the Mills family. In January 1996 Ian Anderson sold the
Steading building to me and we obtained planning permission to set up a
craft workshop and restaurant with two flats for the operators to live in,
together with a separate room intended as a resource centre for Mackinnon
and Strathaird history. In 1996 the building was made watertight and
foundations and drains repaired prior to commencing building work. Between
August and December 1997 I worked with a team of builders to prepare for
opening for Easter 1998.
The 'Kirkicraft' craft shop opened in mid April and the 'Hayloft' restaurant
in mid May 1998.
In September 1999 the 'Hayloft' restaurant closed after the tenant, Les
MacLeod, became ill and moved to the east coast of Scotland. In March 2000
the tenant of the craft shop and an internet based narine accessories
business decided to move to the south of England to be nearer to a fast
developing market for one of his products. The Steading is currently
advertised for sale or lease.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
>Thanks Tim! Interesting stuff!
Looking down little boys pants again, huh Krammit?
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Who is Quality Squack? Wrong Question. What is Quality Squack?
If you have to ask, you ain't getting any.