Eighty Years in the Highlands
The Life and Times of Osgood H Mackenzie of Inverewe 1842-1922
A further peep inside ....
'Women's Work'
West Coast women were required to take an arduous part in the cultivation of the crops in Osgood’s time:
‘And how the women used to work among the potatoes, weeding them by hand so carefully, putting all the chickweed and spurry into creels, carrying it to the nearest burn, and there washing it to give to the cattle for supper, much to the benefit of the milk-supply! Also how beautifully they earthed up their potatoes.’
Their efforts were vital to supplement the income from the croft: they ‘carry home heavy creels of peats for the household fire, they herd the cow, and manage the house. But, more than all, it is the women who are mainly instrumental in producing the only manufactures of the parish. They card and dye and spin the wool, they knit the Gairloch hose, and they prepare the various coloured worsteds which the weaver converts into tweeds of different patterns. Large numbers of the stockings are sent to Inverness, Edinburgh and London.’ Even when a ‘wifie’ was bearing home the traditional square creel on her back ‘she is also engaged in spinning with the distaff and spindle’.
'Women's Work'
West Coast women were required to take an arduous part in the cultivation of the crops in Osgood’s time:
‘And how the women used to work among the potatoes, weeding them by hand so carefully, putting all the chickweed and spurry into creels, carrying it to the nearest burn, and there washing it to give to the cattle for supper, much to the benefit of the milk-supply! Also how beautifully they earthed up their potatoes.’
Their efforts were vital to supplement the income from the croft: they ‘carry home heavy creels of peats for the household fire, they herd the cow, and manage the house. But, more than all, it is the women who are mainly instrumental in producing the only manufactures of the parish. They card and dye and spin the wool, they knit the Gairloch hose, and they prepare the various coloured worsteds which the weaver converts into tweeds of different patterns. Large numbers of the stockings are sent to Inverness, Edinburgh and London.’ Even when a ‘wifie’ was bearing home the traditional square creel on her back ‘she is also engaged in spinning with the distaff and spindle’.
The Dowager Lady Mackenzie, who had developed this home industry during the destitution years, continued to encourage and support it throughout her life. In An article by E. F. Mackenzie, probably of 1894 or 1895, reference was made to how it had all started during the potato famine of 1846-1848, under the guidance of a skilled woman who superintended the knitters. Then the local shops took the stockings in barter for goods. So the hose became famous:
‘Local shows and competitions were instituted, prizes were offered and patterns given, every prize for homespun and hand-knitted stockings given at Inverness at the last three exhibitions has been carried off by the Gairloch workers. They have also gained all the prizes for ‘stocking-hose’ at Inverness, Stirling, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The women knit very quickly. Great ingenuity is shown in varying the dice. When there are more than two colours, a number of different threads have to be used – in tartan hose sometimes as many as eighteen – and only a few women have the patience and skills necessary for such laborious work. Nothing can beat good Gairloch stockings.’
Stocking pattern
Copies of the book can be purchased @ £15 each,
including free postage and packing (UK).
Please email paulineabutler@hotmail.com to arrange the details.
‘Local shows and competitions were instituted, prizes were offered and patterns given, every prize for homespun and hand-knitted stockings given at Inverness at the last three exhibitions has been carried off by the Gairloch workers. They have also gained all the prizes for ‘stocking-hose’ at Inverness, Stirling, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The women knit very quickly. Great ingenuity is shown in varying the dice. When there are more than two colours, a number of different threads have to be used – in tartan hose sometimes as many as eighteen – and only a few women have the patience and skills necessary for such laborious work. Nothing can beat good Gairloch stockings.’
Stocking pattern
Copies of the book can be purchased @ £15 each,
including free postage and packing (UK).
Please email paulineabutler@hotmail.com to arrange the details.