Tain Museum Image Library

Picture No 71. Courtesy of Tain & District Museum.
Year: 1914
Catalogue No. 2547.1

Culnaha Smithy, Nigg

This picture of the Smithy at Culnaha was taken sometime during WWI. The blacksmith (holding the horse's hoof) was called Holmes. His son is to his right and the three girls are his grand-daughters. The soldier was from one of two big army camps nearby and the pony was from the YMCA hut(?).
Picture added on 16 March 2004.

Comments

Is this the only picture available, and do you know if there was ever a culnaha castle?
I ask this because I am the owner of this smiddy, and Ialso own the farm.
Added by Mrs Pat Fraser on 14 October 2006.

I grew up at Culnaha.I have fond memories of playing on the farm, something that would not be allowed now.My dad was called Emil Schobella and my name is Roseanna Healy now.We had the house on the end, and I can tell you that my baby lamb which I accidently killed, is buried under the kitchen/livingroom extension.I was devestated.I remember so much and have some old photos of the house when I was a kid, 2 bedrooms, 4 daughters, none of this "a bedroom" for every child in them days.Am I in danger of becoming a grumpy old woman at 50!! Mmmm.probably.
Added by Roseanna Healy on 05 February 2008.

When visiting Nigg this month, I took a photo of this cottage, the one on the end with "Culnaha" on it.
My grandparents, donald and Eileen Ross (NZ) named their house and land after the memory of this little place. I know that my grandfather Donald lived in Nigg not far up the road in this area, and wonder if he knew the inhabitants of Culnaha.
Added by Fern Taylor on 31 August 2010.

My Fraser ancestors (James, Katharine & family) were from Nigg and lived at Pitcalnie. Can anyone tell me if Culnaha is near Pitcalnie or if there was any connection? My Frasers were buried in the Old Nigg Churchyard. That is a wonderful picture!
Added by Wilmer Fawcett on 01 September 2010.

What was the old Culnaha smithy is very close to Pitcalnie.
Added by Margaret Urquhart, Tain & District Museum on 06 September 2010.

Margaret, thank you! Do you know of any records or information existing about Pitcalnie? My ancestor James Fraser and his family were living at Pitcalnie in the 1841 and 1851 census for Nigg. He was described as a wheelwright and family lore has him as a builder of boats too. Are there any local collections or a museum that might store historical items pertaining to the area? Thank you for your comment above!
Added by Wilmer Fawcett on 06 September 2010.

Give me som time on this Wilmer and I will see if I can find something and then will contact you directly. Meanwhile I have posted your comment in case someone else may be able to come up with some information.
Added by Margaret Urquhart, Tain & District Museum on 07 September 2010.

Margaret, I am so grateful for (and excited about) the further information and confirmations you have sent me about my Fraser roots in the Tain area, and about Pitcalnie, Culnaha, Easter Rarichie and those who lived there. The Tain Museum and this website Tain Through Time have connected me with many very generous and informative contacts, yourself, Katherine, Anne, Fiona and others, several of whom I met through the image library. What a wonderful resource!
Added by Wilmer Fawcett on 30 September 2010.

My great grandfather, Donald Ross was the Farm Manager at Culnaha in late 19thc. Sometime between 1905-1906 he moved to Tain. His wife was Grace MacIver. They had 12 children including the youngest, Stewart Louis Walter Ross, my grandfather. Does anyone know anything about them?If so could you email me at djerba68@hotmail.com Before they were at Culnaha they were at Pitcalnie and Nigg
Added by Estelle Ross on 01 January 2011.

I`m not sure if l have contacted you previously, but my Grandmother Johan Bannerman Kelly, was born 20th December 1917, the place of birth on her birth certificate were put as Culnaha Nigg.
Her father Andrew Kelly was a serving soldier in the Black Watch, and her mother was a Bannerman originally from Fearn.
My Gt.Grandmother was Mary Bannerman, daughter of Arthur Bannerman and Johan Beaton, l remember coming to Tain in 1981 and visiting with the Bannermans (the fish business) and hearing stories, and finding out we were related through some of our ancestors ( lm not sure of the connection).
l know of some of the movements of my Bannerman family who were my Gd mothers uncles.
l would be happy to share what l know if it helps.
Added by Andrew Coltart on 12 January 2011.

My father was born in 1917, and spent his teenage years on the Hill of Nigg, Tain Royal Academy have information on previous pupils, for those who are interested,
Added by Linda McLean on 20 March 2011.

Has anyone got information on Robert (1809-1880) and Johanna (1816-1891) ALLAN who were blacksmiths in the Culnaha/Pitcalnie/Nigg area up until 1880-1890? The descendents in New Zealand are hoping that someone has definite information of where they lived and worked - we have a photo of a house but with no caption. They are both buried at Nigg, and as far as we know were the last in the family line to be smiths.
Added by Jane Allan on 16 June 2011.

In 1871 and 1881 the family was at Cullisse, a couple of miles from Nigg. The 1st ed OS map (1872) shows a smiddy at Ankerville Corner, which is where the Cullisse track joins the road.
Added by Estelle Quick on 21 June 2011.

Yes, My great gran was very good friends with Robert. I have lots of photos of them together & also some letters that they had posted to each other dated 1870. As far as i know Robert was born at Pitmaduthie. He lived at 2 Pitcalnie Holdings in his later years.Hope this helps your search!. What a lovely photo. I remember sitting on that mini horse plough with the little cart wheels on the left hand side of the photo when i was a young lad. mind you it was very rusty and half falling apart by 1978. It sat at the top of my track at Pitcalnie Holdings, next to where the infamous Rosie the pony (Mrs Hendersons pony) and my pet sheep "fFossy" grazed for many a year.
Added by Alistair Campbell on 22 June 2011.

hello all - what a great photo- I remember your pet sheep and goat Alistair. What are you doing these days? Im sure that the old smithy was located next to old nigg post office (Mrs Hendersons house). I dont remember it being at culnaha. I will take a walk that direction today and do some investigation.. I was speaking to Pogo today and he thinks Robert aAlan just to live at Cullisse.
Added by Lee Robertson on 28 June 2011.

Hello, my father rented a holiday cottage in Nigg in the summer of 1965 or 1966, it was painted white and had a smithy in part of the building. There were four of us, mum, dad, brother and myself, we realy enjoyed the peace and quiet there.
Added by Michael Panton on 18 November 2011.

Hi, interestng. My brother in law and sister ran Culnaha as part of the Welbeck Estates 1971-1974. I spent 2 fantastic summers at Culnaha as the Oil Industry was developing. The main house (renovated in 1972) and grounds were stunning and the panaoramic views over the Cromarty Firth were amazing. I now live in Canada and I still have fond memories of my time there and the wonderful locals!
Added by Paul - Canada on 25 January 2012.

My father lived at a croft in Easter Rarrichie from 1929- 1935 approximately. He spoke often of the smiddy, a place where he used to visit as a child. He also talked of an older lady who lived alone on the hill above his croft. As far as I remember, she had been widowed in the first World war, and the pair of them became great friends. They appeared to be confidants to each other: his exploits and youth bringing some light into her life. I don't think he told me her name, but he remembered her saying often enough: "If you want to know me, come and live with me."
This was not an invitation - merely the information that two people living together is an art. I often wonder why her name was never revealed, and why I never asked.
Added by Linda Jane McLean on 26 January 2012.


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