Old Thirsa Piccys

[plasticjock]

Okay....I give in.

[plasticjock]

Thurso from Springpark. No date for picture (it looks pre-WW1 to me) but postcard was franked '1926'.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/ThursofromSpringparkapprox1926crisp.jpg

[Thumper]

Plasticjock, nice postcard and well done for bringing this thread back into the foreground!it has been way too quiet on this thread for too long so hopefully this will get the ball rolling again as I have missed all the pics!Thirsaloon, if you are reading this please post some more pics too as we are all missing them x

[Sporran]

Thanks so much, plasticjock, that's a wonderful old postcard of Thurso! :)

I'm curious if the house atop the hill on the left is Viewfirth or the Castlegreen Manse ?

[thirsaloon]

Thurso from Springpark. No date for picture (it looks pre-WW1 to me) but postcard was franked '1926'.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/ThursofromSpringparkapprox1926crisp.jpg

Plasticjock

I can date the photograph on your postcard to between 1906 and around 1912 if thats any help to you.

[thirsaloon]

Hi folks!

Nice to see this thread making a bit of a comeback! Sorry for not putting anything up in long time. Thought I would put some photographs up for you try and name where they are. There are 6 photographs in total and I will put the answers up in a few days.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1q.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/2q.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/3q.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/4q.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Forgot to mention that those wanting to take part just to put your answers down as

1- your answer
2- your answer
3- your answer

Instead of reposting the piccys all the time and taking up space. All the buildings shown are still standing. Best of luck folks!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/5q.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/6q.jpg

[gleeber]

1) Town coat of arms at the town hall.
2) Old co-op
3) Entrance to Thurso castle via the gate lodge.
4) Old St Peters
5) Miller institute
6) Johnstone the bakers.

Half I know for sure the other half are educated guesses

[Thumper]

1)town hall
2)coop but think it may be where redcross is now?
3)old church at harbour-is it st peters?
4)thurso castle lodge
5)miller institute
6)masonic lodge?

[plasticjock]

Plasticjock

I can date the photograph on your postcard to between 1906 and around 1912 if thats any help to you.

Thanks Thirsaloon. I won't argue with that.
My eyesight isn't what it used to be. I couldn't quite make out the registration on the back of the carriage making its way towards the bridge. ;^)

[plasticjock]

Thanks so much, plasticjock, that's a wonderful old postcard of Thurso! :)

I'm curious if the house atop the hill on the left is Viewfirth or the Castlegreen Manse ?

From studying an ordnance survey map pre-1900, it has to be Castlegreen Manse, I'd say.

[Anne x]

Im not going to show myself up as think I only know 3 will wait and see good Idea though

[Sporran]

1 - Coat of arms above window in Thurso Town Hall
2 - Old Co-op building on corner across from the top end of Sir John's Square
3 - Old St Peter's Kirk near Thurso Harbour
4 - Lodge gate entrance to Thurso Castle
5 - Miller Institute
6 - Building that used to be Shearer the Butchers (now 'Beauty With Herbs'?) on the bottom corner of Sir John's Square

[darkie@dreamtilt.com.au]

http://forum.caithness.org/images/icons/icon7.gif Thanks again for a great hour browsing through this posting,never get tired of looking a the old town.even remember the old boy with the boot,saw him when I was a wee fella.used to flick the stones with his cane,close my eyes and can see him still,great memories thanks to you,keep up the great job,you bring pleasure to so many,bet you never thought you would get such a responce. Look forward to more Regards from down under Robin

[thirsaloon]

From studying an ordnance survey map pre-1900, it has to be Castlegreen Manse, I'd say.


Its the Viewfirth, Castlegreen Manse is further along and has a different shape and style being built earlier.

Glad to see some answers for the quiz, well done, will let you know at the start of next week what the answers are. If I forget someone message me!

:lol:

[Thumper]

Dont worry Thirsaloon we will keep this thread way up at the top so you can't forget....and maybe post some more pics for us :) x

[Bill Fernie]

I have added a link to this great thread on the Thurso page in the Caithness A - Z at http://www.caithness.org/atoz/thurso/index.htm

hopefully a few more folk will find it in the future via that link.

Bill Fernie

[thirsaloon]

I have added a link to this great thread on the Thurso page in the Caithness A - Z at http://www.caithness.org/atoz/thurso/index.htm (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.caithness.org/atoz/thurso/index.htm)

hopefully a few more folk will find it in the future via that link.

Bill Fernie


Thanks for that Bill, much appreciated! :Razz

If I get time I may get some more piccys ready soon for putting up.

[plasticjock]

Its the Viewfirth, Castlegreen Manse is further along and has a different shape and style being built earlier.
:


Once again, thirsaloon, I bow to your superior knowledge. Cheers.

Can I just mention a link, once again for those who love these old Thurso pictures, that there are quite a few on the 'Thurso Picture House' website. Look in the 'Thurso Topicals' from 1 to 7 and 'Thurso Bandstand'?
http://pic1.piczo.com/thursopicturehouse/?b=495939&c=22625450&p=start&cr=1

[rich]

Marwood Sutherland?
I remember a gentleman with a built up shoe who lived in Barrack St. in the '50s.
We kids called him Crippy Dick.
We used to ring his doorbell and then run away.
What little rats we were!

[Moira]

Marwood Sutherland?
I remember a gentleman with a built up shoe who lived in Barrack St. in the '50s.
We kids called him Crippy Dick.
We used to ring his doorbell and then run away.
What little rats we were!

You've not changed much then Rich?

[plasticjock]

Around the early part of the twentieth century, I would say. I've cleaned it up a bit and put the original along with it as I know people like to see original condition pictures.

'Digging for bait, Thurso'
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso1920duo.jpg

[Bobinovich]

Good work on the clean up PJ!

[thirsaloon]

Hi Plasticjock

Your latest photograph I can also add a wee bit of information to. My Great Grandfather is in it, he is the one with the shovel to the left of the photograph digging for lug worms that they used in the line fishing. His name was Alexander MacKay and he stayed in the Turnpike in Shore Street. He was one of five pilots who worked for the harbour where he was promoted to Harbour Master.

He was the last of them in the end, working for a number of years on his own at the harbour as the rest had died or retired. This job involved weighing the coal boats etc, switching on the gas lights around the harbour at night, maintance work etc. He was paid £3:10:0 every 4 months of the year for his wages.

He was also the last Thurso harbour master to direct the schooners etc into the harbour. He kept a small boat with the letter "P" painted on the side of it to show this was the Pilot boat. It was called the Ocean Bride and after he died the Harbour committee bought it from his wife for the sum of £10. He served with the harbour for 37 years until through ill health he was forced to retire.

He was also on the Thurso lifeboat for around 20 years and was 2nd Coxswain. To the right of the photograph is a woman also digging for bait, this is his wife Elizabeth and the two girls are his daughters. One of his sons was also called Alexander but you will all know him better as "Acka" who had the fish mart at the harbour, now owned by his grandson.

Acka was on the last sailing ship which was owned in Thurso. It was called the Thursonian. He worked on it as a cook serving salt fish and salt beef etc. She was berthed further up the river for a few years until she was bought by an Orkney man. She was eventually wrecked.

The well dressed gent I have never been able to get a name for.Thats the best I can do of the top of my head with this photo.

[plasticjock]

Hi Plasticjock

Your latest photograph I can also add a wee bit of information to. My Great Grandfather is in it........
Brilliant stuff!

Here is another version of the same picture......I must have too much time on my hands....!!!
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso1920coloursmall.jpg

I find a colourised picture can make the view 'come to life' so to speak. I have done it for some of my own family photographs and it does make the picture stand out....but obviously that is my subjective viewpoint, others may see it as sacrilege.

[Lavenderblue2]

That is so good plasticjock - what a difference the colourisation makes.
It would make a lovely framed picture - especially with the local interest.

Well done PJ

LB :)

[Shabbychic]

I have a few old postcards of Thurso. I'll add them bit by bit. This is 2 views of Traill Street in different eras.http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoTRAILLSTREET_2.jpghttp://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/thursotraillstreet.jpg

[Shabbychic]

This is a couple of views of Thurso, the b&w one is circa 1957.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/thursoc1957.jpg


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/thurso.jpg

[Shabbychic]

Thurso Harbour circa 1900

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoHarbourc1900.jpg



Scrabster Pier.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/thursoscrabsterpier.jpg

[Shabbychic]

Victoria Walk c.1900

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoVictoriaWalkc1907.jpg

Lotts Skerray

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoLOTTSSKERRAY.jpg

[Shabbychic]

This is a painting of Thurso called Home With the Tide.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoHOMEWiTHTHETIDE.jpg

[Swannie]

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and photos. It takes me back! I lived in the Transit Camp until I was nearly 3 and then moved to a new house in Market Street.:)

[gollach]

Victoria Walk c.1900

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoVictoriaWalkc1907.jpg



Great photo. The path looks wider then it is today, or is it my imagination?
Can't think when I last saw someone brave enough to walk along the vic carrying an umbrella ;)

[Bobbyian]

Lotts Skerray

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/shabbychic_album/ThursoLOTTSSKERRAY.jpg[/quote]
My Mum used live here in the 70`s till The 90`s a lovely place I wish all the best to the people that live there now

[Billy Boy]

found this post card on the web, not sure if it has been posted before but here go's


http://www.deadzoom.com/member/liajof/4626.jpg

[plasticjock]

Shore Street, circa 1910 I believe, although it may even be earlier.
The gas lamp, central left is still there.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/ShoreStreetThursocirca1910.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Hmm, seems like my family are turning up again. :lol: The photo is taken around 1910. The kids standing at the front door are my great uncles. On close inspection one of them has a stick in his hand. This is because he was wading across the river once and cut his foot on broken glass. He was always left with a limp after that. They are all the children of Alex MacKay, harbour master, that I mentioned in a previous post.

You will also see a door just past the turnpike. This was a store room where my great grandfather kept all his fishing equipment, like nets, sku, floats etc.Walking up the street is a fisherwoman with the baskets which were used for selling fish from.

Just after the entrance which leads to Marine Terrace, was the Harbour Bar. Across from the Turnpike in the short road which leads to Wilsons Lane was Dan Murrays Lemonade Factory that I also mentioned. Im sure I put a staff photograph up sometime back.

That will do me for now or I may start rambling on again!

[lol]

[Lavenderblue2]

You can ramble on as much as you like Thirsaloon - I never tire of reading these stories.
How great to be able to pick out your relations after all these years.

Mind you, I have one or two which I could put on the Wick Piccies - maybe I will.

LB

[Thumper]

I agree with you Lavenderblue I can't get enough of this thread either!I think Thirsaloon needs his own website :D x

[Dusty]

I have really enjoyed seeing all these old pictures and being able to put some of my family history into a setting.
I struggled in placing some of the older ones but got them eventually, and some from the sixties and seventies have brought back memories.

Could I be a bit cheeky and ask if anyone has any old pictures of the area of Shore Street where the car park is now as this is the area where my Father was born (No 1) and my grandparents and great-grandparents lived.

There seem to be an abundance of Shore Street pictures showing the old Tollbooth (which is understandable) but I have not seen anything of the other end of the street so far.

I would also like to say Thank You to all the contributors to the thread, I have enjoyed it immensely and hope that there is more to come.

Dusty.

[thirsaloon]

I think I have some Dusty, I will take a look and see what I have, but I dont think they are of any great age. Around the 1950's.

Glad you enjoyed the thread.

[thirsaloon]

I agree with you Lavenderblue I can't get enough of this thread either!I think Thirsaloon needs his own website :D x

Thanks for that Thumper and Lavenderblue. Glad you like the thread, I did think about having my own website especially with the way this thread has grabbed an interest.

I could do a bit more with my own one and post some info etc it but alas its most likely beyond my pc skills and I wouldnt have a clue how to start! Although I do have an idea of what I would like to have on it. Never mind, maybe some day! :(

[Sporran]

I love your old photos and stories about them too, Thirsaloon, and could never tire of them! :) I also appreciate the photo and story contributions from other posters on this thread.

Do you have the results of last week's photo spotting competition, BTW?

Best Wishes,

Sporran

[toordal]

Pity the old shelter sheds are fenced off now. We used to have a great time playing "headers" in those sheds, using the two metal support poles as posts for the goals.....

[toordal]

I meant to say the shelter sheds in the Pennyland school photo from 2002. I'm new to this game...

[Dusty]

I think I have some Dusty, I will take a look and see what I have, but I dont think they are of any great age. Around the 1950's.

Glad you enjoyed the thread.

Thirsaloon, thank you for your reply, I am looking forward to seeing what you have of that area as I have only ever known it as it is now.
It will be interesting to see it as it was 40 or 50 years ago.

Dusty

[thirsaloon]

I love your old photos and stories about them too, Thirsaloon, and could never tire of them! I also appreciate the photo and story contributions from other posters on this thread.

Do you have the results of last week's photo spotting competition, BTW?

Best Wishes,

Sporran

Well done Sporran, I would have forgotten about the answers and thanks for the compliment!

The answers are as follows!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1q.jpg

One of two coats of arms on the Town Hall

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/2q.jpg

The old top Co-Op in Princess Street

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/3q.jpg

Thurso Mill

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/4q.jpg

Gate Lodge or Porters Lodge at Thurso East

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/5q.jpg

Miller Institution now Thurso Library

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/6q.jpg

Shearers the Butchers, now the beauty shop on the corner of Sir John Square.

[Sporran]

Yaay!! I'm glad I got Shearers the Butchers right - that was a tricky one! :D

The only pic I got wrong was Thurso Mill, which I thought was Old St Peter's Kirk, like the other posters did.

Any more photos for us to take guesses on, Thirsaloon? This is fun! :)

[Rubha_an_Tuir]

Dont know where this picture came from, but found it and scanned it at my folks. Believed to be from the Scotsman Newspaper in the mid 1960's but I'm really just guessing, please correct me if that's wrong and credit to the photographer.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k101/aberdeensprinter/ThursoFromtheAirScanmid60s.jpg

[thirsaloon]

It was taken for the Scotsman indeed! They were mounting them on card and selling prints of them, around 12x16 size if I remember. I have one copy which was given to me and I know someone else who has one.

[Ricco]

Now that one really does bring back memories! I can pick out all my old favourite haunts and even my old house.

Gosh... the times I had round all those places. Thanks, Thirsaloon.:D

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1890SSTANDREWSCHURCH.jpg

St. Andrews Church above and below the Established Church, now St Peters and St Andrews

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1890SSTPETERSCHURCH.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1902-01-OTTOWNHALLANDBAKERSBOY.jpg

Above Town Hall Square, note the man with the bakers board next to the pavement. Below Thurso Castle around 1900.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1900-02-OTTHURSOCASTLEAFRENCHCHATEA.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1895SCRABSTERHARBOUR-STOLA.jpg

Above Scabster Harbour around 1895 and below old cottages at Burnside around the same time.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1895-04-OTOLDCOTTAGESATBURNSIDE.jpg

[gleeber]

I've been trying to work out whereabouts those cottages were at the burnside. They seem to be on the cliff tops. Thats Thurso castle in the background. Any ideas where they were?

[thirsaloon]

I've been trying to work out whereabouts those cottages were at the burnside. They seem to be on the cliff tops. Thats Thurso castle in the background. Any ideas where they were?

Hi Gleeber

Just a wee bit past the remains of the Bishops Palace/ Castle if you was heading west towards Scrabster. They are on the top of the cliffs, not to be confused with the one which was down at the bottom. Yes indeedy it is Thurso Castle in the background.

[Thumper]

Great to see this thread back at the top again!keep them coming Thirsaloon x

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-22-OTWSHORNE20OLRIGST.jpg

W.S. Horne, Grocers, 20 Olrig Street and R. D. Stratton, Grocer and Baker, 21 Princess Street.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-20-OTRDSTRATTON-21PRINCESST.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Great to see this thread back at the top again!keep them coming Thirsaloon x


I'll do my best thumper! Have a few more ready to go on the thread. Hope some more piccys from other folks start coming to!

Enjoy!

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-28-OTRUSSELLANDLESLIE35TRAILST.jpg


Above is Russell and Leslie 35 Traill Street and below is the Rose Street bakery, 17 Rose Street!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-26-OTROSESTBAKERYGROCERS17ROSE.jpg

[golach]

I've been trying to work out whereabouts those cottages were at the burnside. They seem to be on the cliff tops. Thats Thurso castle in the background. Any ideas where they were?
Gleeber do you remember the steps at the western end of the Victoria Walk, at the bottom that was the cottages, I had stayed a few nights in one of them from the late 40's to early 50's, a school chum of mine who you know, lived there with his Mum & Dad

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-24-OTJOLIVERBUTCHER-20PRINCESS.jpg

Oliver the butcher, 20 Princess Street and below is MacDonald and Cameron, drapers, 35 High Street. I think the chances would be slim of seeing the meat outside the butcher shops today!!!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1907-23-OTMcDONALDCAMERON-26HIGHST.jpg

[gleeber]

Gleeber do you remember the steps at the western end of the Victoria Walk, at the bottom that was the cottages, I had stayed a few nights in one of them from the late 40's to early 50's, a school chum of mine who you know, lived there with his Mum & Dad
That was my first thought too because i remember one cottage down there. I dont think you would see Thurso castle from down there though. I'll find out at the weekend.
According to Thirsaloon they are where the rocket shed is.
There was also a fever hospital down there just along a wee bit from your friends cottage.

[golach]

That was my first thought too because i remember one cottage down there. I dont think you would see Thurso castle from down there though. I'll find out at the weekend.
According to Thirsaloon they are where the rocket shed is.
There was also a fever hospital down there just along a wee bit from your friends cottage.
Very close to the Rocket shed but they were on the shore line, before the Bishops Rock, last time I was there Burnside cotts had been washed away

[zenmaster]

Pity the old shelter sheds are fenced off now. We used to have a great time playing "headers" in those sheds, using the two metal support poles as posts for the goals.....
Yes ! I remember playing that too, and playing 'wally' against that big wall.

[thirsaloon]

Someone was recently asking about Grove House in the genealogy section so I thought I would also add my information to this thread to for those interested.






Grove House


The first tenant I know of in Grove house was Mrs Elizabeth Campbell or Grant who was the wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Grant, late of the Portuguese Staff in June 1824. The house was taken over at this time by James Sinclair. Donald Munro, Merchant in Thurso along with his wife Magdalene (Stewart) took it over on the 3rd August 1830.

I can tell you that the property itself consisted of the large private house known as Grove House which had a garden and at one time was occupied by Doctor John Grant Smith whose memorial fountain stands on the Esplanade at Thurso; previously it was in the Town Hall Square. The house also had a shop in it. It stood at the north end of the area known as the Meadow of Ormlie across from the Episcopal Church which was known at the time as the “Meeting House”.

In the adjoining lane were three slated houses and two gardens which were owned by Mrs. Oman, Alexander Skinner, Benjamin Nicol and others which was known as Georgeson’s Tenenment.

In 1900 Grove House was referred to in the Articles and Conditions of Roup and Sale as “Grove House Inn”. A bit ironic considering the Templar’s would soon be tenants in it. It appeared for sale in the Caithness Courier on the 19th, 26th October and the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd November 1900 as well as similar dates in the Scotsman. The advert reads as follows:



Licensed Property in Thurso for Sale



There will be exposed for Sale by Public Roup (in virtue of the Powers contained in a Bond and Disposition in Security) within the Procurators Room, County Bildings, Wick on Saturday 1st December 1900 at 12 o’clock Noon.



All and whole these licensed subjects in Grove Lane, Thurso known as Grove Inn, The property consists of: - A bar, one large and two smaller tap rooms, with ample cellarage accommodation, and dwelling house of two public rooms, four bedrooms, kitchen and office houses, large garden and green, also small dwelling houses adjoining presently let to tenants at a rental of £12.



Feu duty, nominal. Upset price £800.



For further particulars apply to the subscribers who have

the title deeds and articles of roup.



Keith & Murray, Solicitors, Thurso

16th October, 1900


The St. Georges Lodge No.596 of Independent Order of Good Templars where also tenants in the building from around 1903. It was also used as the Ministry of Labour Office, then it was proposed to use it as the site for Thurso Museum but this never came to be. Eventually it reverted back to selling alcohol when it was taken over by a local business man.

[Thumper]

Thirsaloon you are a veritable mine of information!I never tire of reading your posts as they are all great!To have such a great local knowledge and obvious passion for it is a great thing especially in these "modern times" well done to you....you are one man that if you offered to take someone home to "show your etchings" I think there would be a big queue :) x

[thirsaloon]

Regarding the photo I had put on of the Burnside cottages that used to be there I have added a couple more from a different angle of the other cottages plus a map from 1844 to clear up where they were. They were spaced further along from the Bishops Castle to the left of it on top of the cliff. These were built prior to the one which was situated at the base of the cliff. They were demolished long before living memory as far as I’m aware. The gable end of the cottage in the below photographs can be faintly seen in the distance in the previous photograph I put up.

The first photograph of the cottages you will notice the Bishops Bridge on the right of the picture which spanned the burn. To the left of the bridge you will see a couple of people standing on it. The second photograph shows the ruins of the bridge. The ruins of the Bishops Castle are in the background to the right of the photographs.

I did have a photograph of the cottage at the base of the cliff which you mentioned but unfortunately my pc went belly up and although I had it saved on a cd I can’t get it open now! Dont suppose anyone else has any photographs of this cottage or can tell me what it was like inside? There was a well at the back of this cottage which some of you may remember.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BishopsCastlewithbridge.jpg


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BishopsCastlewithoutbridge.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Map from 1844 below as mentioned in my previous post.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/MapofBurnside1844.jpg

[Anne x]

Thurso from the Air great photo can pick out my old house no problem and it has hardly changed

All the Photos are brilliant well done Thursaloon great job

[thirsaloon]

Captain Kettles Picnic Party. Below is fancy dress from Thurso Gala in 1910. The gentleman in the back row to the extreme right wearing the large hat is Anderson who had the Ironmongers shop.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1910-10-OTCAPTAINKETTLESPICNICATTHE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Photograph of Traill Street around 1910 with John Keiths the Drapers shop in the background and Lindsays to the left.


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1910-13-OTTRAILST-KEITHTHETAYLORSSH.jpg

[Gleber2]

That was my first thought too because i remember one cottage down there. I dont think you would see Thurso castle from down there though. I'll find out at the weekend.
According to Thirsaloon they are where the rocket shed is.
There was also a fever hospital down there just along a wee bit from your friends cottage.
When we we loons, the cottages in question had been levelled but the founds were still there and the old gardens had flowers that weren't wild flowers. The last tennants I remember in the lower cottage were a familly called Newlands.

[Gleber2]

Map from 1844 below as mentioned in my previous post.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/MapofBurnside1844.jpg
I have never heard of the Old Chapel in this map. Do you have any further information about it?

[thirsaloon]

I have never heard of the Old Chapel in this map. Do you have any further information about it?


Hi Gleber2

The reference to “Old Chapel” on the map is Murray’s Mausoleum. The rectangular roofless building which is on the Victoria Walk. It was built around the mid 1700’s on top of an older chapel which was once there. Its mentioned on other maps also.

[thirsaloon]

Thurso from the Air great photo can pick out my old house no problem and it has hardly changed

All the Photos are brilliant well done Thursaloon great job


Thank you Anne, glad your enjoying them!!!

Have some more to put up in the next few days so keep watching!

:D

[Gleber2]

The reference to “Old Chapel” on the map is Murray’s Mausoleum. The rectangular roofless building which is on the Victoria Walk. It was built around the mid 1700’s on top of an older chapel which was once there.
Cheers for that. I had many childhood fantasies arround that building. I had no idea it had beeen built on top of a much older building.

[highlander]

Here is some interesting facts about the "old chapel"
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2003/pennylandmausaleum.htm

[thirsaloon]

Scabster Harbour around 1910


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1910ScrabsterHarbour.jpg

And Scrabster House also around 1910 note the lack of trees unlike today


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-33-OTSCRABSTERHOUSE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Scrabster from the lighthouse 1918


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1918-04-OTSCRABSTERLIGHTHOUSETHREES.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Davidsons House

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-05-OT17THCENTURYMANSION.jpg

Shore Street around 1900

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1912-03-OTSHOREST-OLDSTAGINGPOST.jpg

[Anne x]

so thirsaloon when were the Council houses at far end of Shore st built at the bottom end before you go down the brae ?

[plasticjock]

This thread gets better and better, although I noticed that the 'Weekers' are are making a belated but half-hearted attempt at catching up. Perhaps they don't look upon old Wick with nostalgic affection?

The picture below was found on the web and is merely identified as 'Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band march through Thurso'. I'm unable to identify the location. Any ideas?

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/THURSOMARCH3.jpg

[thirsaloon]

This thread gets better and better, although I noticed that the 'Weekers' are are making a belated but half-hearted attempt at catching up. Perhaps they don't look upon old Wick with nostalgic affection?

The picture below was found on the web and is merely identified as 'Seaforth Highlanders Pipe Band march through Thurso'. I'm unable to identify the location. Any ideas?




Hi plasticjock!

Long live the Thirsa Piccys thread, even Thirsaloon had to help the weekers out on their thread hehehehe! I wonder which thread has had the most amount of views on the Org. I think if we keep this up we may be getting close!

As far as I know the photograph is actually Castletown. I have seen a few postcards/photographs etc from Halkirk/Castletown marked as Thurso for the sake of it being a few miles away!

I do know of another photograph similar to the one you posted but the men are all lined up and it is taken in Castletown.

[plasticjock]

Hi plasticjock!

Long live the Thirsa Piccys thread, even Thirsaloon had to help the weekers out on their thread hehehehe! I wonder which thread has had the most amount of views on the Org. I think if we keep this up we may be getting close!

......


If you go to the Forums/General page and click on Views (r/hand side) it will sort the hits in descending order. This thread is top of the list with over 19,000 visits. Wick photos comes in at just under 6000.
WE are way ahead.

Thanks for the info re: Seaforths. I'm disappointed it's not Thurso but happy that there has been a (fairly) positive i.d.

[fred]

Here is some interesting facts about the "old chapel"
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2003/pennylandmausaleum.htm

Interesting yes, facts I'm afraid not. The calculations for the number of Murrays buried there are seriousl flawed. Pennyland didn't come into the hands of the Murray family till 1559, there was no Murray of Clairdon till 1568, no Murray of Scotscalder till 1663, no Murray of Castlehill till the 1770s. They weren't four separate families, they were all the same family all descended from William Murray who took Pennyland in 1559.

[macdawnauld]

Hi Thirsaloon,

Just thought I'd post these two photos. There are some more available on photobucket (macdawnauld album).

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/StGeorgesStreet1973.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/TraillStreet1973.jpg


I haven't tried to link photos onto a message board before so I hope this works.

Macdawnauld

[thirsaloon]

Well done Macdawnauld it worked and cracking photographs!

:D

[thirsaloon]

Thurso War Memorial during its erection in 1922


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1922WARMEMORIALERECTED.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-48-OTMARWOODSUTHERLANDANDJENNY.jpg

Marwood Sutherland and Jenny Horne (both with walking sticks) at the corner of Traill Street and Olrig Street.

[thirsaloon]

Cattle Show at Thurso East 1920, the sign is for Lindsays & Co, Ironmongers

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920CATTLESHOWTHURSOCASTLEGATEHOUSE.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-39-OTCREWSCHOONER-BARBARA-THUR.jpg

Above the crew of the schooner Barbara from Thurso

[thirsaloon]

Prince George at Thurso Train Station 1928


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1928PRINCEGEORGEARRIVINGTHURSOSTATI.jpg

Cowgate 1927

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1927-12-OTCOWGATE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Thurso Town Council 1926

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1926-06-OTTHURSOTOWNCOUNCIL.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Bayview Terrace late 1930's

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1936-04-OTTHEGLEBE-BAYVIEWTERRACE.jpg

Interior of the Royal Hotel 1931

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1931-04-OTTHEINTERIOROFTHEROYALHOTE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Old St. Peters Church

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1930-21-OTOLDSTPETERSCHURCH.jpg

Durness Street and the start of a Lifeboat Procession in 1929 with Mr. Miller from Scrabster on the horse.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1929LIFEBOATPROCESSIONMRMILLERSCRAB.jpg

[Gleber2]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-48-OTMARWOODSUTHERLANDANDJENNY.jpg

Marwood Sutherland and Jenny Horne (both with walking sticks) at the corner of Traill Street and Olrig Street.
'e mannie wi 'e bunnet looks affy lek ma faither, Owld Chobbers.

[thirsaloon]

'e mannie wi 'e bunnet looks affy lek ma faither, Owld Chobbers.


Jeepers!

Never know who will turn up in these photo's Gleber2!

Never found out a name for who that mannie was but I suppose I could call him Gleber Snr now! :lol:

[thirsaloon]

Mrs Swanson, Thirsa fishwife at the Meadow Well, 1947

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1947-02-OTMRSSWANSON.jpg

The Pursuit, skippered by Tommy Reid if I remember rightly at Thurso Harbour

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1946-04-OTBCK125PURSUIT-SKIPPERTOMM.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Dan Murray and Joe Cardosi 1940

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1940-01-OTDANMURRAYANDJOECARDOSI.jpg

Rotterdam Street 1938

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1938-10-OTROTTERDAMST-SK1600OWNEDBY.jpg

[hell raizer]

thursaloon were did you get that picture of dan murray and joe? it happens to be my grandfather pa murray :Razz

[plasticjock]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1920-48-OTMARWOODSUTHERLANDANDJENNY.jpg

Marwood Sutherland and Jenny Horne (both with walking sticks) at the corner of Traill Street and Olrig Street.[/QUOTE]


Gosh....first picture I've seen of Jenny Horne! What was his real name?

[thirsaloon]

thursaloon were did you get that picture of dan murray and joe? it happens to be my grandfather pa murray :Razz


Cant remember to be honest hell raizer, was years ago I got it to copy, but who gave it to me is anyones guess! I think they maybe came from my great aunt who worked for him.

Have some others of yer Pa though kicking around!

[thirsaloon]

Marwood Sutherland and Jenny Horne (both with walking sticks) at the corner of Traill Street and Olrig Street.


Gosh....first picture I've seen of Jenny Horne! What was his real name?[/quote]


Donald MacKay was his proper name plasticjock

[Thumper]

Now I am confused???Jenny Horne AKA Donald Mackay.....Am I missing something here or am I too niave? x

[thirsaloon]

Dan Murray, Dodie MacPhee and Willie Doull

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/DanDodieandWillie.jpg

Barbara Doull, Helen Murray, Lily MacKay and Lena MacIntosh

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Staff.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Now I am confused???Jenny Horne AKA Donald Mackay.....Am I missing something here or am I too niave? x


Thumper, thats the name he wrote under.

[Thumper]

Oh! I see thanks Thirsaloon...I was getting in a right muddle there :) x

[thirsaloon]

Barbara Doull, unknown - anyone any ideas let me know!, Lily MacKay, Lena MacIntosh, Dodie MacPhee

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Staff2.jpg

Lemonade Factory

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/DanMurraysLemonadeFactory.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Caithness Crafts with the back and roof of it demolished when High Street was being renovated.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/CaithnessCrafts.jpg

High Street under renovation, note the shop sign for Impact in the distance

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/NewShopsHighStreet2.jpg

[thirsaloon]

High Street from the top

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/NewsshopsHighStreet.jpg

Y.M.C.A. in Rotterdam Street

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1950-52-OTYMCABUILDINGROTTERDAMST.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Thurso Harbour 1950

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1950-05-OTTHURSOHARBOURPRIMULA-PENT.jpg

The Fish Stane

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1951-01-OTYEAULDFISHSTANE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Thurso's 1st motorised Scaffy Cart.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1955-12-OTSK40041stMOTORISEDSCAFFYC.jpg



Crew of the Primula along with others

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1960-32-OTCREWOFPRIMULAWK97.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Millers Lane and Old St. Peters in the distance

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1960-36-OTMILLERSLANEANDSTPETERSCHU.jpg

Pentland Hotel, Princess Street

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1960-41-OTPENTLANDHOREL358DHT.jpg

[golach]

Is that not the Provost "Long John" sitting with the crew?


Crew of the Primula along with others

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1960-32-OTCREWOFPRIMULAWK97.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Is that not the Provost "Long John" sitting with the crew?

It is indeedy! Golach. Alex Thomson, Benny Sinclair, Angie MacIntosh are in the piccy to.

[hell raizer]

Barbara Doull, unknown - anyone any ideas let me know!, Lily MacKay, Lena MacIntosh, Dodie MacPhee

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Staff2.jpg

Lemonade Factory

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/DanMurraysLemonadeFactory.jpgthe name your looking for is sandy budge

[golach]

It is indeedy! Golach. Alex Thomson, Benny Sinclair, Angie MacIntosh are in the piccy to.
I thought I recognised Angie Meek, I have had many a fry form him and his crew when I was a bairn, my Grandad stayed in the Mill House in the 50's at Scrabster and was well kent by all the fishermen.

[thirsaloon]

the name your looking for is sandy budge


Yay, cheers for that hell raizer!!! :D

Someone else once told me it was him but they were not 100% sure on it.

[thirsaloon]

Shore Street

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/SHORESTREETWITHTHETURNPIKE.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Whooooo hoooo! I just noticed this thread has had 20,019 views, thats no bad since June this year!

:D

[Kenn]

Where is it now? Would love to see it , does any one know?

[thirsaloon]

The Fish Stane has been in the care of Thurso Museum since a number of years. It will be featured in the new displays when it reopens. I have a photograph of it when it was on display, I will dig it out and post it on here later.

[macdawnauld]

Hi Thirsaloon,
I got a message from someone you said they were having difficulty viewing the rest of the images on photobucket so I'll just post them on the messageboard.


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/StJohnsSquare1973.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/StPeterandHolyRood1973.jpg

[macdawnauld]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/SinclairStreeet1973.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/PrincessStreet1973.jpg

[macdawnauld]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/macdawnauld/Riverside1973.jpg

[Anne x]

Once again just great keep them coming

[wifie]

Definitely my favourite thread! By the way when is the museum re-opening?

[Thumper]

Thirsaloon this thread just gets better and better!Well done and keep them coming x

[thirsaloon]

Definitely my favourite thread! By the way when is the museum re-opening?

Latter part of next year, great progress has been made already in the gutting out and work on the roof, plus loads of paperwork going on behind the scenes so so far so good!

See for more info as it goes along:

http://caithnesshorizons.co.uk/

:D

[peter macdonald]

Thurso Harbour 1950

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1950-05-OTTHURSOHARBOURPRIMULA-PENT.jpg

The Fish Stane

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1951-01-OTYEAULDFISHSTANE.jpg

The nearest boats in the harbour are the Crest WK87 She was skippered by John Sinclair from Shore St She was destroyed by fire in Dec 1951 and inside her is the Pentland Firth WK224 she was at one time skippered by Wm Sinclair and was sold to Portgordon in Feb 1959
The Primula is lying behind them

[thirsaloon]

The nearest boats in the harbour are the Crest WK87 She was skippered by John Sinclair from Shore St She was destroyed by fire in Dec 1951 and inside her is the Pentland Firth WK224 she was at one time skippered by Wm Sinclair and was sold to Portgordon in Feb 1959
The Primula is lying behind them


Jeepers well done Peter!

Im only good at boats if I can see the registration. I would never be able to tell them apart otherwise! I know who some of the folk were and on what boats but im no expert!

Thanks again for your info!

[peter macdonald]

Thirsa loon my pleasure best threads on the ORG these
You have some grand pictures Thanks for sharing
PM

[thirsaloon]

Cheers for that Peter, glad you enjoy it!

The photos took a long time and a lot of work to gather (plus a lot of space to store!) but im glad folks have enjoyed this thread. May call on your eagle eyes :eek: next time im stuck with boats!!!

:D

[wifie]

Thirsaloon, may I make a request? Do you have any snow pics from 50s and 60s? Have asked on the org before but it was before you joined in. Doesn't matter if you don't as I am enjoying what is coming up here. Only worry is that as the pics get more up to date I may appear in one!!!

[Sporran]

When I was growing up in Thurso in the 60s and 70s, I remember "Ye Auld Fish Stane" as being right outside the front of the town hall. When was it moved inside the museum, Thirsaloon?

[thirsaloon]

Thirsaloon, may I make a request? Do you have any snow pics from 50s and 60s? Have asked on the org before but it was before you joined in. Doesn't matter if you don't as I am enjoying what is coming up here. Only worry is that as the pics get more up to date I may appear in one!!!


Only have one piccy that comes to mind to be honest wifie!

Try and dig it out if I mind!

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/THURSOINDUSTIALCO-OPSOCIETYTHUFMPH4.jpg

Thurso Industrial Co-Operative Society LTD 1911

[wifie]

Post 345 the council in 1926 - anybody have any names?

[darkie@dreamtilt.com.au]

Thurso's 1st motorised Scaffy Cart.





Crew of the Primula along with others

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/1960-32-OTCREWOFPRIMULAWK97.jpg
Thanks thursaloon for this pic,the boy on the right who is half in was my cousin Donnie Latimer,I have a copy of this but your's is much better,so hope you dont mind if I copy it to my comp; your doing a great job with this thread,no wonder everyone raves about it,keep up the great work,till my next visit Regards Robin Sinclair

[plasticjock]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage32.jpg

[Bobinovich]

Wow it's weird seeing Mt. Pleasant Road that narrow and with all that vegetation

[Sporran]

Another great photo of Thurso! Thanks plasticjock! :)

Do you or thirsaloon have any idea what year it was taken?

[thirsaloon]

Wow it's weird seeing Mt. Pleasant Road that narrow and with all that vegetation


I think thats the road which goes up to the farm of Charlie Angus, the side road at the bottom goes into the carpark of the Park Hotel. Picture was taken late 1940's early 50's I would say at a quick glance!

[gollach]

I think thats the road which goes up to the farm of Charlie Angus, the side road at the bottom goes into the carpark of the Park Hotel. Picture was taken late 1940's early 50's I would say at a quick glance!

I don't think that it's the road up to Charlie's. You can see the old slaughter house building and the gas works further up river on the other side. I think it's more likely to be Mt Pleasant Road, especially with the Dammies football pitch in the centre of the picture - are you thinking that the pitch in the photo is the one at Millbank?

[wifie]

Think you are right golach - must be before my time as I never remember that view being so empty.

[highlander]

At first glance i also thought it was the road going up past the Park Hotel, but after looking more closely it is deff the bottom of Mount Pleasant Road, this picture looks it was taken before Queens Terrace was built, I know that Park Avenue was bulit around 1954-1955 as my parents were one of the first familys to move into that street.

[plasticjock]

Another great photo of Thurso! Thanks plasticjock! :)

Do you or thirsaloon have any idea what year it was taken?

Yes, sorry......I forgot to mention that the postcard was issued in 1958 though not posted till 1965.

[highlander]

Can anyone tell me what is the old chimney stack was on, its to the right of the old gasworks?

[Buttercup]

My parents moved to a new house in Morven Place on Christmas Eve 1957, and I remember the workmen building Castle Terrace later than that, probably about the same time as the shop.

[ThirsaYank]

RE plastijocks' piccy
My wife grew up on Wilson St. She lived there from about 1950 until 1967 (when the lucky girl got to travel the world with me :).) Anyway, she can’t remember the chimney that is shown in the picture. She thinks that it might have something to do with the old Coop bakery where she played as a child. We looked at the picture and at a good aerial view trying to work it out. No joy. She hopes somebody can identify it, cuz it’s making her daft:confused.

[Sairheed]

Re the question of the chimney - although it seems distant from the gasometer I believe it was part of the gasworks.

[hell raizer]

tell babs hubby says its part of the gas works

[plasticjock]

Picture of The Mall scanned from a 1951 Caithness guide.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage005.jpg

Some more to follow.

[plasticjock]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage004.jpg

[plasticjock]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage001.jpg

[plasticjock]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage002.jpg

[plasticjock]

Last one............


http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ScanImage003.jpg

[plasticjock]

Oooh, it's good to have this forum back thanks to Bill and his stalwarts.

and to celebrate:
Thurso Harbour 1900

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ThursoHarbour1920.jpg

[Anne x]

excellent Pics Plasticjock thank you

[thirsaloon]

Like your picture of Thurso Harbour Plasticjock! Never seen that one before, its a cracker!

I'll have some more piccys coming on soon!

[Thumper]

Great pics plasticjock!keep them coming everybody they are all great! x

[thirsaloon]

Both of these are of Bank Street

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BankStreet1.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BankStreet2.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Bank Street

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BankStreet3.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/boat.jpg

I think the name of the above boat at Scrabster is Moon Beam!

[thirsaloon]

Camping Site 1969


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/CampingSite.jpg



http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Fisherwomen.jpg

Two Thurso fisherwomen, not sure where the picture was taken though. Any suggestions?

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Gala1965.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Gala1965a.jpg

Btw - Its Donald Angus who has the top hat on driving.

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Gala1965b.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Gala1965c.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Thought I would put up some old shop receipts from my collection. I took the peoples names out from some of the receipts. I know they might not be the same interest as some of the photographs but thought it would be something different for a wee change! Hope you enjoy them as much as the photographs.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Anderson.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/BridgenessCompany.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/FShearer.jpg


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/GeorgeMansonbill.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Lipton.jpg


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/JamesMcKidd.jpg

[booragtooner]

Hello Caithness Org members. It has been lovely to see all the photos, especially old ones! The memories come flooding back. You have so many topics - and each one interesting.

I look forward to keeping up to date through your channels!

[plasticjock]

Like your picture of Thurso Harbour Plasticjock! Never seen that one before, its a cracker!

I'll have some more piccys coming on soon!

Thanks thirsaloon for your pics too.

I've been having a closer look at the Harbour picture and noticed that what I took to be a blemish, is actually 3 men standing in the tidal mud halfway alongside the hull of the right-hand vessel. Judging by the ladder propped up against the bow it looks as if they were having a break from scraping the keel.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/manowar_photos/thurso/ThursoHarbour1920-1.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Did that photograph come out of an old guide book? Sorry for being nosey just never seen it before and very impressed with it!

[plasticjock]

Did that photograph come out of an old guide book? Sorry for being nosey just never seen it before and very impressed with it!



I found it a while ago on the web. Here is the link:
http://www.theoldhometown.com/unidentified-images/picture/number6.asp

[thirsaloon]

Thanks for that plasticjock, much appreciated!

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/MillerCalder.jpg


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/WalterBudge.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/TownandCountyBankbill.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/WilliamCrear.jpg

[thirsaloon]

This is one of the tickets from one of the carnivals that would visit the north, wonder if anyone remembers them?


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/WhitesSuperCarnivalticket.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Hello Caithness Org members. It has been lovely to see all the photos, especially old ones! The memories come flooding back. You have so many topics - and each one interesting.

I look forward to keeping up to date through your channels!

Glad your enjoying it booragtooner! Now thats a good Thirsa name if ever I heard one!

:D

[highlander]

Films that were being shown were
Monty Python & Holy Grail
The man with the golden Gun
Live and Let Die
Rollerball
Soldier Blue
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f397/highlander1959/thursopicturehouse001.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f397/highlander1959/thursopicturehouse003.jpg

[Thumper]

Thirsaloon, I love the W R T Budge invoice it is a pleasure to look at!Maybe if we all got bills like this it wouldn't be such a chore to pay them :) x

[thirsaloon]

I had one of those to highlander, cant mind which date though! Must take a look for it!

[thirsaloon]

Thirsaloon, I love the W R T Budge invoice it is a pleasure to look at!Maybe if we all got bills like this it wouldn't be such a chore to pay them :) x


Hey Thumper!

Aye, there was something about those bills, not like the till receipts you get now, but guess it cuts down on a lot of paperwork!

Had a couple of messages from folks that liked seeing them!

Glad to know they are of interest!

[Thumper]

Thirsaloon,they are great!I would love to get a bill like that...mine usually have "pay up or less" written on them [lol] Seriously though,they are works of art that have been sadly lost through time :( x

[highlander]

Films being shown
Titanic
Time Bomb
On Moonlight Bay
Stalag 17
Captains Paradise
Treasure Island
I Love Melvin
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f397/highlander1959/thursopicturehouse014.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f397/highlander1959/thursopicturehouse016.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Indeedy Thumper, they are grand, I may look out some more once I get in about the rest of the stuff that clutters up the house!

We have nearly reached 25,000 hits on this thread, wonder if Bill will give us a special prize for hitting it! :lol:

[Thumper]

I think Thirsaloon that this thread will hit way more than that!I can see this thread going for a LONG time!...well I hope so anyway ;) x

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Gunns_Sams.jpg

Last piccy for the evening!

[booragtooner]

Thanks for your reply Thirsaloon. Glad that you liked the name... when we came home from school we were part of the doon-e-tooners - and kept to our end - no mixing with the up-e-tooners! (It was ok at school but we kept to our own end after that.) Of course Thurso was a small town then and we practically knew everyone and could tell you where they lived (think it 'did' very well when Dounreay was at its height).

Find all the photos and information great.

Booragtooner

[thirsaloon]

Thanks for your reply Thirsaloon. Glad that you liked the name... when we came home from school we were part of the doon-e-tooners - and kept to our end - no mixing with the up-e-tooners! (It was ok at school but we kept to our own end after that.) Of course Thurso was a small town then and we practically knew everyone and could tell you where they lived (think it 'did' very well when Dounreay was at its height).

Find all the photos and information great.

Booragtooner

My Dads lot came out of Shore Street so I have Fisherbigging blood in me! The up-e-tooners were the posh lot back then! :lol: I remember one man who was up in his years sing me a song about the booragtoon rangers, a football team which was on the go at one time, but many years ago. As he sang the song the verses included the names of the players.

He is the only one I ever heard sing it or know about it. Alas I left it much to late to record him. There is another song about a boat race over the river, I know a couple of people that can still mind it so must get it recorded before its to late!

[booragtooner]

It's great that someone still had a programme. Bob Morrison, his wife and family stayed in Brabster Street, I think the second house down from the opening to the present Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Years ago there was a garage at the bottom corner of Brabster Street (same side) in what is now part of Elizabeth's.

Most nights you had to queue up at 'the pictures'- it was ok until winter, when you got bombarded with snowballs (you tried to get an inside place then). Most nights a notice would come on , just before the end, saying that 'the last bus was going to Halkirk'. There usually was a big cheer.

[booragtooner]

Remember my mother singing a song along the lines... "There's goan tae be a boatie race up and doon ae river, wae (you put in a name...) on the wan side and (you put in anither ane) on ae ither. "Hing in, ......(first name) oh, hing in, .......(second name) oh, hing in,.....(first name) oh, .......(second name) is the winner oh".

You had to work it out that the RIGHT ONE was the winner!!

[thirsaloon]

Remember my mother singing a song along the lines... "There's goan tae be a boatie race up and doon ae river, wae (you put in a name...) on the wan side and (you put in anither ane) on ae ither. "Hing in, ......(first name) oh, hing in, .......(second name) oh, hing in,.....(first name) oh, .......(second name) is the winner oh".

You had to work it out that the RIGHT ONE was the winner!!


Thats the one Booragtooner! I could remember the tune of how it went but couldnt remember the words. My Dad remembers it, which is now no excuse for me to record it.

In fact im sure I put the photograph of one of the persons in the song on this thread!

There was also a song called "Locks and Quays" which used to be sung a fair bit from what I know. I dont know if it is a song which was just sung in Thurso or was it sung all over. I know a couple of people who know some verses of it but refuse to be recorded!

[booragtooner]

Forgot to say that it was an 'action' song... The two taking part had to sit on the floor, facing each other, feet touching. They had to stretch out their arms and hold each others hands, while singing the song. You rocked back and fore between yourselves...

[Buttercup]

Remember my mother singing a song along the lines... "There's goan tae be a boatie race up and doon ae river, wae (you put in a name...) on the wan side and (you put in anither ane) on ae ither. "Hing in, ......(first name) oh, hing in, .......(second name) oh, hing in,.....(first name) oh, .......(second name) is the winner oh".

You had to work it out that the RIGHT ONE was the winner!!


Forgot to say that it was an 'action' song... The two taking part had to sit on the floor, facing each other, feet touching. They had to stretch out their arms and hold each others hands, while singing the song. You rocked back and fore between yourselves...

Remember it well ~ a great one for keeping bairns amused! [lol]

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Peterkins.jpg

Peterkins Chemist and Nobles with the Bay Linen shop next door

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Nobles_BabyLinen.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/MacKays_Peterkins.jpg

Peterkins and MacKays

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/MacKays1.jpg

[Gleber2]

When wis at last one taken?

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0861.jpg

[thirsaloon]

When wis at last one taken?


I think 1971, will have to check and see. Its written on the back of the photograph.

[Lavenderblue2]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0861.jpg

Where is this Thirsaloon? I'm at a loss... LB :confused

[Buttercup]

Where is this Thirsaloon? I'm at a loss... LB :confused
The long building in the bottom middle is Naver House with the playing field in front on it. The road disappearing out of the top of the picture is going to Scrabster with the Dounreay road going out top left. If that's of help to you.

[thirsaloon]

The road in the distance goes to Scrabster, thats the old filling station just along from it at the top of the photo. Castlegreen Road is the one to the right running down the side of the photo. Pennyland House is the large house in the top right of the picture.

[Bobinovich]

A common question TL but what year would this ariel view of Pennyland be? Strange seeing Burnside without even a Weigh Inn, let alone the mass of housing doon there now.

[Buttercup]

A common question TL but what year would this ariel view of Pennyland be? Strange seeing Burnside without even a Weigh Inn, let alone the mass of housing doon there now.
Can I hazzard a guess at mid sixties. The Weigh Inn didn't open until '72 and some houses were at Burnside before that, I'm sure.

[thirsaloon]

A common question TL but what year would this ariel view of Pennyland be? Strange seeing Burnside without even a Weigh Inn, let alone the mass of housing doon there now.


Think it was around 1965 Bob, way before my time! I’m just a young loon yet! :D

There was a series of commissioned aerial photographs done which were then mounted in a large album. The album was then gifted to me for safe keeping earlier this year as nobody in the gentleman’s family wanted it or had any great interest in it.

[highlander]

Thursaloon the two pictures you posted above, you said Peterkins and Mackays, surely thats not Mackays but Buttress shop?

[thirsaloon]

Thursaloon the two pictures you posted above, you said Peterkins and Mackays, surely thats not Mackays but Buttress shop?


It was MacKays the ironmongers when those pictures were taken.

[Lavenderblue2]

The long building in the bottom middle is Naver House with the playing field in front on it. The road disappearing out of the top of the picture is going to Scrabster with the Dounreay road going out top left. If that's of help to you.


The road in the distance goes to Scrabster, thats the old filling station just along from it at the top of the photo. Castlegreen Road is the one to the right running down the side of the photo. Pennyland House is the large house in the top right of the picture.

Thank you Buttercup and Thirsaloon - I see it now - being an old photo fooled me too, no Weigh Inn etc - it's a great photo.

LB

[Anne x]

I saw Ben Hur or 10 commandments in thurso picture house was that 66 or 67 or earlier

[booragtooner]

Yes, Peterkins on corner and flat above with door just past the shop, then there were two shops indented between Peterkins and Mackay's - a barber and draper - and on the sideways corner between the draper and Mackay's there was Noble's first shop before moving to the corner of Olrig St/Rotterdam Street.

[highlander]

Thanks Thursaloon, i dont remember it called Mackays, was it ever called Houstans? I remember being told it was owned by a man called Sinclair Houstans, its so annoying when you cant remember things properly.LOL

[highlander]

Booragtooner was the draper shop called Downies? they always used to have jeans and jackets hanging outside the shop?

[booragtooner]

Yes, George Downie had a drapers' shop, next to Noble's wee fruit shop - and then Mackay's (Sinclair Houston was manager); a Miss Mackay was the owner.

[Sporran]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0861.jpg


A common question TL but what year would this ariel view of Pennyland be? Strange seeing Burnside without even a Weigh Inn, let alone the mass of housing doon there now.


Can I hazzard a guess at mid sixties. The Weigh Inn didn't open until '72 and some houses were at Burnside before that, I'm sure.


Think it was around 1965 Bob, way before my time! I’m just a young loon yet! :D

There was a series of commissioned aerial photographs done which were then mounted in a large album. The album was then gifted to me for safe keeping earlier this year as nobody in the gentleman’s family wanted it or had any great interest in it.

Glad the album fell into your own good hands, Thirsaloon! :-) Will you be posting any more aerial photos from it?

Around 1965 does sound about right for the the aerial view of Pennyland housing estate. Pennyland Primary School opened in 1962. It's fairly close to the centre of the photo, with the large playing field next to it. I was one of the first pupils there, as we had just moved to a brand new house in Rockwell Crescent earlier that year. My house didn't get into the photo, but half of the house across from ours did! Buttercup's right about the (original) Weigh Inn not opening till 1972. There were definitely some houses at Burnside (between the road to Scrabster and the shoreline) before then. Prior to 1970 - possibly as early as 1967. The Upper Burnside houses (behind the old filling station and next to the Weigh Inn) came later. They started to appear in 1975 or 76. My husband and I moved into a newly built house there in the spring of 1977.

[Sporran]

Caithness Crafts with the back and roof of it demolished when High Street was being renovated.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/CaithnessCrafts.jpg

High Street under renovation, note the shop sign for Impact in the distance

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/NewShopsHighStreet2.jpg

Thirsaloon, do you have a year for these two photos, please?

[thirsaloon]

Thirsaloon, do you have a year for these two photos, please?


Cant mind of the top off my head, but I think around 1975!

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0858.jpg

[Ricco]

Great picture, Thirsaloon. Hope you don't mind my adding to it. ;)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/Ricco_T/Thurso.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Great picture, Thirsaloon. Hope you don't mind my adding to it. ;)



Not at all, glad you could find yer house in it! May have other shots Ricco that you may see it in!

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0856.jpg

[Sporran]

Great picture, Thirsaloon. Hope you don't mind my adding to it. ;)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/Ricco_T/Thurso.jpg

Ricco, do you remember a row of old stone cottages right next to your house? They were at the bottom of Castlegreen Road, as the road curves onto Princes Street. They were demolished in the early 60s.

[Buttercup]

Ricco, do you remember a row of old stone cottages right next to your house? They were at the bottom of Castlegreen Road, as the road curves onto Princes Street. They were demolished in the early 60s.
Think you mean the late 60's Sporran. :confused

[thirsaloon]

Think you mean the late 60's Sporran. :confused


That would be the Railway cottages? Have some close up pictures of them. Wasnt there around 3 of them from memory?

[booragtooner]

That would be the Railway cottages? Have some close up pictures of them. Wasnt there around 3 of them from memory?
Would love to see a picture of them.

Do you have any pictures of the horse trough (drinking trough) that used to be on the road outside the Commercial Bank (now Royal Bank of Scotland) in Olrig Street? If I remember rightly the feet were shaped like horses feet. Think that there may have been more of these troughs but can't remember.

Remember the different black water pumps which were stationed at the bottom of the town - one at the bottom of old Wilson Street and one at the turn on the brae going down to the harbour (past the Marine Inn). What did the top end of the town have for water along with the Meadow Well? Think that there was a spring in front of Viewfirth.

[Metalattakk]

What did the top end of the town have for water along with the Meadow Well? Think that there was a spring in front of Viewfirth.

There was a well in the car park at the back of the Station Hotel (before it was there of course). It's marked on one of those old maps that people have linked to on here somewhere.

[booragtooner]

There was a well in the car park at the back of the Station Hotel (before it was there of course). It's marked on one of those old maps that people have linked to on here somewhere.
Thank you Metalattakk for the information regarding the well at the back of the Station Hotel

[Sporran]

That would be the Railway cottages? Have some close up pictures of them. Wasnt there around 3 of them from memory?

Three is what I seem to remember, and it would be great to see close up pictures of them, thanks, Thirsaloon! :)


Would love to see a picture of them.

Do you have any pictures of the horse trough (drinking trough) that used to be on the road outside the Commercial Bank (now Royal Bank of Scotland) in Olrig Street? If I remember rightly the feet were shaped like horses feet. Think that there may have been more of these troughs but can't remember.

Remember the different black water pumps which were stationed at the bottom of the town - one at the bottom of old Wilson Street and one at the turn on the brae going down to the harbour (past the Marine Inn). What did the top end of the town have for water along with the Meadow Well? Think that there was a spring in front of Viewfirth.


There was a well in the car park at the back of the Station Hotel (before it was there of course). It's marked on one of those old maps that people have linked to on here somewhere.

Here's the link to an 1872 map of Thurso. It shows a reservoir on Duncan Street, near the number 576. It's near the top of Davidson's Lane, so I reckon the reservoir was in the approximate location of Viewfirth, which was built in 1873. I see there was a Mall Well along the Mall Walk next to Janet Street, and also a Glebe Well.

http://www.nls.uk/maps/early/towns.cfm?id=1923 (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.nls.uk/maps/early/towns.cfm?id=1923)

[booragtooner]

Thanks Sporran for the link regarding the wells. Enjoyed looking up the map, with all the names - some which I remember being spoken about years ago.

[Ricco]

Ricco, do you remember a row of old stone cottages right next to your house? They were at the bottom of Castlegreen Road, as the road curves onto Princes Street. They were demolished in the early 60s.

I do indeed. They were the old railwaymen's cottages, and a lovely old dear who used to 'clean' for my ma used to live in one of them. She was an amazing knitter - could sit and watch TV or chat away with out looking at her work and never missed a stitch! Just around the corner was a corner store that we kids used to head for as soon as we got our pocket money.

[Ricco]

That would be the Railway cottages? Have some close up pictures of them. Wasnt there around 3 of them from memory?

There were 3, and a two storey cottage round the corner just before the shop, I think.

[hell raizer]

There were 3, and a two storey cottage round the corner just before the shop, I think.
my granny and grandad stayed in the cottage beside ricco...grandad was an engine driver, mina stayed in the 2nd one she was a great knitter, ewan who was the barman in the station bar stayed in the last one, the banks family stayed in the house. dawson had the shop at the time

[Sporran]

I do indeed. They were the old railwaymen's cottages, and a lovely old dear who used to 'clean' for my ma used to live in one of them. She was an amazing knitter - could sit and watch TV or chat away with out looking at her work and never missed a stitch! Just around the corner was a corner store that we kids used to head for as soon as we got our pocket money.


There were 3, and a two storey cottage round the corner just before the shop, I think.


my granny and grandad stayed in the cottage beside ricco...grandad was an engine driver, mina stayed in the 2nd one she was a great knitter, ewan who was the barman in the station bar stayed in the last one, the banks family stayed in the house. dawson had the shop at the time

Wonderful to hear about some of the inhabitants of the railwaymen's cottages! :D I'm surprised that I don't remember the two storey cottage, but hopefully my memory will be jogged when Thirsaloon posts a photo. Was the corner store in the same modern building that later had Bridget the hairdresser on one side, and Howard Bremner's West End Cafe on the other? I think Ferrier the newsagent moved into the hairdresser's shop afterwards, for a while.

[hell raizer]

aye there was a few people in that shop over the years

[booragtooner]

There was a second row of stepping stones further up the river, near the footbridge that is opposte the Mill. Hope some other folks start digging around now and see what photo's they may have. Could be the start of something interesting here!
As bairns we used to wait until the tide was out and go across the river on these stones - you had to watch, as the stones could be very slippery and green. Most of us fell in and ended up with wet feet - but you got used to that. This was before the Ellan bridge was built. We used to put on our rubber boots and when the tide was out go underneath the then wooden platform on the harbour (black and tarred). You went between the posts and could find 'conger eels', etc. The boys would fish from the black stairs fixed to the wall just before the quay went wider. In the summertime it was a favourite place to go and you had to watch your place if you were sitting on the stairs! At that time there was a high wall where the fishermen mended their nets. When the men were mending their nets (which could be spread out over the road) we had to watch that we didn't run on top of them.

[booragtooner]

Nice to see the photo of Jock Mackenzie's fish shop - you went round the corner to the draper shop. Up past this and you could get to Henry Meiklejohn's garage and workshop (Donnie Meiklejohn's father). It was a busy corner.

[Sporran]

Nice to see the photo of Jock Mackenzie's fish shop - you went round the corner to the draper shop. Up past this and you could get to Henry Meiklejohn's garage and workshop (Donnie Meiklejohn's father). It was a busy corner.

I enjoyed seeing that photo too, boragtooner. I remember going to the fish shop and drapers with my mum and granny when I was a girl.

Is the Meiklejohn you speak of the same one that had the taxi service?

[Buttercup]

I enjoyed seeing that photo too, boragtooner. I remember going to the fish shop and drapers with my mum and granny when I was a girl.

Is the Meiklejohn you speak of the same one that had the taxi service?

Yes Sporran, Donnie and his son Gordon still run the taxis.

[Ricco]

my granny and grandad stayed in the cottage beside ricco...grandad was an engine driver, mina stayed in the 2nd one she was a great knitter, ewan who was the barman in the station bar stayed in the last one, the banks family stayed in the house. dawson had the shop at the time

Mina - that was her name. Well, well - what a small world. And Dawson caught me nicking a box of chocolate fingers as a dare one day.:confused

[booragtooner]

I enjoyed seeing that photo too, boragtooner. I remember going to the fish shop and drapers with my mum and granny when I was a girl.

Is the Meiklejohn you speak of the same one that had the taxi service?
Yes, Sporran, it is the same family.

[booragtooner]

Years ago the Ellan was a drying green which was used by anyone who didn't have a drying area. There were clothes poles and clothes lines fixed over the green. They were well used - but at that time, before the Ellan was built up, you had to watch out for the tides!! When the tide came in the clothes would be 'hanging out in the middle of all the water'.
We used to play there, especially when the water was in, and you went home and put on your rubber boots. Of course you were supposed to look out for the washing.

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0855.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0862.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0864.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0866.jpg

[thirsaloon]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0868.jpg

[thirsaloon]

Im sure some of you will remember seeing and using Co-op tokens. These are ones that I got over the years. They have written on them, Thurso Industrial Co-Operative Society Limited and then the value in the middle. Been trying to get a full set since awhile but this is all I have so far!


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/Co-opTokens.jpg

[gollach]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/thirsaloon/IMG_0855.jpg

Wow! That field must have been enormous. I can remember the County show being held in one of those fields in the 1970s and that was after Mount Pleasant Primary School was built and the remains of the field was split into 2 parts!