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Cape Wrath Lighthouse
22nd April 1905
Sir,
I beg to forward you the enclosed letter from Mr D Murray, Manager Coaching Co Lairg regarding a mare for this station. If you decide on buying this mare that he has procured for us, I would propose (instead of going to Lairg myself) to send the Occasional Keeper who would be able to take the horse back with him, as he is accustomed to taking horses round the Kyle, a rather dangerous part of the way, through moorland for about six miles till they join the road at the ferry. I haven’t the slightest doubt but the mare is the very thing that Mr Murray represents it to be. Trusting you will let me know what further to do in the matter.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant
Robert McIntosh, PLK
To Secretary, NLB
Edinburgh
(The horse was purchased for £32 with a guarantee of suitability for such work as required by the station.)
HM Coastguards and Reserves
54 Queen Street
Edinburgh
3rd January 1905
Dear Sir
It is proposed to augment the present amount of stores kept at the Signal hut at Cape Wrath in order to facilitate matters in case of mobilisation, as under present arrangements much valuable time would be lost.
I therefore write to ask if you will kindly inform me if the Principal Lighthouse Keeper may be allowed to have charge of these.
With reference to the Admiralty Letter No 32 1959/1924 of the 19th July 1879, the sum of £ 4.15.0 is at present paid to the Lighthouse Keeper for providing fuel and lighting fires in the Signal hut.
Will you please inform me what remuneration you think would be fair for this extra duty?
I am, Sir,
Yours Faithfully
R S Cumming
District Captain
(Stores were to include beds, pillows, brooms, flags, boxes, barrels and parcels all labelled. All stores were to be stowed in the Signal house. The extra supervision was to be very little.)
Report by Committee on KEOLDALE FERRY, 20th June 1919
Committee:-
Chairman (Sheriff of Dumfries)
The Sherriff of Ross
The Ferry at Keoldale is the only means of access to Cape Wrath Lighthouse and the Lloyds’ Coastguard Station there from Durness and the public high road, and it was established in 1842 under an arrangement between the Commissioners and the Duke of Sutherland, who was then proprietor of the adjoining lands. In terms of this arrangement the Commissioners expended more than £1200 on certain works on the west side of the Ferry, and subsequent expenditure raised their capital outlay to at least £1300.
Keoldale Ferry is a private ferry and has hitherto been worked by the proprietor, the Commissioners merely contributing to the cost of maintenance. This contribution was originally two thirds, but after 1875 it was one half of the cost of maintenance. The arrangement which held good until lately is contained in a Minute of Agreement between the Duke of Sutherland and the Commissioners dated 1893.
Mr J.C. Robertson, the tenant of Keoldale Farm recently purchased the farm and the ferry, and intimated to the Commissioners his intention to discontinue the maintenance of the ferry at Whitsunday 1919 after which he would no longer be at any expense in connection with it. The Commissioners thereupon approached the County Council with a view to coming to an arrangement for the maintenance of the ferry, but the Council declined to co-operate. In the meantime, as the ferry is essential to the Lightkeepers at Cape Wrath, the ferryman has been informed that the Commissioners will pay his salary and expenses incurred by him until matters are placed on a permanent footing.
Mr Robertson stated that he is prepared to let the Ferryman’s house to the Commissioners rent free provided 1) that he and his servants and their goods are ferried across the Kyle when required, without charge; and 2) that the house, outbuildings and fences are taken over in their present condition and maintained in good order by the Commissioners and left in good order at the expiry of the lease. The ferryman is to have no grazing outside the enclosed land attached to the house, but if the Commissioners desire to arrange for grazing for his cow and horse outside this land Mr Robertson will consider any suggestion they may make.
REPORT BY ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT on the present condition and upkeep of Keoldale Ferry, Cape Wrath
FERRYMAN
Angus Sutherland has been ferryman at Keoldale Ferry for the past seventeen years and I understand that his duties during this time have been satisfactorily performed.
FERRY HOUSE
He occupies the Ferry House on the Cape Wrath side of the ferry, which has a croft of about 2 acres attached to it – he pays no rent, but pays the taxes on an Assessment of £4 per annum. This house, I understand, is the recently acquired property of the late Mr J.C. Robertson, Keoldale (Mr Robertson died shortly before my visit on 2nd July) and was continued in the occupancy of Sutherland as part payment for ferrying services in connection with the work of his sheep run (Mr Robertson’s) to the west of the Kyle of Durness.
STABLE AND STORE AT FERRY
In connection with the ferry house, there is a small store for use of the Lightkeepers, and a stable for the accommodation of a horse – the house itself is said to have been built shortly after the erection of the Lighthouse, and it probably dates from the time when the original Ferry and Storehouse some 1 ¾ miles to the northward of Keoldale, was discontinued owing to its exposed position.
FERRYMAN’S DUTIES
Sutherland’s duties consist of attendance on the Ferry at all reasonable times, for the ferrying of persons connected with:-
1. Cape Wrath Lighthouse.
2. Cape Wrath Coast Guard and Signalling Station.
3. Mr J.C. Robertson’s Sheep Farm (Keoldale) on the Cape Wrath side of the Ferry.
4. Mr Elliot’s (Balnakiel) sheep farm on the Cape Wrath side of the ferry.
5. The carriage of the mail bag between Durness and Cape Wrath.
6. Any person desiring to visit the Lighthouse etc.
FERRYMAN’s PAY
For this service he received the following remuneration:-
1. Salary paid by the Commissioners including proportion for Coastguard service £25.4/-
2. Payment by late Mr J.C. Robertson in addition to the use of the ferry house £5.0/-
3. Payment by Mr Elliot, Balnakiel - now £9.0/-
4. Carriage of Mails £11.14/-
say £50.18/-
In addition to this sum, there are incidental payments by visitors during the summer months (1/6d per return trip) but as there is no hotel at Durness, there are comparatively few visitors, and from £2 to £3 would probably be the full amount of such payments; thus Sutherland receives in all say £54 per annum for the actual work of the Ferry.
CARTAGE
In addition to this he is employed by the Coast Guard to cart their weekly provisions from the Ferry to Cape Wrath, and for this he gets 5/- per trip, and also six trips for the conveyance of luggage at the annual transfers of signalmen. His total income is thus approximately:-
Salary from the Ferry £54
Cartage 52 @ 25/- £78:-:-
6 @ 25/- £7.10.-
_______
£139:10/-
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Out of this sum he has to maintain a horse and cart and pay for such extra assistance as he needs with the ferry – I) in hauling up the boats; II) Attendance when boating luggage etc; or III) in bad weather. His son, age 14, is at present helping him with part of the work.
INCREASE OF PAY
Regarding the question of an increase in his pay as ferryman, I think the matter may be regarded apart from the cartage, the charge for which he may increase if he finds it unremunerative, and in any case, it does not affect the Commissioners, who have their own horse and cart.
MAINTENANCE OF FERRY
There can be no doubt that the maintenance of a ferry is an essential and an integral part of the means of communication with the Lighthouse by road, and thus the assessment of its proportional value must be a fairly liberal one.
The Commissioners and Coast Guard at present jointly pay one half of the cost of the ferry, say £25, this I consider a reasonable proportion, and any increase of pay granted by the Commissioners should be based upon this figure.
FERRY BOATS
With regard to the maintenance of the boats and gear, there is no reason why the two farmers, who now pay a substantial sum for the ferry service, should not bear their due proportion.
There are two boats in serviceable condition, the large one (15ft keel) is almost exclusively used for conveyance of Coast Guards’ provisions, furniture etc. and for conveying fodder etc. for the sheep – the smaller one (10ft keel) is only used for ferrying passengers and is the only boat which is really necessary for the Lighthouse purposes.
POSITION OF FERRY HOUSE
I am satisfied that the existing arrangement, with ferry house on the west side of the Kyle of Durness, is the most efficient and economical way of conducting the ferry – on the east side, there are no houses nearer than Durness, two miles distant, with the exception of the Farm House of Keoldale, and one or two adjoining farm workers’ houses – owing to Mr Robertson’ s recent death, I could, of course, make no enquiries regarding the matter of Keoldale.
Accompanying this Report are some notes which I made at the time of my enquiry (2nd July)
REPORTED BY
(signed) E Graham
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
84 George Street
EDINBURGH 23rd July 1920
ACCOMPANYING NOTES
PIER AND APPROACHES
The piers and approaches on both shores are in good condition
FERRYMAN’s HOUSE
Both gables require to be pointed. Several flooring boards in the parlour need renewal. Kitchen door needs repair. Some plaster work necessary.
NOTE: The house is very nicely kept by Mrs Sutherland.
REQUEST FOR MORE PAY
Sutherland informs me that it is impossible to run the Ferry with one man – he may manage by himself in good weather, but not when it is stormy. The tides are always strong at this narrow part of the Kyle, and in bad weather, the boat has to be hauled up after a crossing. It is because of this that Sutherland asks for an increased pay. At present his son, 14 years of age, is helping him.
COMMISSIONERS’ STABLE AND STORE
This adjoins the Boatman’s house, and a portable forge is kept in the store for use when the horse is being shod. The door of the store needs repair and there are several other small joinery repairs necessary. The local joiner might be engaged through P.L.K.
