RootsChat.Com

A couple of observations from me -

It looks like a heather roof is on the house in the photo, and I first wondered if this could help to date it.

https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/causeway_house_preserving_art_of_heather_thatching/

However further Google search shows this type of roof, and people to repair them, can still be found in Ireland so not conclusive dating evidence.

https://www.wicklow.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Planning/Conservation%20Built%20Heritage/Traditional%20Buildings/3.ROOFS.pdf

Second, very much a personal view, I would not be surprised if the woman was in her seventies when the photo was taken.

Look forward to seeing other’s thoughts.

Yesterday my son and family visited the Highland Folk Museum in the Cairngorm National Park close to Newtonmore.

A tiny building, used as a grocer’s shop at a Croft called Balnain (or Balnaan), was re-erected at the Museum in May this year. The shop had been run by same McLean family until the early 1970s.

It now complements the wonderful collection of historic buildings and artefacts already on the site, which is well worth a visit.

https://www.highlifehighland.com/blog/mcleans-shop-stores-a-shed-load-of-memories/

While there is no doubt the McLean family ran the shop for a period of about 70 years (the 1901 Census of Balnaan 096/B16/14 has Jessie McLean as ‘Grocer’) my son and I think they succeeded Alexander Smith, my GGGrandfather and his son George.

The record of Alexander’s death 23rd May 1882 at Balnain describes him as ‘Grocer’, while George’s marriage record 7th October 1887 has him as ‘General Merchant’.

This ties in with George taking over after leaving the Royal Scot’s Greys in 1884 and subsequently moving to Forres at a point before 1901.

The Smith and McLean families are shown as close neighbours in Balnain in other contemporary Censuses but I can’t find any information to prove that the McLeans took over the grocery business from George (or possibly someone else) between 1887 to 1901.

I’d be very grateful if anyone could track down any adverts, articles or any other information about the grocer’s shop before the McLean’s took over around 1990?


Many thanks,

Stuart

Wondering if the job was a reserved occupation maybe ‘Water and Sewerage’ with ‘Eng’ for Engineer?

However I couldn’t see that exact description in online sources with lists of reserved occupations during WW2.

Connected to ‘Women’s Auxiliary Services’ ?

However, I’ve no evidence to justify beyond the tie in with the first letters of the abbreviation.

Is it possible to show the description as shown in the Register?

In any event will delve deeper.