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
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