Lairg Local History Society

16/10/2026

12/10/2026

Last September, my father and I were chatting about travel and discussing places on our bucket lists. Without hesitation, he said that ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of visiting Scotland to see where his family had come from. Right then and there, we decided that after I retired the following year, we would make the trip together.

Over the next few months, I researched destinations that I thought my dad would enjoy. I also joined a genealogy website and began building our family tree. Eventually, I traced our ancestry back to around 1805 and discovered a great-great-great-grandfather named Angus Matheson. Records suggested that Angus may have come from a place called Lairg. Although I learned that he had emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, in the early 1800s, I could find no information about his parents. I spent countless hours searching online, visiting cemeteries, and exploring every lead I could find.

Then, in February, I came across the Lairg Historical Society and began following their page to learn more about the area.

Before our trip, I contacted the Society to ask whether they might have any information about the Matheson families from the region. I was warmly welcomed and given helpful suggestions and resources that could aid my research.

When my father and I finally arrived in Scotland, we met two members of the Society, Shirley and Angela, at the Ferrycroft Centre in Lairg. What followed was one of the most memorable days of our entire journey.

Not only did we learn what life in Lairg was like generations ago, but with Shirley and Angela's help, we were also able to identify a possible father for Angus. Shirley took us to Lairg Cemetery, where she showed us several Matheson graves while sharing fascinating stories about the area's history. Later, we visited Angela's home, where I learned even more about genealogical research and how to continue my search.

Lisa Matheson

28/09/2026

BALLOAN SHOP

Thanks to Malcolm Bangor-Jones for his question last week – and yes, the Balloan Shop is the small building, on the left, as you go down the hill from Rheanbreck.
Members of Lairg Local History Society were given a tour of the shop and here is a cutting from the Northern Times (date unknown) and probably written by Liz Quinn.

07/09/2026

SUMMER OUTING TO BRORA HERITAGE CENTRE

What a grand day we all had at Brora Heritage Centre! From start to finish, the visit was fascinating, informative and, at times, quite inspiring.

On arrival, we received a warm welcome from Ross, who had helped with the organisation of our visit. We then enjoyed an excellent guided tour of the museum, led by Dr Nick Lindsay, who took us on a journey through Brora’s ancient history, crofting traditions, the Highland Clearances and much more.

We heard fascinating stories about Brora’s coal, salt, wh**ky, brick and wool industries. The “Local Legends” display introduced us to people from the past – some whom we had known or heard about ourselves. There were some great stories!

Nick’s commentary was both informative and engaging, while allowing us plenty of time to explore the exhibits and read about them for ourselves. The displays are beautifully presented, and several items brought back happy memories of childhood days on the croft.

At noon, we sat down to a delightful variety of dishes, catering for all tastes, and served by the lovely ladies in the Clyne Kitchen. Everything was very tasty!

After lunch, Nick gave us a fascinating visual presentation, “From Dereliction to Delight”. This took us through the history of the building, from its first use in 1863 to the transformation of the once-derelict building into the beautiful purpose-built facility we see today. What a story for one building!

The Heritage Centre is extremely impressive, both inside and out. It brings the history of Brora to life, and the village can be very proud of having such a wonderful attraction.

A browse around the shop was an added bonus, with an excellent collection of items, including a good selection of books on Highland history and culture.

We all went home a very happy bunch – including Jenny, proudly carrying her Brora brick! A big thank you also to Donald for driving us safely to Brora and back and taking such good care of his passengers.

A visit to Brora Heritage Centre is highly recommended – a fascinating place, a warm welcome and a wonderful way to discover the rich history of Brora.