Olrig Observations

100 years ago Margaret Sinclair (known as Daisy) emigrated to Canada as a twelve year old. Homesick for Castletown she drew a map in pencil of the village. Now the map has returned to Caithness and provides a fascinating insight into life as Daisy saw it.

When Muriel is handed a letter, handwritten by a Caithness businessman in early 1806, the upsetting contents prompt her to find out more. Her investigations reveal that the social consequences arising from the north mail robbery of 1805 stretched far beyond mere financial loss.

Rope is a commodity that is perhaps taken for granted - it is readily commercially available with sizes and specifications suitable for a myriad of applications, such as securing loads, hauling fishing nets or towing vehicles. Murial takes us back to a time before the era of industrially manufactured rope, to when rope and string was made from whatever materials were available to hand locally, such as straw, rushes, grasses, and even daffodil leaves!

Muriel investigates the curious story of Wilhelmina Barbara Traill, the eldest daughter of Lady Janet Traill and, she reveals, the surrogate daughter of Mary Dehaney, fiance of the lamented Sir John Sinclair, the 11th Earl of Caithness.  The story starts with the donation of a heavy circular brass plaque to Castletown Heritage Society.....

James Traill of Rattar, Sheriff Depute of Caithness, is probably best known as the founder of the Caithness Flagstone Industry.  But there is much more to this man - he was in his time the senior law representative in Caithness, a renowned agricultural improver, and of course the talented entrepreneur who spotted the commecial opportunity that could be realised through the extraction and export of Caithness flagstone world-wide.  Muriel reveals a little of the background of this talented individual.

Love them or hate them, rabbits are considered both a pest and a valuable resource.  The sight of a dead rabbit at the side of the road causes Muriel to ponder the lot of the rabbit and our relationship with them.

Local writer Gail Anthea Brown is passionate abut the rich folklore involving Castletown and the Parish of Olrig.  In this episode Gail recounts the original tale surrounding the Olrig Selkie Grave, which lies in the Old Graveyard at Castletown.

A recently discovered page of accounting information provides a fascinating insight into the social aspects of crop production at a small Caithness farm on the outskirts of Thurso in 1822.  Muriel brings the chronological entries to life, exploring the work involved, cost and extensive labour requirements to prepare the ground, sow corn and bere (early barley), harvest and gather in the crop for over-winter storage. 

Muriel's research into the original owner of an old multi-blade pocketknife that was donated to Castletown Heritage Society reveals a fascinating account of a World War I Black Watch soldier and a remarkable link to a Girls School in the north of England.

They that go down to the sea in ships: and occupy their business in great waters. (These men see the works of the Lord: and his wonders in the deep.)  Prompted by the name of a distant Polish port, Muriel recalls some local maritime events illustrating the power and influence of the sea which connects us all.