The MacGillivray Photo Collection
The MacGillivray family were from at least the late eighteen fifties staying in the farm at North Lyne Gorthleck, having come there from Balnain near Balnabeeran, Torness. William who took over North Lyne farm had nine of a family, two of whom Donald and William went into the retail trade. The house known locally as Loch Mhor Stores, Lyne of Gorthleck was built around 1820 by Evan Barron and run as a general merchants and Post Office. Around 1870 it was sold to Donald Cameron when he came to Stratherrick from Islay
Lyne of Gorthleck at the latter end of the nineteen century was possibly the commercial centre of Gorthleck. In 1883 there was the Post Office and General stores run by Donald Cameron, along the road westward at Laracks a general grocer store run by Ewen Fraser. Donald MacGillivray in 1886 took over the mail contract between Inverness to Whitebridge. By that year an Alex Fraser had opened up another shop at Moorland Cottage, Lyne below the road from Donald Cameron’s making it three shops in close proximity.
By 1896 Donald MacGillivray as well as leasing a shop in 58 Denny Street Inverness, also had taken over Donald Cameron’s shop (Loch Mhor Stores) at Lyne. Two years later Donald married Barbara Cameron, daughter of Donald Cameron. Barbara was one of the Nightingale nurses having been trained in St Thomas’s Hospital London by Florence Nightingale. Following her marriage she performed nursing duties in Stratherrick, prior to the district nurse service starting.
Donald and Barbara had five of a family, Helen, Williameena (Meena), Donald, John and Angus. In 1898 Donald leased the shop at Gorthleck to his older brother William as his tenant. William previously had run the shop in Denny Street prior to Donald. By 1900 William had taken over the lease of Moorland Cottage and Shop (now called Economic Stores) from Alex Fraser and Donald moved back into Loch Mhor Stores, so the two brothers had both shops in the area as Ewen Fraser’s shop had closed some years previously.
This arrangement continued up to 1912 when William MacGillivray died and his wife Mary took over the running of the shop till it burnt down in October 1915. Donald meantime whilst continuing with the Shop and mail contract, had introduced a passenger bus to Inverness. He also turned the house into a Guest House, then unsuccessfully attempted to make into a licensed hotel. When this failed to get approval, it continued as a Guest house and he built a couple of wooden semi- detached houses for letting.
Donald also introduced a mobile shop to the district long before traveling shops became a feature of the country scene, installed a petrol pump, took over the family farm at North Lyne and for a period was awarded the local hearse contract. In 1933 Donald died and the business was taken over by his youngest son, Angus. By this time it was a general merchants and grocers, the Post Office, mail and hearse contracts along with the passenger bus were no longer part of the family business
In 1957 Angus married Grace Macmillian from Strathnairn. Grace was a nurse who was tending Angus’s sister Helen and mother Barbara . Angus and Grace had two of a family Fiona & Ruth.
Around 1969 with the Loch Mhor Stores beginning to show its age, Angus embarked in upgrading the 1890’s shop to a modern self- service store. Unfortunately no photos seem to have taken of the interior of the old shop. A sitting room at the front of the house along with the adjacent old store became the new shop complete with display window. Whilst the old shop was refurbished into a store-room for the new shop, this refurbishment was done in a two stage operation ensuring the local community had continuous access to supplies.
In 1981 Angus died, the business was then run by his wife Grace until 1983 when it was sold to Karl Heinz Fraser, whose wife Janet was a descendant of Alex Fraser who had the shop across the road in the 1890’s.
We have included pictures of interest from other contributors that are relevant to the MacGillivray family or shops around Lyne of Gorthleck.
Copyright Alister Chisholm 2023
Donald and Barbara Macgillivray wedding photo . They were married in London. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
MacGillivray family at garden gate: Donald MacGillivray, Maggie Grant (nanny), Barbara, sitting on step, daughters Helen and Meena, unknown. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Donald and Barbara with youngest son Angus in arms, Daughters Helen and Meena seated on the chairs . With nanny Maggie Grant in the doorway. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
William MacGillivrays Economic Stores c1905 slightly west and across the road from Lochmhor Stores. This corrugated iron building was burnt down around c1916 along with its residential premises Moorland Cottage. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Granny Wemyss Rhodes Cameron, wife of Donald Cameron and mother of Barbara who marries Donald MacGillivray. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Wemyss Rhodes Cameron, wife of Donald Cameron and mother of Barbara who marries Donald MacGillivray .Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Loch Mhor stores c1906, possibly the horse and cart were going to pick up supplies that would have been delivered to Inverfarigaig Pier. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Whitebridge Bus c1910 . Donald MacGillivrays, Lyne of Gorthleck's Bus outside Post Office Inverness prior to starting its run up to Whitebridge. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray .
MacGillivray family in garden c1911: back L-R Wemyss Rhodes Cameron, Donald MacGillivray and Barbara, Front L-R Donald Helen, Angus, Meena, John. . Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Barbara MacGillivray (Cameron) with youngest son Angus C 1914. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray
Donald Gentle worked in Donald MacGillivery’s Shop as book keeper ect stayed in croft along the Druim c1920 .Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray
Horse with flatbed cart just east of South Lyne (present Lyne Cottage) c1905, showing house and steading buildings which are still there . Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Looking west towards the Ark at Errogie on shore of Loch Farraline around 1905. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Willie Rose outside his old family home (presently Woodside) at Errogie c1905. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
Peace Treat July 1919 at Dalcrag farm which the children of Errogie and Boleskine schools attended to commemorate the end of World War One . Event was given by Mr & Mrs Menzies who were presently staying at the Loch Mhor Hotel Gorthleck. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Peace Treat July 1919 at Dalcrag farm. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Outside MacGillivray's shop at Lyne of Gorthleck in mid twenties . L-R : Mrs Brimlow , Meena MacGillivray, Angus MacGillivray, Miss Brimlow, Barbara MacGillivray, Donald MacGillivray and Mr Brimlow. The Brimlows would have been staying at the shop which was also a guest house at one time. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
John MacGillivray with car at Lyne c1930. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
At front of house around mid- twenties, there is now a petrol pump installed to cater for the grow-ing motor car transport about the area . L-R : Mr Brimlow , Meena MacGillivray, Angus MacGillivray, Miss Brimlow, Barbara MacGillivray, Helen MacGillivray, Mrs Brimlow and Donald MacGillivray. Photograph courtesy of Grace MacGillivray.
Barbara Macgillivray on right and friend visiting her husbands Donald's grave in May 1935. Photograph courtesy of Fiona Larg.
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