Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

SLATER'S
DIRECTORY
LYBSTER IN LATHERON,
DUNBEATH, BERRIEDALE, BRUAN, SWINEY, TORBEG, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
LYBSTER is a village iu the parish of Latheron, 13 miles s. from
Wick, and 25 n. from Helmsdale, situated on the south-east
side of the county ; the parish extends from the Ord of Caithness
twenty-seven miles along the coast, by a breadth of from thirteen
to fifteen miles. The houses are substantially built and regularly
laid out, and in the suburbs are some which are entitled to come
under the description of neat and handsome residences. No port
from Cromarty to the Orkney Isles has greater claims on the atten-
tion of the mariner, nor has any been more successfully or benefi-
cially employed for the purpose of the herring fishery. From the
indentation of its coast, with bold headlands at either side,
which throw off the sweeping currents so general on the Caith-
ness shores, there is comparatively still water at the entrance,
and perfect security within the harbour. The " Brothers Port,"
the name bequeathed to this haven by the Scandinavins, who
settled in Caithness in the eighth and tenth centuries, appears
to have boeu much resorted to by these "sea kings," or pirates;
but it was subsequently destroyed by a devastating laud-flood,
which choked up the small river that flows into it with trees
However, from the progress already made in clearing out this
obstruction, there can be no doubt that, at an incredibly small
expense, the importance of this valuable harbour may bo increased
even beyond its ancient reputation. A proof of the disastrous
occurrence just related is furnished by the fact that, but an incon-
siderable time since, mooring ringbolts were to be seen at a rock
three hundred yards from the present high water mark. Upon a
contiguous eminence the ruins of a Roman Catholic chapel, and
some well-carved relics in Morayshire freestone, still survive the
lapse of time. A good road intersects the parish along the shore,
and on this road are some pretty cottages. A church of the Estab-
lishment and a Freo church are the places of worship, and with
these are connected schools.
Latheron kirk stands half way on the coast near to a road that
crosses the country to Thurso. Dunbeath, Berriedale, Bruan,
Swiney, and Toreeg are also villages in Latheron parish. A cattle
fair is held at Lybster on the second Tuesday in November, and a
sort of market for engaging men for the arduous employment of the
fishing season takes place on the 20th July. The parish of Latheron
embraces 119,539 acres, and hud in 1881 a population of 6,670 ; of this
number 831 were returned for the village of Lybster.
(still extant), earth, moss and stone ; and thus converted into
a solid beach and corn-field what theretofore was capable of
affording shelter and safety to the largest ships of the present day.
POST OFFICE, Lybster, William Macalister, Posi .Master.— Letters from all parts arrive at 11
p.m. the following day. fcS" Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Duneeath, Alexander Sutherland, Post Master.— Letters from all parts arrive at 1 a.m., and are despatched at 4 p.m
the following day. IS" Money Order Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Latheron, Alexander Gunn, Post Master.— Letters arrive from all parts at 11 45 a.m., and are despatched at 4 45 p.m
the following day.
FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS,
Insurance Co. of Scotland— John S. Gow,
Lybster
Lancashire— Donald Gunn, Swiney
North British & Mercantile— Alexander
& John Mowat, Lybster
Reliance (life)— John S. Gow, Lybster
Royal— Miss Bain, Lybster
Scottish Union & National— Robson
M'Kay, Lybster
GENTRY & CLERGY.
Brown the Misses, Clyth Mains
Lontitt Daniel, Esq. Lybster
M'Culloch Rev. James D. Latheron
M'Dougall Rev. D. Berriedale
M'Hardy Rev. James, Latheron
Murray Rev. William G. Bruan
Ross Mr. Charles G. Dunbeath
Stocks Major Michael, Latheron wheel
SCHOOLS.
Public Schools:—
Latheron — William S. M'Kay, master
Lybster — John C. M'Kenzie, master ; Annie
M. Rennie, mistress
Swiney — William Campbell, master
Torbeg— William Sutherland, master
Newlands— James Sutherland, master
Clyth— A. G. Cameron, master
BAKERS.
Cormack John, Lybster
Mackay Angus, Lybster
Shearer George, Lybster
BANKS.
Commercial Bank of Scotland, Limited,
Lybster — draws on the London & West-
minster Bank, London — John S. Gow, agt
Town & County Bank, Limited (Branch)—
draws on the parent establishment, Aber-
deen, & on the Joint Stock Bank, London
— Alexander & John Mowat, agents
BLACKSMITHS.
Bain John, Forse
Bruce Robert, Latheron
M'Intosh Donald, Dunbeath
M'Lean William, Latheron wheel
Ross William, Swiney
Sutherland Alexander, Lybster
Sutherland Samuel, Clyth
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS7
Campbell David, Lybster
Georgeson James, Lybster
FACTORS.
Gow John S. Lybster
M'Hardy John, Canister
Mowat John, Latheron wheel
Muckart James (to the Duke of Portland),
Berriedale
Sinclair Alexander, Latheron
FARMERS.
IN the parish of latheron.
Begg — , Forse
Brown & Liliie, Rumster, Forse
Brown James, Nottingham
Burn George, n.D.Reisgill Mains & Latheron
Wheel Mains
Cooper John, Knockinnon
Douglas Thomas, Clyth
Dunnet George, Swiney
Dunnet George, Lybster
Gunn Donald, Swiney Mains
Gnnn George, Achsinegar
Macdonald James, Achraskill
Malcolm — , Forse
Manson Peter, Achavanich
Munro Donald, Mains, Lybster
Purves & Brown, Dunbeath
Ross Charles G. Dunbeath
Water William, Norland Farm
FISH CURERS & COOPERS.
Cormack George, Lybster
Cormack John, Lybster
Doull George, Dunbeath
Gunn John, Dunbeath
Miller William, Lybster
Miller John, Forse
Mowat Robert, Lybster & Peterhead
Reid Charles, Clyth & Lybster
Stewart George N. Lybster
Sutherland Alexander, Forse
Sutherland David, Latheron wheel
Sutherland Donald, Lybster and Latheron
wheel
Sutherland Dugald M. Lybster
Thomson U. Lybster
FLESHERS.
Roualdson William, Lybster
Stewart Peter, Dunbeath
Sutherland Dugald, Lybster
) p.m., and are despatched at 5 SO
TAILORS.
M'Kay Alexander, Lybster
M'Kay John, Lybster
VINTNERS.
Cormack George, Lybster
Dunbar Miss — , Latheron wheel
Munro Charles M. Dunbeath
Sutherland Mary Ann, Lybster
HOTEL PROPRIETORS.
Bruce Alexander, Lybster
Mowat James (Portland Arms), Lybster
Stewart William (Commercial), Lybster
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS.
Adamson William, Lybster
Gow John S. Lybster
M'Kay Adam, Dunbeath
M'Kay Robson, Lybster
M'Kenzie C. D. Latheron wheel
M'Kenzie John, Janetstowu
Mowat John, Lybster
Ross David, Lybster
MILLERS.
Begg William, Forse
Ross William, Dunbeath
SHOPKEEPERS AND DEALERS IN
SUNDRIES.
Adamson William, Lybster
Bruce Alexander, Lybster
Campbell Mrs. — , Lybster
Cormack Mrs. — , Lybster
Cormack Benjamin (& ironmonger), Lybster
Gow John S. Lybster
Gnnn William, Lybster
M'Kay Adam, Dunbeath
Mackay Angus, Lybster
M'Kay Robson, Lybster
M'Kenzie John, Janetstown
Morrison John, Lybster
Morrison Robert, Lybster
Ronaldson William, Lybster
Shearer George, Lybster
Sutherland Alexander, Forse
Sutherland Dugald, Lybster
MISCELLANEOUS.
Burn George, surgeon, Latheron wheel
Ganson David, ground officer, Dunbeath
Macalister William, bookseller & stationer,
Lybster
Morrison William, saddler, Lybster
Robertson Francis, watchmaker, Lybster
Watt Donald, druggist, Lybster
I J ft .
PLACES OF WORSHIP
and their ministers.
Established Churches: —
Lybster —
Borriedale— Rev. D. M'Dougall
Latheron — Rev. James M'Hardy
Free Churches: —
Lybster —
Bruan— Rev. William Murray
Dunbeath— Rev. Charles Robs
Latheron— Rev. James D. M'Culloch
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Collector of Poor Hates— Miss Bain (interim),
Latheron
Fishery Officer— George Thompson
Harbour Master— John Sutherland, Lybster
Lighthouse Keeper — David Bain
Inspector of Poor— Donald Gunn, Latheron
Registrar for Latheron Parish — Alexander
Gunn, Latneron
Sheriff Officer-
Sheriff Clerk Depute— Robson M'Kay
WorklwusejL&theron— Alexander Sutherland
governor
CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY.
The nearest Station to this place is at Wick
COACHES.
The Royal Mail leaves Dunbeath at four
afternoon, calling at Lybster at half-past
five, and arrives in Wick at half-past seven
evening
The Coach Enterprise leavos Dunbeath for
Wick at seven morning, calling at Lybster
at eight morning, and one leaves Lybster
at eight morning, from Portland Arms
Hotel daily, returning from Wick at half-
past seven evening.
CARRIERS.
To WICK, Alexander Gilchrist and William
Sinclair, occasionally ; James Sutherland,
from Latheron wheel twice a week ; Wm.
Sutherland, from Dunbeath twice a week;
Andrew Little, from Helmsdale, twice a
week, and Wordie & Co. occasionally
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