White Dykes
Paul & Kim Shepherd's house - one of the last to the west of Cromarty. Kim now has her hairdressing salon in the front left room. Paul asks what the history of the house is and if anyone has any pictures. See picture #1450 for a start.
Albums: Buildings
14 Comments
Paul, sorry to have to break this to you..... I'm guessing that your house was built around 30-35 years ago. It has had two previous owners, who are natives of Cromarty! Sorry, but there is no history. If you wanted history in a house you should have bought a house in Fishertown!
Comment left on 08 January 2006 at 16:05 by Anon
I'm clutching at a distant memory, but I think White Dykes was used as a 'Bed and Breakfast.' Maybe owned by members of the Ross family??? If I am correct, email me a dram. If I am wrong, throw me in the harbour!
Every house has history. Mine is "no dusting ever happened here in my lifetime :-)" Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 02:21 by Margaret Tong
Every house has history. Mine is "no dusting ever happened here in my lifetime :-)" Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 02:21 by Margaret Tong
Hi Margaret. That is a pretty safe bet is it not. Being thrown in the harbour! Especially when you are in Calafornia. You know what you are doing eh! I may have to go and suffer a relief on another superyacht in St Maarten for a couple of weeks.
Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 17:33 by Pat Swanson
Paul, the first owner of this house was Elsie Jean Finlayson who lived in your house in Bayview before you moved in. The second owner of the house was Rita Portman who sold the house to you.
Margaret, you were wrong but we won't throw you in the harbour just yet. I'll be watching out for any further comments from you and if you're wrong in the future throwing you in the harbour may be an option! Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 21:06 by Anon
Margaret, you were wrong but we won't throw you in the harbour just yet. I'll be watching out for any further comments from you and if you're wrong in the future throwing you in the harbour may be an option! Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 21:06 by Anon
On my last comment that I made I gave Elsie Jeans surname as Finlayson, it may be Hossack!
Comment left on 09 January 2006 at 21:39 by Anon
Aye ! it may no have a long history but there is no many houses in fishertown with a view like mine !!!
I believe that the house was built about 1965 by Macraes the builders it was built for Elsie Jean Finlayson. It was then purchased in the 1980s by my Aunty, Rita Portway in the 80s, then by us in June 2004. The house was also extended at some point after its building, but not sure when this was, I have a postcard with aphoto of the house minus the back extension which I will take for Garve to scan. [picture #1452] Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 01:15 by Paul Shepherd
I believe that the house was built about 1965 by Macraes the builders it was built for Elsie Jean Finlayson. It was then purchased in the 1980s by my Aunty, Rita Portway in the 80s, then by us in June 2004. The house was also extended at some point after its building, but not sure when this was, I have a postcard with aphoto of the house minus the back extension which I will take for Garve to scan. [picture #1452] Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 01:15 by Paul Shepherd
At now, Pat? Happy New Year! I enjoyed talking to the Maclemans and Nora when I called them at New Year. Cousin George even sang to me. I'm glad that my Uncle Dod and Aunt Jean are doing well and singing!
What a grand life you have on the superyachts - suffering, my a***!
Now - what about White Dykes? I must say that here, in San Francisco, that would be included in the Gay Freedom Day Parade ( am I allowed to say that??) Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 02:14 by Margaret Tong
What a grand life you have on the superyachts - suffering, my a***!
Now - what about White Dykes? I must say that here, in San Francisco, that would be included in the Gay Freedom Day Parade ( am I allowed to say that??) Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 02:14 by Margaret Tong
Paul, I'll give you that... You definately have a great view of the comings and going in the Firth. I'm not sure of the year 1965 though. I'm obviously too young to remember when your house was built but according to picture 1414 "Harbour Scene" your house had yet to have it's foundations poured! The year given for picture 1414 may of course be wrong.
Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 13:16 by Anon
I was wrong! But now we know and I do remember the name Elsie Jean Hossack. Is my memory also incorrect in the "Bed and Breakfast" thing? Notice that I am asking, not stating, so that I can avoid a dooking!
Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 14:05 by Margaret Tong
Hard to say now Margaret with all this political correctness. It has just gone completely out of hand. Apparently it cant now be Christmas but a winter celebration. I have never been a racist in my life but all this is beginning to edge me towards becoming one. Anyone else out there with simmilar views?
However! Lets not get worked up. My last vessel Mosaique had ten Nationalities on her. Scott, English, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Dane, German. Turk & Indonisian all in close confines and all got on brilliantly. Hope you enjoyed your Festive Season.
Afraid I can offer nothing whatsoever about White Dykes. Now you say it it even has both in it "White" & "Dykes" Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 16:32 by Pat Swanson
However! Lets not get worked up. My last vessel Mosaique had ten Nationalities on her. Scott, English, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Dane, German. Turk & Indonisian all in close confines and all got on brilliantly. Hope you enjoyed your Festive Season.
Afraid I can offer nothing whatsoever about White Dykes. Now you say it it even has both in it "White" & "Dykes" Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 16:32 by Pat Swanson
I seem to recall that it was Rita Portman who did B&B from White Dykes - in the late 80's I think.
Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 19:09 by Calum Davidson
I was always under the impression that Rita's surname was Portway!!
Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 21:16 by SUE
Thatll be Portway Calum but am sure she will forgive you. Yes she did do B&B for a while before purchasing the Shoremill Care Home, when she then moved out there to stay. White Dykes was more or less lying empty for 2 years before we bought it.
Comment left on 10 January 2006 at 22:54 by Paul Shepherd
Did you know my husband, Richard, is English, Pat? It's no his fault and apart from the ocasional killing each other we get on brilliantly. This year we will have been married 33 years.
Thanks, Calum, for confirming my memory about the Bed and Breakfast.
Today, we drove to a town near Sacramento to get haggis I'd ordered for Burns Nicht. The real thing in a real sheep's pyok.
Too bad you won't be sailing into San Francisco on the 25th, Pat - you'll miss my neeps and tatties and a dram. Och well!
Comment left on 11 January 2006 at 05:30 by Margaret Tong
Thanks, Calum, for confirming my memory about the Bed and Breakfast.
Today, we drove to a town near Sacramento to get haggis I'd ordered for Burns Nicht. The real thing in a real sheep's pyok.
Too bad you won't be sailing into San Francisco on the 25th, Pat - you'll miss my neeps and tatties and a dram. Och well!
Comment left on 11 January 2006 at 05:30 by Margaret Tong
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