3 Shell Street, Stornoway

This week, the bulldozers have started work to demolish number 3 Shell Street, the house behind the fuel depot at the roundabout on James Street, Shell Street and South Beach Street. It was the only inhabited house left on the street, but as it backs onto a live fuel depot, I am not surprised it is being demolished. We'll be left with an open view of the depot. A browse of the census of 1901 finds the Mair family in residence.

James Mair (52): fishcurer, born at Portknockie, Banff; his wife Maggie (45) and children Elsie (15), Joseph James (14), Maggie (13), Williamena A (11), Hugh Murray (10), Victoria (7) and Eliza J G (5).

Joseph James and Hugh Murray both lost their lives as a result of the First World War.

In 1891, the house was occupied by Elizabeth Murray (63), a seamstress.

In 1881, Shell Street was known as Imersligach, the name still used as the Gaelic streetname. Number 3 was occupied by a family of Mcleans: Kenneth (64, shoemaker), his wife Mary (55) and mother Chirsty (85) as well as son Murdo (13, scholar) and general servant Elizabeth Martin (25).

In 1871, the family of Macleans is in residence at 3 Imersligach. Kenneth (54, shoemaker) and Mary (45) and their offspring John (15), Murdoch (3) and Elizabeth (1), as well as Janet Munro, general servant (17).

In 1861, the family of Macleans is in residence at Imarsligoch Street (no number quoted). Kenneth (45, shoemaker), his wife Mary (35) and children Kenneth (11), Margaret (9) and John (5). An Alexander Maclean (21, cooper) is listed as a boarder.

Since this post was put up on 11 July 2012, it has been pointed out to me that the house was in fact 39 South Beach Street in the 19th century. 3 Shell Street was a little further east, towards Newton.