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Snippets of History |
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Date/Era 1900 |
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District Staffin Slip |
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| The Highland Works Act of 1891 made money available for the construction of piers and harbours. This work was overseen by the Congested District Board which was established in 1897. Stafainn slipway was built around 1900. The stone for its construction was transported from Fladaigh - today more commonly known as Stafainn or Stoighseall Island. In 1995, Staffin Community Trust was established to alleviate problems associated with depopulation in Staffin. The first project on the agenda was to upgrade the slipway which was at that time too short, too shallow and without shelter. There were people who said the day would never come, but in June 2000, HRH Princess Anne opened the Columba 1400 centre. She arrived in Staffin by boat and landed at the new slipway where she unveiled a plaque. The text chosen for the slipway was from a poem by Sorley Maclean, whose mother was a Nicolson from the Braes of Trotternish. The verse goes: 'And if we were on Mol Steinnseal Stafainn when the unhappy surging seas dragged the boulders over us, I would build a rampart wall against an alien eternity grinding its teeth' | |