Strathyre Forest workers hostel
Photographs courtesy of William Fleming, Polmont.
William spent two years on a Forestry Commission apprentice scheme in Strathyre Forest living in the hostel with about 16 other young lads.
This high location gives an excellent view of the hostel complex in the foreground with the forestry houses behind. The two nearest building end on were the two dormitories holding about 8 people each. It so happened one hut was home to lads who had been there a bit longer than those generally younger lads who were in the other hut. The younger lads were subjected to a bit of mischief making such as having a turf or other blockage placed on top of the wood stove chimney. William also recalls some older guys coming into their hut, going straight to the hot wood stove and peeing on it before hurriedly departing as the hut was filled with a far from pleasant aroma and yells of protest from its residents.
The little building at the far end of the two dormitories was the ablutions block with showers and toilets not that the water was ever that warm as William recalls. Beyond this building was the larger mess and recreation hut equipped with some tables and an open space for activities such as darts etc. The kitchen attached to the mess hut is mostly hidden from this view but was manned by one of the forestry worker’s wives who also washed the bed sheets etc.
Looking at the site of the hostel recently William noted that there were now 50 year old trees on the site
Are there any more people out there who lived for a time in this hostel or in the forestry houses?
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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas