Cairnbaan Camp Argyllshire – Labour camp phase circa 1937
The images are sourced with help from Janet Quarton (a one time resident in the camp) and also other contributors. The year when the photograph was taken is currently not certain.
This view of the Cairnbaan camp taken on a calm spring or summer day shows an almost pristine site with very clean sharp looking buildings and nicely landscaped access roads and surrounds. The terraced area below hut 13 with steps coming could be a garden area but no signs of any vegetation growth (On the Glentress site this location was a garden site but partially turned into an air raid shelter during the war).
A double electricity pole is located on the bottom left but there is no transformer yet fixed in position. Also here hut 14 seems to have a door which hangs high off the ground and perhaps has yet to have the steps added. Huts 15 and 17 have larger sliding end doors which could accommodate a transport lorry or two while others may be tool and supply stores. Any suggestions?
The building numbering system is the same as in the previous Forestry Memories image No 4607 Note the well made name sign 20 metres or so left near the entrance. The indications are that this photograph may have been taken immediately after the camp was first built or very soon after.
Reports indicate unemployed men attended camps for periods of three months duration and worked on ‘non essential ‘projects that would not draw work away from local people and companies. This often entailed road making in forests that were not really required for a further 10 -15 years but were indeed very convenient for local forest workers and foresters and saved some considerable amounts of walking in to carry out routine maintenance work such as draining and brashing.
How many men ‘trained’ here in its early days, did anyone keep a diary, were there local people employed on site – so many lost stories!
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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas