Greenyards Lodge or Gruinards Lodge, Strathcarron
The Images are courtesy of https://www.actonhistoricalsociety.org/ww1-sawmill-unit.html Acton Historical Society, Massachusetts.
It has not been confirmed but it appears that this is Greenyards Lodge which was located a mile or two upstream from the camp of Sawmill Unit no 3 of which Webster Blanchard was unit foreman. The image is from a post card on which a message is written to Annie M Blanchard in Acton and (although partially cut off) signed by Webster. See first image on PDF below.
The next image on the PDF is a view from Webster’s Mill site Office which helps to confirm the Mill site location as near Balnachirck (Bailenacaorac h) , Hillton, Strathcarron and indicated on the map also included in the PDF.
The third image on the PDF is of a view over a deep gorge looking across Strathcarron which Webster says is about a mile from the Sawmill Unit No 3 base. The photograph view point is also located on the map and helps confirm unit location also.
The fourth image is of a substantial suspended foot bridge which crosses a river. Not confirmed but there is a foot bridge indicated on the OS 1907 map close to Greenyards Lodge (Gruinards Lodge) but which no longer exists. Could this be an image of this now demolished foot bridge?
The fifth image relates to accommodation used by ‘’officers from the Sawmill units”. There is information to indicate once the wooden accommodation huts were all built at each Sawmill Unit and the tented living quarters had been dismantled that senior personnel from each unit were housed nearby in a house as shown in the photograph. Again no information but the house style has similarities to that of the Gruinard Lodge. Note this detail from Historic Scotland:
“A Maitland and Sons (Tain) 1896-7. Assymetrical picturesquely
composed 2-storey shooting lodge, with Scottish Baronial
detailing and applied timber decoration in gables. Dark
bullfaced rubble, contrasting ashlar sandstone dressings.
4-storey corbelled and crenellated tower with attached turret
(both with shaped merlons), turret occupied with stair at
upper levels; 4-centred arched, hoodmoulded entrance at
ground floor and 1897 datestone above. 2-storey multi-gabled
ranges linked to tower, reducing in size at service areas.
To east of tower, wide bay with 2-storey canted bay off-
centre under wide gable, linked by balcony to tower. To SW
2 angled bays, one canted and corbelled over ground floor
with gable, the other canted with piended roof; additional
west facing bay with large stack rising through it.
Lower service range to NW.
Windows mostly mullioned except in service wing; corniced
stacks; slate roof.”
This house is within a mile or two of the nearest mill site and could be easily accessed by the foot bridge noted above.
The final image is that of the 1907 OS map of the area around Gruinards Lodge, Strathcarron. This map has been annotated with the No 3 Unit sawmill site and the possible sites of a further two one of which has been recorded as being at Corvost.
The gorge photograph point up the hill “about a mile from No 3 sawmill unit” is indicated.
Also noted are the footbridge, possible accommodation house and Gruinards Lodge nearby.
Any comments and confirmations would be very welcome.
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Forestry Areas