dinsdag 10 januari 2012

John Lorne Campbell & Margaret Fay Shaw

When I was on Canna I came across this wonderful shed, hidden in the trees and overlooking the bay towards Rhum.


I hopped over the fence, had a peek inside and made some photo's. A small haven. It turned out that it belonged to the house where Campbell and Fay Shaw had lived together. They were both scholars and folklorists, him being born in 1906 in Scotland, she originally from the USA. He emphasized on history and spoken language, she on songs and traditions. Together they have done a lot for passing on the Hebridian history; they dedicated their whole life to it. They lived on many islands, but later moved to Canna, the island that became their property. They were a very ambitious couple. The house they lived in is now being turned into a museum by The National Trust for Scotland, with all their archives. It's still as how they've left it at the end of their lives around 1996.  At that time Canna was more populated than nowadays, but still, a very quiet island. I imagine the little shed was to escape sometimes. To be away from the other. To concentrate on non-scholary matters maybe, or rest. In a lovely environment, that's for sure. The shed looks and feels as if someone just left for a walk. I hope the Trust is taking good care for conservation, for it reflects their style and attitude perfectly.





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