by JOAN MICHAEL
A RECENT meeting held about future ferry provision talked about the possibility of extending the ferry marshalling area into the large garden beside it. The area used to be part of the house that was the Church of Scotland manse when the church on West Argyle Street (now the museum) was in use. The house had originally been built by Robert Melville the Dunbar merchant who helped establish Ullapool as a fishing station in 1788. He later found himself in financial difficulties and in 1808 all his properties in Ullapool were sequestrated as security on his debts to the British Fisheries Society and were put up for sale. The sale details of his own house stated "Attached to the house are a large poultry garden, hen-house etc with a garden of nearly two acres of excellent soil, completely enclosed with a stone wall."
It also said, "The dwelling-house is not only sufficient for the accommodation of a genteel family, but is conveniently situated opposite the pier and harbour of Ullapool, commanding an extensive and delightful view of Lochbroom, the resort of the largest and finest herrings in the world. It is also an object to a gentleman who relishes Highland scenery and country amusements, which nowhere present themselves to more advantage than at Ullapool."
His household furniture was also for sale by public roup in Ullapool - "an elegant assortment of dining-room, drawing-room, bedroom and kitchen furniture, laid in by Mr Melville at great expense. The distance from markets rendering it difficult to procure such furniture, few opportunities like the present occur in the Highlands".
I am grateful to Jean Dunlop's book The British Fisheries published in 1978 by John Donald Publishers for all this information.
You really should get a hold of it and find out all about Ullapool's founding.
Robert Melville's garden also gets a mention in Tales and Legends of Lochbroom.
The story of Gille Dubh nan Carraidean and Major Melville (he got the title Major when he set up his own militia corps, the Ullapool Corps, in 1798) tells of how Melville was bothered and annoyed by boys stealing the ripe fruit and vegetables from his garden.
He hid in the garden one night in August when the midges were at their worst and waited for one particularly bold boy.
He caught him, stripped him of every stitch of clothing, fettered him and left him to the midges. It was the morning before his cries drew the attention of people passing the garden.
He left Ullapool that evening having signed on as a cook on a ship that was in the harbour!
