Firemore Sands, Inverasdale

Firemore Sands, Inverasdale

ID: QZP40_CARD_5619 DESCRIPTION: Firemore and Inverasdale are two of a number of small crofting settlements on the west coast of Loch Ewe in Wester Ross. During the early part of the nineteenth century the inhabitants of the inland glens were cleared to the coast to make way for sheep farming. Loch Ewe was an important naval base during both World Wars and in World War II it served as an assembly point for Arctic convoys to Russia. Firemore has a more infamous claim to fame. On Christmas Day 1950 Scotland's coronation stone, the Stone of Destiny, was taken from beneath the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey by four students, one of whom, Kay Matheson, came from Firemore. The stone was broken in two during its removal. John Rollo, founder of Rollo Industries, had the stone mended and looked after it until it was returned to Arbroath Abbey four months later. Rollo had a small factory which made tractor parts on the Matheson croft at Firemore and it is thought that the stone was hidden here. The police searched the sheds at Firemore. Some would like to believe that the stone which was returned to Arbroath Abbey was a copy and that the real stone still lies hidden in Wester Ross. PLACENAME: Firemore DISTRICT: Gairloch OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Gairloch CREATOR (AV): J Valentine & Co. DATE OF IMAGE: 1939 PERIOD: 1930s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 37243 KEYWORDS: