Cutting peats for the winter fires, Hoy

Cutting peats for the winter fires, Hoy

ID: QZP99_93134_06_04 DESCRIPTION: This photograph was taken on Hoy, the second largest of the Orkney islands in the late 1880s. A woman is carrying peats in a basket on her back. Peat was used as a fuel throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Cutting began in spring to make the most of the drying time during the summer. Brick-shaped pieces were cut from the peat bog and laid out to dry. After about two weeks they were dry enough to be stacked into small cairns to continue drying. About two weeks later, they were inverted to allow the bottom edge to dry and were stacked into larger cairns. Once dry they were built into a peat stack, which was designed to withstand storms and keep out the rain. An average family needed around 15,000 peats each year. This image comes from a collection gifted to Edinburgh Central Library by Dr Isabel F. Grant. The collection includes photographs taken by a number of different photographers. PLACENAME: Hoy PERIOD: 1880s SOURCE: Edinburgh and Scottish Collection, Edinburgh Central Library COLLECTION: I F Grant Photographic Archive Asset ID: 38454 KEYWORDS: