Attribution: unknown or not recorded

The Avoch and Killen community is located on the Black Isle.  So, Avoch is a small fishing village while on the other hand Killen is mainly agricultural.  This means in the past most of the folk in Avoch and Killen have been employed in agriculture or fishing.  However, in the past the village has also been involved in ship building and transporting goods by ship.

A Pictorial Tour of Avoch and Killen

Why not join in a pictorial tour of Avoch through the ages?  You will meet some of the people who used to live here.  For example this is one of the photos on the tour and shows Sandy and Maggie Skinner working outside their house in Geddieston.  So, not all the work of a fisherman takes place at sea.

Two people baiting fishing lines

Attribution: unknown

"Scaffie" boats in Avoch harbour

Attribution: unknown

"Scaffies" in Avoch harbour.

A common sight on the beach was “Scaffies” drawn up on the beach as we can see in this pre-WW1 photograph.  After that,  if we look westward we can see Henrietta Street.  However, two of today’s features are missing: there is no Ormonde Street houses or the industrial estate.  Finally, the site of Ormonde Castle is still well wooded.

Margaret street after a Snowfall

Donald’s shadow can be seen here as he stood with his back to the Firth photographing the bottom of Margaret Street. On the left is a shop which was owned by Robert Jack who sold groceries. It later became an electrical shop. Next to it is a shed which was a shoemaker’s shop.

Snowfall on Margaret Street

Attribution: unknown

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Avoch » Avoch Places » Avoch Industrial
Fish Farm base
Fish Farm base
Avoch Bay has a salmon fish farm owned by Western Isles Seafood Company Ltd and is accessed from the Industrial Site at the end of Ormonde Terrace where they keep their equipment.
Fishermen's stores
Fishermen's stores
Although the harbour no longer accommodates the numbers of fishing boats it used to, there are still many local men involved in the industry. Generally they travel to the West coast and sail from there but they still require places to store their gear and this is one such near the primary school.
Industrial Estate sign
Industrial Estate sign
Pumping station
Pumping station
When the new sewage treatment works were built at the West of the village this pumping station was placed halfway along Henrietta Street. Because it is a conservation area the station is housed in one of the fishermen's cottages.
Sewage treatment works
Sewage treatment works
In the mid 1990s these works were discreetly built at the west of the village below Ormonde Hill. The access road has become popular with those who enjoy a gentle walk along the shoreside.

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