Township: Kirkapol

Map Reference: Kirkapol B

Name Type: agricultural

Meaning: The croft of Hector; or Donald the son of Iain the son of Hector.

Other Forms: Croit Dhòmhnaill ’Ic Iain ’Ic Eachainn

Tuathanas An Loidse - DMcI

Lodge Farm - EMcK

Croit Dhòmhnaill ’ic Eachainn - MAMcD

Related Places: See Tobar Eachainn.

Information:
Built as a school, one of whose schoolmasters was called Livingstone. It was given the name Lodge Farm by Lady Victoria Campbell - EMcK.

School - "a schoolroom in the district of Kirkapol erected subsequent to 1863. Teachers salary obtained in the usual manner from school fees, Government grant. Average number of scholars about 60" - ONB p129.

In 1804, a new schoolhouse was built; the schoolmaster's lodgings were on the ground floor, and an external staircase led up to the classroom. This building later became Lodge Farm. Cregeen 1964, 90

The MacKinnons from Lodge Farm included Rev Hector, Duncan - piper to the Duke of Argyll (Donald has his pipes) - and John - horseman to Lady Victoria - DMcI.

Near to the Lodge was born and bred the Rev Hector MacKinnon, one of Tiree's most famous pastoral sons. In his day he was known as the 'Spurgeon of the North' because of his eloquence as a preacher. A plaque commemorating this great son of Tiree hangs in Kirkapol Church. He was born in 1866 and died in Shettleston in 1913. he is interred in Sandymount Cemetery there. His first church was Kirkapol, and his other charges were in Stornaway, Campbeltown and Shettleston. Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean, Niall M Brownlie, Argyll Publishing, 1995, p120.

'Close to the Lodge is the croft, christened by Lady Victoria 'The Lodge Farm'. Mrs MacKinnon and her family were among the first of her fellow workers. When she lived in the west end, and drove east to have her classes, it was in this house that Lady Victoria first held them. There the girls met until they were crowded out and had to adjourn to the schoolhouse ... The friendships which she made with 'the Rev Hector', the minister of Kirkapol, and with his brothers and sisters. 'Ian Lady', Ian Dileas, Faithful John, was her right hand man in the Lodge, and he knew, as none other, how to help her into the buckboard and save her from all the fatigue that strong and thoughtful aid could give.'Lady Victoria Campbell, by Frances Balfour, p 335

Local Form:

Languages : Gaelic, English

Informants: Donald MacIntyre, Gott, 8/1994

Informant 2: Elsie MacKinnon, Kirkapol, 8/1994

Informant 3: Mary Ann MacDonald, Heanish, 5/1994