Achilty, Scotland

A carte-de-visite showing five people riding in a horse-drawn trap, with a sixth holding the horse's bridle.

Photographed by John Nicol of Achilty, a small hamlet near Contin in the Scottish Highlands.

John Nicol was born in or about 1827 at Kirriemuir near Forfar in the county of Angus (1861 and 1871 censuses).

At Nairn on 1 July 1853 he married Sophia Falconer. 'At Nairn, on the 1st instant, by the Rev. Mr McKenzie, Mr John Nicol, shoemaker, to Sophia, third daughter of the late Mr John Falconer, Burnside of Geddes' (Nairnshire Mirror, 5 July 1853).

In 1860 'John Nicol, photographer' was appointed a Corporal in the Nairn Artillery Volunteers (Nairnshire Telegraph and General Advertiser, 14 November 1860).

When the 1861 census was taken he and Sophia were living at 2 Bath Street in Nairn with their children: Margaret (7), Isabella (5) and Elizabeth (6 months). The household included John’s nephew, also John Nicol, aged 19, born in Dundee. The elder John Nicol gave his profession as ‘Photographic Artist,' the younger as 'Teacher.'

In 1867 he handed over his studio in Nairn to his nephew John Nicol, Junior. According to one announcement, 'having improved the lighting of the Rooms and added new and artistic backgrounds, [the younger John Nicol] is able to produce Photographs equal to any from the South. Specimens in every department may be seen at the Rooms' (Nairnshire Telegraph and General Advertiser, 12 June 1867).

When the census was taken in 1871 the elder John Nicol and his wife Sophia were living in Achilty with Sophia's brother Hugh Falconer, a 'Farmer of 200 acres of which 75 acres are arable [employing] 2 men and 1 boy.’ Achilty is a tiny hamlet on the shore of a lochan near Contin, about 25 miles NW of Inverness on the road to Ullapool. John gave ‘Manager & Photographer’ as his profession. Also present on the night of the census were his and Sophia’s children: Margaret (17), Betsy (10), and Nelly (8). The household also included four live-in servants and four lodgers.

John Nichol died, aged 47, on 30 June 1874.

'SUDDEN DEATH OF MR NICOL, ACHILTY INN. — We regret to record the sudden demise of Mr John Nicol, Achilty Inn, Ross-shire, which event occurred at Nairn on Tuesday last, while Mr Nicol was staying with his friends, on his way home from Aberdeen, where he was one of the competitors at the Wapinschaw [a periodic gathering and review of troops]. Mr Nicol arrived at Nairn on Saturday night, and though complaining of slight indisposition, he was able to attend church on Sunday, and it was not until Monday morning that he became seriously unwell. The deceased was in business in Nairn for some years as a photographer, and latterly carried on the same work at Achilty, along with the management of a well-conducted inn there, where he made numerous friends and acquaintances, and was much esteemed and respected in Contin and surrounding district. He was of a retiring but genial disposition, the most kindly and warm-hearted of beings, and much beloved in his own family circle. It is not three weeks since we had the advantage of his pleasant company and intelligent intercourse while visiting the romantic Falls of Conon [vanished when the Loch Luichart Dam was built in the post-war years], and still later we saw him handling his snider with good effect at the Aberdeen Wapinschaw. Whether as amateur artist, friendly guide, or volunteer comrade, many, alas, shall come in contact with him no more! Much sincere sympathy is felt for his bereaved relatives, and the young family he leaves to mourn his irreparable loss' (Inverness Advertiser and Ross-shire Chronicle, 3 July 1874).

He was buried in Geddes Churchyard, near Nairn. When it was photographed and recorded by Find A Grave, his headstone had fallen face first and was overgrown with ivy. However, at some point someone had taken note of the inscription, which reads: ‘Erected by SOPHIA FALCONER in memory of her beloved husband JOHN NICOL who died at Nairn 30th June 1874 aged 47 years. Also of their children. HELEN died 2nd Feb. 1857 aged 8 days. SOPHIA FALCONER died 17th May 1860 aged 18 months. ISABELLA died 15th Jan. 1863 aged 7 years. HELEN SOPHIA died 16th February 1875 aged 12 years. Also his wife SOPHIA FALCONER died 27th February 1902.'

‘The grave has closed over the remains of Mrs Nicol, Achilty Hotel, one of the oldest residents in the district. She was the widow of Mr John Nicol, eminent in his profession as a photographic artist and widely known throughout the North as a crack shot among the volunteers of his day. The deceased lady had completed her 82nd year, and was a native of the parish of Auldearn [just outside Nairn], where her forefathers had held the farm of Park for generations’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 15 March 1902).