The Whitehouse it’s past and it’s past inhabitants

I now write what I have come across in notes from a visitor book, locals and documents so I may not be one hundred percent accurate in what I say but of course this can be amended if new or different information comes my way.

During world war two Loch Ewe became a very busy naval harbour. The Russian Artic Convoys left from Loch Ewe on their arduous and dangerous journey to Russia. The MOD at the time out numbered the local population and it was said there were that many boats side by side in the loch you could have walked from one side of Loch Ewe to the other without touching the water. Towards the end of the war Naast was chosen as a site for a water tower and a pumping station to provide water to these ships moored in Loch Ewe, you can see plans of the Admiralty Pump Station (now known as the  Whitehouse) in the history of Naast in the section The History of Naast.

The Admiralty Pump Station I believe from local knowledge never really fulfilled it’s brief as the war came to an end either before or around the time it was finished. There are still people in Poolewe and area who helped to build the pump station. One such man, Donnie was working his apprenticeship over at Aultbea when him and three other young men were seconded to labour on digging out the foundations. They were not best pleased with there labourers pay and downed tools until their voices were heard.

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I’ve not heard much about the Whitehouse’s history between the end of the war and the early 1970’s before it was owned by the Edwards. Mr Edward was the Estate Factor of Inveran and turned the Admiralty Pump Station into a home and probably gave it the name The Whitehouse. It was resold around 1983 to a Mr and Mrs Gibson and their two sons. It’s of interest that Mr Gibsons parents made the private garden Glenarn special with its collection of Rhododendrons. With this family connection it’s evident why a small arbouretum came to be in such an unlikely place as Naast. There has been a  connection past and present with local garden Inverewe  Mr Gibson was Inverewes Property Manager for a number of years with the currant Head Gardener now owning the Whitehouse.

I feel privileged we have come to be its carers, and have an interest in developing the arboretum and natural water garden.

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2015

Strong winds of up to 100 miles an hour in January made quite an impression on the garden. About twenty trees sucombed to the Westerly wind with numerous more suffering root rock.

We started clearing a stand of pines nearest the house, the rings show they were planted around the early 1980's in the Gibsons era.

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We were sorry to see them down as they were a good size but the view to the Sutherland Mountains is more in view now a silver lining to the cloud.

 

We saw 2015 out with the removal of numerous Lodge pole pines in the area east of the house. The bon fires have been a plus!

 

2016

Further winds are having affect on the reaming stand of trees east to the house, work to steadily remove the wind blown and dead specimins  has allowed us to progress the clearing of the understory. The year started wet  and unusually cold with a change in May and early June to dry sunny weather. Great for gardening.

We started a wild life record for our visitors to tell us about the birds and mamals they had seen. One of our visitors set up a moth trap and recorded the female Emperor moth amongst others. 

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2018

Three Larch near the ruin were removed during a dry cold spell in February. Another may have to go as well. The many headed Lawson Cyprus by the small stream bridge that had gradually been succumbing to the winds for a while was also taken down, it seems we are just removing trees at the moment!

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2019

 The opening from the removal of the larch gave us the opportunity to finally plant a tree that had been my mum and dads. The Ginko Bi-loba has at last got its toes down into the ground by the stream and one day its buttery yellow autumn leaves will be seen from the house window. The tree had lived in a pot in Southern Ireland for over 20 years so we thought it fitting to plant a few Narcissus Green Ireland nearby...just in case it got homesick!

A small rockery near the drive seating made a place for a White Pine and some alpines, the rock nearly finished us off getting it in place, now its hard to remember it was so haevy to dig out and move into place.

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Copicing the Ash and Hazel in the Oak clearing has given us the idea to make a home for Kevs snowdrop collection. Some we have had since before moving to Scotland in 2020 and have brought us much joy as they brighten the winter months. Lots of bracken root and stones were removed to improve the ground with some of the first leaf mould we  made used to create a more suitable soil. Molly the Witch an old Peony friend from Buxton has also settled here in a small terraced boarder.

Moving rocks and boulders has changed this area from a dumping ground for brash to a terraced boarder where you can seat yourself and take in the sound and sight of the stream listen to the chating of the long tail tits  that love to chase and feed round the tree tops in this area.

Theres many more snowdrop varieties to rehome here to which we are looking forward to doing.

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2020

Grumpy and Fly Fishing- snowdrop varieties, are expanding the snowdrop boarder by the stream.. 

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