Glen Albyn 1903 Distillery Workers

A quintessential scene of distillery workers, huddled around a cask, tools at the ready, exuding a sense of pride. My thanks to Inverness Then & Now for uncovering this wonderful photograph.

I've utilised AI tools to subtly enhance the image. It's wonderful to have this photograph, especially since finding a comparable image of Glen Mhor proved challenging; the closest one dates back to 1939 and remains a memorable moment in that research project.

The cask bears the year of 1903, leading us to conclude that it is either a new cask or one that is soon to be filled. Fillings normally took place from November until June, meaning this was likely taken during the first half of 1903.

Let’s begin our evaluation from the rear, where we find a Duty Free Warehouse marked by its securely shut and probably locked doors. By zooming in a bit and inverting the colours, the intricate details of the door come to life, unmistakably revealing that this is Warehouse No.3. Although I don't have the exact location of this warehouse at the moment, I am confident that we will explore this further as we gather more information about Glen Albyn.

The exterior of the warehouse exhibits a distinguished age thanks to the fungus and brickwork, suggesting it could be one of the original structures from the distillery that was lost to a fire in 1849. For those familiar with the history, newspaper reports did not indicate that any specific warehouses were harmed or destroyed in the blaze. This raises the possibility that this warehouse is among those situated near the production area on the northern side of the property.

Are we able to identify the individuals in this photograph? It features a variety of potential roles, highlighted by the malting tools present, along with at least one person in a managerial or official capacity in the back row.

The Inverness Burgh Directory has served as an annual resource, akin to an early version of the Yellow Pages. This publication is reliable, though there were occasional years when it was not released for various reasons. Fortunately, we can reference the 1902-1903 edition available at the National Library of Scotland.

This edition indicates that Wm. Macconachie held the position of manager at that time, while James Macleay was identified as a maltman, suggesting he might be among those captured in the photograph. Interestingly, William was not listed as residing in the newly built Glen Albyn House; instead, he lived on Planefield Road, whereas James resided in one of the workers' cottages.

Looking at the directory from 1900-1901, we see that William was living at Glen Albyn Villa (like the aforementioned House), indicating he may have relocated for family reasons or out of necessity. Additionally, James appears in the distillery listings, which might imply that the annual updates were not as thorough as one might anticipate.

Next up we’ll try adding colour to the image, while paying attention to the details of the cask itself and what it might tell us.

The cask reads as:

'L12G (possibly 126)

G1903

Glenalbyn Distillery

Established Glen Albyn Distillery Co. Ltd 1846 Inverness

5'

Possibly there is an excessive application of paint, which has resulted in the first line appearing less like a number and more misaligned. The company name and ownership are given considerable prominence, leading to Glenalbyn being referenced twice, which seems overkill.

This particular method of cask stencilling likely ceased when Mackinlay & Birnie acquired the distillery in 1920. It probably continued until that point, as the ownership remained unchanged until then. Additionally, the use of the letter 'G' has piqued the interest of both Alan Winchester and myself. The distillery codes have faded into obscurity over time, but there’s a chance we might uncover them eventually. This topic was previously raised in connection with Glen Mhor, during our conversation about a tour photograph from 1971, which has led to further intriguing insights that I will share below:

'The codes the distilleries used are a mystery to me, and I have tried to find out, I asked old Customs & Excise Officers, what is fascinating looking at the old cask stencils and Distillery photographs. Here's a few ideas were the codes:

For the Inland Revenue collections, are they a simple mark?

Glen Albyn is G as is Glenfidich

Glen Mhor is M as is Glenmorangie

The M maybe =  Mhor or McKinlays.

I have collected them over the years and Ireland used them, a few other distilleries have other shapes notably Dalmore. At Glenfarclas in 1975 the vessels were all marked with the name of the article of equipment, with the capital A, included. All the original Dufftown distilleries have different codes. Largely dropped now.'

There has to be a reason behind the methods we’re witnessing. Perhaps, on a cask, it served as a safeguard in case the stencilling became illegible or worn away, causing the owner's number to fade over time. This is one of those intriguing puzzles that fuels the work on projects like this, as the solution is surely out there. Most likely, it will be discovered unexpectedly while searching for something entirely different.

For now, we depart 1903 and warehouse number 3 leaving them in capable hands.