Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive

03/09/2026

Before we had passports, we had “safe conduct” papers, the earliest recorded document of this nature is from 1414, under Henry V’s reign.
Jump forward 200 years and the oldest passport still in existence is from the 18th June 1642 and is signed by Charles I.
The British passport that we would be more familiar with, containing a photograph and signature was first issued during World War I, in 1915, and was comprised of a single piece of paper that folded out from between a cardboard cover.
It would not be until 1921 that the first ‘blue’ passport in the form of a book would be issued.
It has only been since roughly 1858 that these documents have been written in English, prior to 1772 they were predominately written in Latin (and occasionally English), then between 1772-1858 they were written in French.
Below is a travel document issued by the Republic of Honduras, granting William MacBeath a passport so he can travel on the vessel ‘Surprice,’ it dates from the 22nd September 1873 (WS/37/1/6).

03/09/2026

Learn with Lorna 261 – Travel Tales
Part of a series of events to share the collections of the Highland Archive Service.
This livecast is being brought to you by High Life Highland at no cost to the viewer.
High Life Highland is a charity registered in Scotland.
This event does not require any payment or subscription but we welcome donations.
To donate please visit https://shop.highlifehighland.com/products/archives-choose-your-donation
All previous episodes can be seen at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyxasYGi8kIcL7OThf1QGsHAMACY_1DGE&si=1u6WUF-hBjP7iV1H

02/09/2026

James Robertson Youngson was a passenger on a sailing vessel (the Arthurstone) bound for Melbourne from England. His voyage started in 1884, with his arrival not until the following year, in February 1885.
James was the younger brother (by twelve years) of Reverend Alexander Youngson who was a minister at Strathy, located twenty miles west of Thurso.
This diary was found in the West Manse, Strathy, in 1962 after the house had been sold following the death of Miss Alice Youngson (James’ niece). She was the daughter of Reverend Alexander Youngson who lived in the West Manse from 1909 until his death in 1933.
The story of his voyage (including copies of the original diary) can be found on our website,

Explore James Youngson's fascinating diary documenting his journey to Melbourne by ship in 1884

01/09/2026

Originally forming in 1875 through a merger of Scottish shipping companies, the Aberdeen based North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Company (commonly referred to as The North of Scotland or The North Company) was an early example of a company with purposely planned cruise ship voyages.
The “St Sunniva” (delivered in time for the 1887 season) was so successful that two cruises were created, in order to accommodate for the overflow of bookings.
In 1888 the company arranged an ambitious 21-day cruise, encompassing two vessels, the “St Rognvald” to the North Cape, followed by “St Sunniva” to the Baltic Sea.
The success of these cruises attracted a great deal of attention and within a couple of years, rival companies were in fierce competition, such as the Orient Steam Navigation Company.
Sadly in 1900 the “St Rognvald” was wrecked off Stronsay, Orkney and “St Sunniva” was removed from the market in 1908.
Below is a 1905 ferry timetable booklet, with departure locations and times for sailings to Norway, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland (P186).

01/09/2026

https://www.highlifehighland.com/archives/highland-archive-service/whats-on/news/new-funding-to-celebrate-gaelic-archive-collections?fbclid=IwY2xjawUDgUdwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXZUYWRBS0Z3SW1zVkNyQ0xzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeQRfZeIHYjK4yPruFS0dst8WYXHk3rwKt6vPwEpWN4dHPWSDnHLdiv6s3YIk_aem_GPEFV9FSHUKrC_JUqomYqA

High Life Highland's Highland Archive Service (HAS) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded an Archives Revealed Consortium Grant for a…

01/09/2026

29/08/2026

In 1948 a survey of Caithness was conducted to comply with the conditions of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, which stipulated that every local planning authority carry out a survey of their district and make a plan for land use and development. The survey was undertaken by students at the School of Town and Country Planning, part of Edinburgh’s College of Art.
The survey looked at a wide range of topics, including population, geography, industry, , education, transport and tourism.
From the section on agriculture, the images show a map showing saleable milk yield by parish, and a table showing the number of producers and sales of milk for the year October 1947 to September 1948.
If you’re interested in what life was like in Caithness in 1948, the Caithness County Survey (P539) can be viewed at the archive, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm.

27/08/2026

On this day in 1956, in what was a world first, the nuclear reactor at Calder Hall connected to the grid. (27/8/1956)
Calder Hall in Cumbria was the world’s first full-scale nuclear power station. Construction began on the 1st of August 1953, with the first reactor going critical on the 1st of May 1956.
‘The commissioning of Calder Hall marked the dawn of the age of nuclear power and its opening by Her Majesty the Queen on 17th October, 1956, was greeted with world-wide acclamation. It was the world’s first full-scale nuclear power station, and the success with which it has been operated, at steadily increased rates of heat output, proves the soundness of the original design and the skill with which it has been built and operated.’ (from ‘Calder Hall’, published by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, October 1961)
All images from PASK/11
1. Invitation for an event to mark the fifth anniversary of the official opening of Calder Hall Power Station, October 1961.
2. Past and present members of Calder Hall staff at a fifth anniversary reunion, held in the Windscale Club, Seascale, 1961.
3. ‘Calder Hall’ published by the UKAEA, 1961.
4. No. 1 reactor control room at Calder Hall showing control desk and instrumentation.

26/08/2026

📣

We've sent out the latest Highland Archive Service newsletter today (which can also be viewed via the link at the bottom of this post). As always when putting the newsletter together, it's a real pleasure to reflect on the work undertaken by our team across the Highland Archive Service.

We've all been very busy over the past few months and we hope you enjoy reading about our work protecting and caring for archive collections and sharing those collections with schools, communities, and local and international audiences.

In this newsletter we'd particularly like to draw your attention to our 2025/26 Annual Report, which can be found at https://www.highlifehighland.com/archives/highland-archive-service/whats-on/news/highland-archive-service-annual-report-2025-2026 and would like to ask for your feedback following any interaction with the Highland Archive Service.

Feedback can be given via the link in the newsletter or by visiting https://nps.highlifehighland.com/ and selecting the option 'archives' and the relevant archive centre/service. Your feedback helps us to shape our service.

With thanks for your ongoing support of our work!

https://mailchi.mp/highlifehighland/highland-archive-service-10122014

25/08/2026

From the papers of the Sinclairs of Scotscalder (P23/3/1/7) a letter from Dr James Henderson, tacksman of Clyth Estate from 1805 until 1840, to Robert Sinclair Esquire, Borrowstown, dated 26th January 1811. Sinclair was overwintering cattle with Henderson, but Henderson is concerned about the expense of looking after them.

‘Dear Sir,
I beg to know p[e]r bearer how long you wish to leave your cattle here, as it is particularly necessary for me now to know.
Your servants have already got and used above three feet of peats, and I cannot think of giving them any more till I know what I am to receive for them, six shillings per foot is as low as I can charge for them, and please say ? if you wish me to furnish them with what they shall need while here: as there is a lock and key on the byre, if they take a share of the fire of one of my other servants they shall be welcome for a time to come.
As to your ferrow cows you should have sent those that had teeth: one of them came here upon three legs and without teeth, I have had to keep a person cutting turnip for her, the expense of the person and turnip I shall give you a note of at the end of the time. Had it not been for the care taken of her she would have been a ? or perhaps dead.
You will oblige me much by sending me ? ten pounds to acct. as I require it at present.
I beg to know ? how Mrs Aitken is.
With best wishes to you and family I remain
Dear Sir
Yours sincerely
James Henderson
Clyth 26th January 1811’