This cottage was built of divots and sods and Jinsy’s Meggie, the local howdie-wifie or midwife, made her home here in the early part of the 19th century.

 Outside, drying on erections of wooden frames and wire netting, are rows of speldings, a delicacy for which Collieston became famous in the early part of the 20th century. Speldings were line-caught haddock or whiting that were split, cleaned, salted and then left to dry in the sun and wind. When the weather was fine, the fish were hung inside out but when it rained they were hung skin-side uppermost. 

At one time fish was the mainstay of Collieston families and one particular housewife is known to have packed her summer harvest of speldings in a white pillowcase that was then placed on top of the meal in her girnal. During the winter months, as required, the speldings would be simply cooked in hot water to provide a healthy, sustaining and tasty meal for her family.  

COMMENTS

Any further information about either the cottage or speldings would be most welcome. 

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