Documentary to examine Nicolson Institute's historic ties to opium and cotton trades
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A SPECIAL report on Stornoway school the Nicolson Institute’s origins and founders is to air on BBC Alba this evening (Monday).
Reporter Ruairidh Maciver explores the school's history and seeks the views of the current generation of pupils.
Produced by BBC Naidheachdan, the one-off, half-hour documentary focuses on the six brothers who founded the school and looks at their links to the opium and cotton trades in the second half of the nineteenth century.
On the 150th anniversary of the Nicolson Institute, the programme will give a detailed account of the brothers, their fortunes, and how they founded the school and helped it to develop.
The significance of the Opium Wars and Britain’s colonial expansion in Asia is explored in the stories of Alexander Morrison Nicolson and James Matheson, who between them donated the money and land which founded the school.
Ruairidh also explores the work of Colin John and Kenneth Donald Nicolson in Louisiana and Mississippi. The programme describes how Colin John made his fortune as a cotton factor in New Orleans during the late years of the southern slave plantations; how he purchased a large cotton plantation after the American Civil War conflict; and how his brother went on to inherit this and run it for almost 30 years.
It also shows how the school’s largest cash injection in its early years came from the sale of a cotton mill in Yorkshire, built by another Nicolson brother, Angus.
Kenneth Donald, along with his brother, Roderick, went on to play a major role in developing the Nicolson Institute in the early 20th century.
The programme will include interviews with the author of a forthcoming book about the Nicolson Institute, a local historian in Crystal Springs in Mississippi, experts in conditions on the cotton plantations, Stornoway Historical Society, the former rector of the school, the current rector and three of its current senior pupils.
After many years as a pupil, teacher and head of the school, former Rector Frances Murray said that dealing with this legacy is a personal issue.
“I think there is probably an element of shame that an organisation you work for and have been deeply invested in has this in its history.
“But you’ve also got to balance it with all the positives in the history of the school as well, of which there are many in the 150th year.”
For the school’s senior pupils, learning and having an open debate about the history are vital. Iona Davidson is a 6th year pupil.
"I think the pupils really need to have a say in it because I’m sure that many have strong views about this history.
“I think that it’s essential that everybody knows about it, because without knowledge you can’t form an opinion.”
The school’s current Rector, Jennifer Cairns, says that she wants pupils and the community to lead the debate.
“People are very proud of this school and rightly so. For me it’s about learning from the past, acknowledging some of the quite dark things about the history but also acknowledging the real good that’s come from that legacy.”
Sequamur: Stèidheachadh Sgoil MhicNeacail airs on BBC Alba on Monday, February 27 at 8.30pm and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer for 30 days.
