The Bandits' Lair - the 'Desperadoes' of the Geological Survey of Scotland, 1885

BGS image ID: P008715

The Bandits' Lair. The names of those desperadoes are (left to right), back row - J.B. Hill, L.W. Hinxman, J. Horne, G. Barrow. Front row (left to right), J. Linn, B.N. Peach, H. Miller, W. Gunn. 

The 'Bandits' Lair' almost certainly dates from 1885, probably in the Spring of that year. Geikie instructed the newly recruited members of the Scottish staff that had been mapping in northern England previously to attend a 2-3 day trip/workshop in the NW Highlands with Peach and Horne. This is recorded in the Summary of Progress for 1885 and confirmed by Barrow notes on a later manuscript. Barrow, Clough, Dakyns, Gunn and Miller moved to the Scottish Office in 1884. Hinxman and Cadell were recruited in 1883. The photo was probably taken in Sutherland as they visited Loch Eriboll and the Scourie area. The two people missing are Dakyns and Cadell. It is suspected that Cadell was the photographer. The photo cannot be later as there is no recorded instance of the same body of people being in the field together subsequently. Also Linn became ill soon after and did little field work. [Text, John Mendum]

Bob McIntosh