Dr Timothy Finnegan on 'The Harbour Bar' by Grace Milne, set in the 1840s and 1850s Findhorn (Innan) and Forres (Inchmerle)

A RETIRED Army doctor from Findhorn has reviewed a fictional book about the village – first published in 1874.

Historian Dr Timothy Finnegan said his decision to read The Harbour Bar by Grace Milne, set in the 1840s and 1850s, describing the life of the fisher folk of Innan (Findhorn) and the local market town of Inchmerle (Forres).

He said: “I heard of it by word of mouth and, after reading it, I thought that, as a local historical novel, it was worthy of publicity. It’s interesting to identify the local references in the story that is easy to read and illuminating about local life.”

The novel opens with a description of the River Innan then concentrates on three Innan households.

Mr Finnegan said: “It describes the daily round of the characters: the choice of well to collect water; the barefoot walk across the sand to sell fish in Inchmerle; and the children playing on the planks which protect the quays. The sound of the bar is in the background and the presence of the kirk dominates the foreground.”

He added: “High days such as Hansel Monday, the first Monday of the new year, and Lowran Fair on August 11 are noted. Another event, the Muckle Supper, leads to the novel’s crisis. The loose threads of the story come together – muddle, dishonesty, kindness, misunderstanding and generosity all play their part.”

Author and geologist Lady Grace Anne Prestwich was born in 1832, the eldest child of James Milne of Findhorn and his wife Louisa Falconer, sister of botanist and palaeontologist, Hugh Falconer. From 1858, she travelled with Falconer then lived with him in London until his death in 1865. Grace organised his household and acted as his secretary and companion. In 1870 she married Joseph Prestwich, a geologist friend of Falconer and wine merchant. They lived at Shoreham in Kent and, between 1874 and 1887, lived for part of the year in Oxford after Prestwich’s appointment as a professor.

From 1874, Grace began to publish novels, travel articles and scientific papers, as well as help her husband in preparing lectures and diagrams. Her Chapters on Geology were published in 1880 as well as other articles on subjects such as Scottish scenery and the Channel Tunnel. Most were in magazines designed for the middle classes.

Lady Prestwich, died in 1899. James Milne’s daughters gifted their father’s chandlery to be Findhorn Village Hall, The James Milne Institute in 1921.

Mr Finnegan said: “Local history gives a context to modern life. It is interesting to discover not only what has changed, but also what has not changed over two or three lifetimes. The Heritage Centre in Findhorn has a considerable collection which is very relevant to the novel.”