The MacKay Barns: Imagined

In the winter months, the MacKay barns are imposing, weathered, grey structures set against a steel grey sky on a snow covered field. I imagine them in their early days boldly boasting their colour against a Spiddle Hill sunset.



The largest barn was built near Spiddle Hill, Nova Scotia, circa 1834. Owned by the MacKay family for seven generations, these silent sentinels are emblematic libraries - symbolic bearers of knowledge, memory, optimism and cooperation. They bear witness to innovative skills, industriousness and self-sufficiency; where form followed function and buildings were constructed from readily available timber and stone.