Tapestry of the Highlands
In Inverness, I encountered some intricate tapestries featuring panels created by a community of over 600 stitchers from across the Scottish Highlands. Stitched by South Ness Stitchers, this one tells a particularly interesting story of Ben Navis, the highest mountain in Britain. It is hit by many Atlantic storms, so in the 1870s plans were made for setting up a meteorological observatory on the summit. To make the case for funding, Clement Wragge climbed Ben Nevis every day during the summer to note meteorological readings whilst his wife, Leonora, took simultaneous readings at sea level. The weather was often so bad that he earned the nickname ‘Inclement Wragge’, but all his hard work paid off and a permanent observatory was built in one of the most inhospitable places in Britain. This work laid the foundation for mountain meteorology.
