The Tent that Essie built: The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall.

Sutherland traveller Essie Stewart builds a bough tent from scratch, for the last time.

“The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall” is from a Hungarian folk song quoted by Hamish Henderson in Timothy Neat’s film, The Summer Walkers [1976].

The song throughout is Crodh Chailen sung by Essie Stewart and her grandfather Alec Stewart [Allidh Dall or Blind Alexander].  It was recorded in Armadale in July 1957 by Hamish Henderson.  We use it with the kind permission of the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh.

This film was commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland, The Engine Shed, The Highland Folk Museum and High Life Highland.

A film by Shona Main
made with
Essie Stewart
Rhona Ramsay
Fred Conacher
Hannes Schnell
Liz English
Sarah Lawther
and all at the Highland Folk Museum.
With editing, sound and thoughts by Angelica Kroeger.
Thank you Angus Council for helping us source coppiced hazel.

© 2018 Shona Main and Essie Stewart