A picture from the early years of Uig School, with Crowlista school in the background. Most (nick)names now filled in, thanks to Donna, but we need a few more yet.

From the files, a delivery note for lab supplies for Crowlista School in 1934. The list includes tubes and corgs, jars and other equipment, and a small quantity of chemicals. They were supplied by WB Nicolson of Bath Street, Glasgow, and shipped by MacBrayne at a cost of 4/- for two boxes.

From the People’s Journal, 27 September 1958. It’s a while now since Dr Donald Macdonald [Dolly Doctor] of Gisla in Lewis practised at his profession. But the jovial, big-hearted doctor is still a cure and a tonic for many folk not only in his native island, but in many other circles. Take the old folk in Stornoway. He has taken them under his wing, brightens up their eventide with his cracks and joviality, and they, in turn, just dote on him. The doctor has such [ » read more ]

Angus nam Beann was a well-known figure in Uig at the time of the Revivals, and ever since.  The following is from John Macleod’s History of the Church in Uig. Angus MacLeod’s father was a shepherd in the hills of Uig towards the border with Harris, and this is where Angus was born. So it is not difficult to understand why everybody in the area knew his as Aonghas na Beann, Angus of the Hills. Angus was caught up in the great Revival in uig [ » read more ]

Thanks to the comments below from Dolly and Murdina, we now know that this is a joint expedition by Lochcroistean and Mangersta School to see the Bernera Bridge on 25 June 1952, before it was officially opened in 1953.  Of course, it can be seen across Loch Roag from Carishader so the children (at Lochcroistean at least) would have been well aware of its progress. More pictures of the construction period and opening of the bridge can be seen on Hebridean Connections.  See the comments for [ » read more ]

Miss Ina Macdonald, Ardbheag, is of course now our Mrs Ina Macdonald, Islivig.  More on the side schools here.

Lochcroistean School, c1928. Teachers Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff and Donald Macarthur, Carloway. Back Row:1. Angus Hugh Smith, 2 Carishader 2. Angus John Macdonald, 6 Carishader 3. Donald Macritchie, 4 Enaclete 4. Donald John Mackay, 6 Geshader 5. Malcolm John Smith, 2 Ungeshader 6. Donald Smith, 2 Ungeshader 7. Donald Gillies, 9 Carishader 8. John M Macdonald, 6 Enaclete 9. Norman Macdonald, 12 Carishader 2nd Row: 10. Peter Macleod, 9 Enaclete 11. Murdina Maclean, 3 Geshader & Hushinish 12. Peggy Macleod, 10 Geshader 13. Johan Matheson, [ » read more ]

Back 1. Donald John Smith 2. Murdanie Macdonald 3. John Buchanan 4. Ray Goodge 5. DM Buchanan Front 6. Mary Peggy Mackay 7. Seonag Matheson 8. Chrissie Smith 9. Chirsty Bell Mackay 10. Annie Mackay 11. Marlene Morrison Schoolhouse

From Lewsiana (1874, 1886) by W Anderson Smith.  The school referred to seems to be the old blackhouse school in Islivig, which was replaced in the 1880s by the new public school at the north end of Brenish – but Smith’s passage seems to come from the earlier edition of the book. A mile or two from the terminus of the road [at Brenish] there is a wayside school, attended by about fifty scholars. It is conducted in that ordinarily fatal way of an absentee [ » read more ]

Teacher: Sophie Macsween (Macleod). Thanks to Mary Peggy Mackay for putting the names to the faces. Back 1. John Angus Mackay 7 Reef 2. Dan Buchanan 7 Valtos 3. DA Morrison 13 Reef 4. Calum Ian Buchanan 8 Valtos 5. Archie Macdonald, FP Manse Middle 6. John Andrew Buchanan 7 Valtos 7. Donald C Morrison 32 Valtos 8. Norman Mackay 31 Valtos & Miavaig 9. Donald Angus Mackay 30 Valtos & Crowlista 10. Donald N Morrison (Tammy) 32 Valtos 11. John Smith 30b Valtos Front [ » read more ]

Marianne hosted a lovely evening for about forty past pupils of Lochcroistean school, and their spouses, on the 130th anniversary of the opening of the school. If the slideshow isn’t working for you, the pictures are also in the Gallery.

Photo taken by Aneas Maclean, nephew of Mrs Jessie Macdonald 24 Valtos, while on student placement.  We’ll expect the gaps to be filled in promptly: if not, I’ll be waylaying the others. Teachers: Mrs Alexina Macleod, Shawbost Mr Donald John Macleod (Inky), Carloway Front Row: 1. Calum Macdonald (Titch) 22 Valtos 2. Donella Matheson The Cottage, Miavaig 3. Catherine Ann Smith, 9 Kneep 4. Christine Macdonald (Tinie) 22 Valtos 5. Donald John Maclennan (Don-Don) Valtos Second Row 6. Iain Chisholm Macdonald 11 Reef 7. Margaret [ » read more ]

Next month marks 130 years since Lochcroistean School was first opened, under the first headmaster, John Smith from Valtos, and accommodating children from the bays district:  Enaclete, Ungeshader, Geshader and Carishader.  The first entries in the school log: Thursday 5th June 1879 School was opened by the Rev John Campbell F. Ch. Minister with prayer. Present Mr Mackay, Chairman and Mr Kenneth Macleod, member, of the School Board. A great number of the Parents were present, and addressed by Rev Mr Campbell and the Chairman, [ » read more ]

The remains of the old school at Crowlista (with Forsnaval behind).  There is a tradition of there having been a Gaelic school in the village, and documents indicate that one was established there in 1837-8 (though we don’t know for how long), and a Sgoil na Leddies in the 1850s. The 1861 census shows several children as scholars but no teacher, at least on census night.  The 1871 census gives schoolteacher John MacRury (sometimes mistranscribed as Mackay) living in Crowlista with his younger brother John [ » read more ]

Part III of a series on the small, remote schools in Uig, set up to cater often for single families with three or more children.  From research by Maggie Smith for Hebridean Connections and the Stornoway Gazette.  See also Part I and Part II. In the 1950s the daughters of John Shaw, the gamekeeper at Hamnaway, were taught in a side school.  Flora, Mary Peggy, John and Donalda studied there until it was time to sit their qualifying exam for entry into the Nicolson Institute [ » read more ]