The Uilleam Dubh on the pier at Hushinish; photo by John J Maclennan. This little story revealed itself in stages: thanks to John J Maclennan especially, and to Finlay Maciver, Shonnie Buchanan and Calum Maclennan Govig for piecing it together.  The Uilleam Dubh has been a Scarp boat for many years, and the suggestion was that she was built in Brenish, and/or by a Malcolm Maclean of the famous Maclean boatbuilders of Uig, and called after her builder or owner.  These Macleans were in Mangersta, [ » read more ]

From Lewsiana, by W Anderson Smith (1874, 1896). During the autumn and winter the grain is prepared at leisure as potatoes are first consumed, or nearly so, before the meal is much run upon. When in urgent need of meal, the grain is sometimes dried in an iron pot on the fire, and then taken to the quern or hand mill, where, however, a great quantity is necessarily lost, from the difficulty of collecting it as it issues from between the stones. This meal is [ » read more ]

The BBC Alba series A Reir na h-Aimsir, which looks at how weather affects us, was this week in Lewis, looking at how traditional blackhouse architecture has been adapted for a new house in Brenish, amongst other things.  There’s a trio of well-known Uig bodachs on local weather lore at about the 22-minute mark. To view only until 7 April from this link, or to download (both options for UK viewers only.)  In Gaelic with subtitles. Edit:  no longer available from the link but here’s [ » read more ]

An further extract from the unpublished memoirs of Rev Col AJ Mackenzie, born Kinlochresort in 1887.  Here he tells of how the family came to be at Kinlochresort, and also how they left it for the gamekeeper’s house at Uig Lodge.  His account of the pleasures of Traigh Uig is here. My father was a gamekeeper who worked on the Gruinard Estate (Wester Ross). It happened he had made the acquaintance of two brothers named Paget who were impressed with his qualities both as a [ » read more ]

From the Highland News, 30 August 1913; we’ve already had the fundraising concert and the domestic prizes: The West Uig and Bernera Crofters’ Show was held at Lochcroistean School on Wednesday the 20th August, under most favourable auspices, the day being sunny and warm and in every way pleasant for the great concourse of people who had assembled to witness the splended display of stock and work brought together. The judging commenced at noon, and th judges had an arduous task in awarding the prizes. [ » read more ]

In 1851 several shiploads of emigrants left Lewis for Canada.  The arrival and departure of the Barlow was delayed for a month, causing desperation amongst the prospective emigrants, but she eventually sailed at the end of June from Loch Roag.  The following is from the Diary of John Munro Mackenzie, Chamberlain of the Lews. Wednesday 18 June Sent Express to Harris to tell Revd Mr McLean of the sailing of the “Barlow” and cart for his luggage – Went to the Custom House to arrange [ » read more ]

The Barlow sailed from Lewis in 1851 with 287 emigrants on board, one of several emigrant ships that year.  Like the Marquis of Stafford it carried people who had been removed from their land and offered paid passage to Canada by the proprietor, but unlike the Marquis, which sailed in May, the Barlow was delayed and in June of that year there were many who had already sold their stock and who were getting desperate to leave.  The following is from the 1851 Diary of the Chamberlain, [ » read more ]

From Gerard Lemmens, who, with his wife, Gillian Lesley Lemmens nee Macleod (great grand daughter of Rev George Macleod of Garrabost), is writing a book about her aunt, entitled “Anna Macleod – from Daughter of the Manse to Professor of Brewing”. Gerard is interested in the genealogy of the Macleods of Pabbay (see also his website) and particularly in the male and female descendants of the following line: XIV. Iain Ruadh Macleod (1692-1770) “John McEan Vic Gillichalum”, recorded in Borrowston as tenant in 1763 and [ » read more ]

Extracts from the Evidence presented to the Dewar Commission in 1912, regarding medical service in the Highlands and Islands.  Among the people interviewed was Dr Victor Alexander Ross, doctor at Garynahine who served Uig from 1900.  The commission was chaired by Sir John Dewar MP (he of Dewar’s whisky) and included Charles Orrock, Chamberlain of the Lews.  This interview took place on Saturday 12 October 1912 at the Garynahine Hotel; the questions are put to Dr Ross by the Chairman. You might give us an indication of [ » read more ]

At the end of April 1851, following his tour of the island to assess the number of tenants who were to be helped to emigrate to Canada,  the Chamberlain John Munro Mackenzie travelled to Glasgow, in the company of Sir James Matheson and his wife who were proceeding to London, to make the arrangements.  Mackenzie had considerable difficulty finding ships to engage, but had secured the Marquis of Stafford to take 500 emigrants, many of them from Uig, and also bought bread, meal, tinware and bedding, and tried to arrange a [ » read more ]

Rev DA Macrae was born in Miavaig and lived latterly in Harris. He was interviewed by Maggie Smith in November 2004, and died in July 2005. Our home Miavaig House was built in 1855 for my grandfather James Macrae, who was the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and was also an Inspector of the Poor. He was responsible for the Parish of Uig which in those days reached as far as Carloway. At this time there was great poverty and the Destitution Board sent a [ » read more ]

Willie Matheson (Mac Gille Chaluim) wrote in his Families of Lewis series that Nicolson was “perhaps the oldest surname in Lewis” and that the Macleods came into possession of the island by marriage into the family.  The name disappears and does not surface again until the 18th century, when Angus Nicolson is on record as a joint-tacksman of Little Bernera and later sole tacksman of Kirivig.  His younger son Donald had the tack at Kirivig after him and the elder son,  John, was tacksman of Carnish and [ » read more ]

A tale from Donald Macdonald’s Tales and Traditions of the Lews: Dòmhnall Càm and the big smith went one summer to the Flannan Isles, and the Morrisons of Ness, hearing the Macaulays were from home, came and drove the cows from the moor, for they met with no opposition.  When Dòmhnall and his party returned the womenfolk told them what had happened, and they set off in their boats direct across the mouth of Loch Roag so as to intercept them, as they would be slow with [ » read more ]

From the 1851 Diary of John Munro Mackenzie, Chamberlain of the Lews.  Carnish was cleared in the 1850s and the land added to Ardroil Farm.  The small tenants at Mangersta moved to Doune Carloway in 1872/3, at their own request as the salt gales were damaging their crops.  Both townships were resettled, Mangersta in 1911 and Carnish in 1921.   Thursday 13 Feby. … Met with the people of Brenish, Islivig, Mangersta and Carnish and explained to them the condition on which they were to emigrate — [ » read more ]