Saturday, February 20th, 2010
By long and solid tradition in Uig, the spot where the Uig Chessmen were found in 1831 is held to be the Bealach Ban, a hollow in the dunes in Ardroil. In November of last year, a paper by Dr David Caldwell et al in Mediæval Archaeology proposed that, on ...
Posted in archaeology, church, history, land issues, placenames, vikings | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
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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, ...
Posted in fishing | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
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Miss Ina Macdonald, Ardbheag, is of course now our Mrs Ina Macdonald, Islivig. More on the side schools here.
Posted in education, history | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
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 ...
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Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
From the Inverness Courier of 25 March 1846:
A correspondent has favoured us with some further particulars relative to the late patriarchal Celt, John Martin, who died at Urgay [Urgha], Island of Harris, at the ripe ate of 112. The old man was able to walk about till within twenty-four hours ...
Posted in history, people | No Comments »
Friday, May 15th, 2009
From Islands Postal History Series, No 3: Lewis, by James A Mackay. Published by the author, 1978.
Miavaig
The Gaelic name Miabhaig is derived from an earlier Norse name whose vik ending signified a bay - in this case one of the many inlets of West Loch Roag on the west coast ...
Posted in history, life in uig | No Comments »
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Another extract from Uig, A Hebridean Parish, compiled by HA Moisley and members of the Geographical Field Group, Universities of Glasgow and Nottingham. This section was written by Pamela M Gough; see also the further detail on life in the townships.
Soils are generally deep, and there are few rocky outcrops ...
Posted in crofting, land issues, life in uig, wool & weaving | 1 Comment »
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
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From Uig, A Hebridean Parish, 1960. The photo of Brenish is by Sam Forrest, taken on land court business in 1965. More of his pictures in the gallery.
Brenish has a south-westerly aspect whilst Islivig faces north-west; in both the elevation of the crofts decreases seawards from about 125 ...
Posted in crofting, fishing, life in uig, wool & weaving | No Comments »
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
This unidentified sailor with the Naval Division is believed to be one of those interned in Holland in 1914. The picture was taken at Groningen, and comes to us from 10 Mangersta. Is he one of the Uigeachs listed below who spent the war in "HMS Timbertown"? The following was ...
Posted in WWI, history, military & police | 3 Comments »
Sunday, September 7th, 2008
From an article in Uig News by Dave Roberts.
It appears that shielings were constructed so that one airigh could easily be seen from another, but it is said that very often the girls from a number of shielings would sleep in one building for company. The ancient shieling grounds for Brenish, ...
Posted in tales | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
From the Islivig School log, kept by the teacher Angus Macdonald, who took up his post on 13 May 1903. The Comann Eachdraidh would very much like to acquire or borrow some schoolbooks of this vintage, in any condition. If you have some in your loft please let us know.
3 ...
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Friday, August 29th, 2008
Dol'ol at the loom (photo by John Blair). From an article for Uig News by Dave Roberts:
After the First World War there were ex-servicemen who had lost a hand, and one of the reasons for introducing the Hattersley domestic semi-automatic treadle powered loom to the island, was to give them ...
Posted in archive photos, history, life in uig, wool & weaving | 3 Comments »
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
From an article for Uig News by Dave Roberts:
The Harris Tweed industry, according to the traditional story, is said to have begun in the mid-19th century. The two Macleod sisters, originally from Pabbay in the Sound of Harris, were living in a blackhouse in Strond and producing tweeds on their ...
Posted in life in uig, wool & weaving | No Comments »
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Definitely 1953 as there is the coronation crest on the mount.
Teacher: Babag Smith Carishader
Back: 1. Kenny Dan Morrison 12 Ardroil
2. Catherine Macdonald 3 Ardroil
3. Neil Morrison 28 Brenish
4. Chrissie Mary Matheson 5 Ardroil
5. Angus Murdo Montgomery Islivig (Monty)
Front: 6. Kathleen Morrison Mangersta
7. Lena Matheson 6 Ardroil
8. Cathie Buchanan Brenish
9. Nan Matheson ...
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Thursday, August 7th, 2008
All identified now, thanks to Dolly.
Teacher Babag Smith, Carishader
Back: 1. Neil Morrison Brenish
2. Dolly Norma Morrison 12 Ardroil
3. Kathleen Morrison Mangersta
4. Chrissie M Matheson Ardroil
5. Catherine Macdonald 3 Ardroil
6. Nan Matheson Ardroil
7. Angus M Montgomery Islivig (Monty)
Front: 8. DJ Montgomery Islivig
9. Flora Shaw Carnish
10. Lena Matheson Ardroil
11. Murdina Maciver Ardroil
12. Cathie Buchanan Brenish
13. Murdina ...
Posted in archive photos | 2 Comments »
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