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 written by Dave Roberts for [...]
Read more →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, Islivig and Mangersta were [...]
Read more →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 August, 1903 The following [...]
Read more →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 an opportunity to make [...]
Read more →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 looms. The story is [...]
Read more →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 [...]
Read more →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. [...]
Read more →From Joni Buchanan’s The Lewis Land Struggle (Acair 1996): On Christmas Day 1908, 46 crofters and squatters met at the schoolhouse in Brenish (known as Islivig School) and passed eight resolutions demanding the breakup of Mangersta and Carnish farms: “So that without leaving the locality where they were born and where all associations and kinships that [...]
Read more →Rev William Matheson, Mac Gille Chaluim, gives the following about Angus Beag and his departure for Auldearn, which seems to have been precipitated by the harsh words of his wife who accused him of unmanliness (see also the previous note.) Angus Macaulay’s conduct before the departure of the men of Lewis to Auldean in the Spring of 1645 [...]
Read more →Years ago a dead whale was spotted drifting offshore by some of the Islivig bodachs. It was just a bit south of the Islivig/Brenish boundary and was drifting further south. They launched a boat and managed to attach a rope and then proceeded to tow the carcase to Camus Islivig. The Brenish bodachs [...]
Read more →From the Stornoway Gazette, Local and District News. March 24, 1921 The cyclonic storm which burst over this district on Wednesday last left traces of destruction in its trail here as elsewhere. Fortunately, no lives were lost, though several instances of hairbreadth escapes from flying debris etc, have been mentioned. The roof of the Valtos [...]
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 [...]
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