The township of Reef, situated on machair and rocky headland on the Valtos penisula in West Uig, was cleared of its inhabitants to make way for a sheep farm, under the ownership of Sir James Matheson. Eviction notices were issued in 1848-9 by Factor John Scobie; the people resisted, but were finally cleared by the next factor, John Munro Mackenzie. In 1841 the population was 186; by the time of the 1851 census, there were only the shepherd John Mackay, his wife Peggy and their [ » read more ]

See the full gallery here.  I was behind the mussel stand for most of it so the selection is limited this year.  If you have more pictures, feel free to send them to us.

We do fairly harp on the heroic stories of Dòmhnall Càm, the local chieftain, warrior and cattle-plunderer, particularly ruthless in wars against the Morrisons of Ness, but there are some deeply unpleasant traditions about him too. The following is from Capt FWL Thomas’s Traditions of the Macaulays (1880). Donald Cam and the Gow Ban [the Smith of Kneep] were walking together at Kneep, close by a small bothy in which an old blind woman lived. Some of the tenants’ wives were sitting outside the bothy [ » read more ]

The pressmen get their snaps – Lewisfolk provide a little colour Stornoway Gazette, 21 Jan 1944 American press photographers visited the vicinity of St Pauls on Hogmanay to pick up a few colourful pictures of New Year celebrations in London. A group of Lewisfolk gave them their best ‘shots’ of the evening when Pipers Findlater and Grant accompanied some of the lads and lasses totheir stations to see them off. While waiting for the train at Tottenham Court Road and Hyde Park Corner, the pipers [ » read more ]

A very unseasonable picture:  a party from Reef, out at Strome for peats in fine weather.  Angus Mackay (an Gagan), James Morrison (Seumas Mhurchaidh Seumais), Christina Mackay, Peggy Macritchie (Peggy an Irish) and Murdo Macdonald (Morgan).

Translated from an interview with An Geal, John Maclennan, born 1896 at 15 Kneep and married at 4 Aird, Uig. The Admiralty ship the Iolaire taking servicemen home to Lewis grounded on the Beasts of Holm outside Stornoway, on the 1st of January 1919. Almost two hundred men perished. Translated by Maggie Smith. At the end of December 1918, on leave and travelling back to Lewis with other servicemen from Uig, we planned to arrive home on New Year’s day and surprise the families. Approaching [ » 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

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 ]

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 ]

From Uig, A Hebridean Parish, by HA Moisley and the Geographical Field Group, 1960. The crofting population of Uig started the second half of the nineteenth century with far less land than had been occupied by their forebears fifty years before, and, although famine, clearance and emigration had slightly reduced the population between 1841 and 1861 (from 3828 to 3630) thereafter it again increased, reaching 4600 in 1891.  Rising agricultural prices after 1850 favoured farmers and crofters alike but, whilst the farmers prospered, the crofters [ » read more ]

From Sanais, 1988, with some additions. The first school in the Western Isles was founded shortly after 1610, when the Seaforth Mackenzies gained possession of the island, and in 1680, a report by ‘Indweller’ says that the Seaforth school had done much good, not only for Lewis but also for the adjacent isles.  It was the ‘the great good of gentlemen’s sons and daughters and to the comfort and good of the people’.  Martin Martin reported in 1695 that English and Latin were taught. In [ » read more ]

Many thanks once again to Robin Forrest for providing these wonderful, and previously unknown to us, pictures of Uig in 1964-65, taken by his father Sam Forrest on Land Court business.  Some things have changed… some have not!

Teacher Mary Ann Maciver 11 Kneep, later married Norman Macdonald Reef (Gruaigen) Back: 1. James Macrae Miavaig (Seumas na Cost) 2. Angus Smith 20 Valtos (Prof) 3. Malcolm Mackay 13 Kneep (Kiman) 4. Angus Macdonald 16 Uigen (Gurason) 5. Alasdair Macleod 39 Cliff (Sandy Post) 6. Angus John Macdonald 8 Kneep (Max) Middle: 7. Mary Macdonald 16 Uigen 8. Ann Macleod 3 Brenish 9. Murdina Mackay Kneep/Reef (Murdag an Irish) 10. Christine Macleod 2 Reef 11. Maggie Saunders 17 Valtos 12. Isabella Mackay 9 Valtos [ » read more ]

Back: 1. 2. Malcolm Maclean 26 Valtos (Calum Beag Garbh) 3. Louis Macdonald 11 Reef (Louis na Scallag) 4. Donald Matheson 39 Cliff (Domhnall a Bheiceir) 5. Murdo Macleod 2 Reef (Murchadh Dodge) 6. Donald Macleod 2 Reef (Buganach) 7. Duncan Macdonald 22 Valtos (Donnchadh Silver) Middle: 8. Donald Macdonald 16 Uigen 9. William Macdonald 14 Valtos (Willie Doh) 10. Chirsty Ann Macdonald 8 Kneep 11. Annabel Matheson 5 Kneep (Babag) 12. Peggy Macdonald 4 Kneep 13. John Maciver 12 Kneep (Iain Dhomhnaill Duinn) 14. [ » read more ]