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).

Key placenames and landmarks around the township of Geshader, the inlet to Little Loch Roag (the Sruth, next to #18), and the deserted settlement at Strome, as prepared by Finlay and Kenneth Maciver.  There are many more placenames, which we’ll publish once we’ve worked out how best to present them; meanwhile there’s Enaclete too.  Compare to the Ordnance Survey map. 1. Floday 2. Beinn a’Ghlinne Ruaidh 3. Creagan Gorm 4. Rainacleit 5. Druim Ban Gil an Aon Duine 6. Ollashal 7. Sheaval 8. Orcleit an [ » read more ]

From Rev William Matheson’s “History of the Families of Lewis – Smith” published under the pseudonym Mac Gille Chaluim in the Stornoway Gazette in the late 1950s.  See a further story of Calum Olach here. There was a noted family of Smiths of Valtos, Uig, for whom it has been claimed that they were of the Smiths of Earshader, but the connection is not clear.  [The supposed connection will be the subject of a future postng.] The first of them on record is Calum Bàn, [ » read more ]

Photo by rojabro. This isn’t strictly an Uig tale, though one episode takes place on the Flannans, and there is a suggestion that Macpherson may be the grandfather of Kenneth Macpherson the catechist from Bayhead, who married Ann Smith from Strome and Valtos and lived in Ness.   It’s offered in the hope that someone may be able to shed some light on the story, identify the house of the Misses Crighton, confirm or (more likely) dismiss the connections to the Bayhead family, or identify the source, [ » read more ]

Pictures from our Comann Eachdraidh outing to Strome.  A strupag to get started, then we split up:  some went up the hill, some went to the famous wall and attempted to find the burial ground and some went to Drovinish.  We convened again for sausages, watermelon and tea… all in all a fabulous day.   Many thanks to Anna for organising, Murray and Hannah at Seatrek for taking us out, and everyone for coming.   With any luck my fellow excursionists will send me some more pictures to post.

Members and their guests are invited to join us for an outing with Seatrek to Strome on Thursday 24 July, to have a look at the village and shielings there.  The itinerary is flexible and may take in some islands in Loch Roag.  £10; depart from Miavaig at 10am with Seatrek – weather permitting, of course.  Bring a picnic.  Booking is essential and for now is restricted to members of the Comann Eachdraidh and their guests.  Please contact Sarah or ring Anna (672413) to book.  Nearer [ » read more ]

Photo by Chris Murray. This letter was written by a clerk for Alexander Macrae who signed it in his own hand.  He was tenant of Scaliscro from about 1830 until his death from fever in January 1839.  He was known in Uig as ‘an Ciopair Ban’, the fair shepherd, and was the first of a number of shepherd/farmers from Wester Ross who were brought into Uig by the Seaforth Estates to raise flocks of Cheviot sheep.  Alexander came to Scaliscro with his young family (including Ann, mother of [ » read more ]

  Strome was a small settlement on Loch Strome in Loch Roag – today difficult to access by land, but in the days when much travel was done by sea, not so far off the beaten track.  in the early years of the 19th century the hamlet was occupied by Smiths (closely related to the Smiths of Earshader, Valtos and Laxay) and Macivers (including the family of Dòmhnall Bàn an t-Srom), and other families.   Strome was cleared in 1835 when the Scaliscro farm was established, though two families remained [ » read more ]

A letter dated 1836, from Thomas Knox, Chamberlain of the Lews at Seaforth Lodge to JA Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth, MP, the Proprietor.  Mealista was cleared in 1838 and the farm let to John Macrae of Kintail (and latterly Harris.) Seaforth Lodge 21 April 1836 Dear Sir I have now the honour to reply to your letter regarding the offer of Alexander MacRae for the lands of Mealista, Keanhusly and the Island of Mealista, and to send you two letters from him on the subject, dated the [ » read more ]