From a statement lodged with the Crofters Commission by the Estate management in November 1888, showing alterations made over farms in Lewis, with the occupancy and rent of each during the period 1844-1888. Mealista, Keannhusly and Island Mealista 1844-49 Alex and John MacRae £80.0.0 1850 do. £105.0.0 1860 do. £120.0.0 1870 John Mitchell £130.0.0 1886-87 do. (lands taken off) £85.0.0 1888 do. £85.0.0 Mangersta 1873 Donald and Malcolm Macleod £122.0.0 1880 do. £95.0.0 1888 do.   Ardroil 1844-48 Donald Macaulay £100.0.0 1849 John and James [ » read more ]

A village of 8 crofts in the central part of West Uig, overlooking Uig Sands. It adjoins the old (and now deserted) township of Erista and the church and glebe lands at Baile na Cille. It was cleared to extend the Glebe in the 1820s and also to create a farm: the farmhouse was Taigh Sgoile Chiosamuil, which had previously been a school and the first ‘taigh geal’ in Uig. The village was relotted in 1921. Today Timsgarry also has a community shop, and nearby [ » read more ]

The renowned naturalist William MacGillivray was born in Aberdeen in 1796 and studied and worked most of his life there or in Edinburgh, but he had a Harris connection through his father and spent much of his childhood at Northton in South Harris (where the MacGillivray Centre now bears his name). As a young man, he returned to spend 1817-1818 there, and his diaries of that period have been published as A Hebridean Naturalist’s Journal (Acair 1996). In October of 1817 he and a party [ » read more ]

Many thanks to Donald J Macleod of Enaclete and Bridge of Don for his research into the fishing boats of Uig. He adds that these boats used lines and not trawls to catch white fish. It was the end of March and beginning of April that was known as the ‘Hungry month’ in Gaelic as fish did not take the bait. See the chart. I’m not sure where this leaves our Rose (above), apparently SY 47 – more research required. The following Uig fishing boats [ » 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 ]

John Nicholson 3 Crowlista, Peter Angus Maclean 8 Timsgarry; and a Macdonald from 5 Crowlista.  Can anyone identify the ladies, or where this is taken?

Thanks to Roddy Maclean for the scans and Donald Maciver for the names.  Those marked * are still living in 2009. Back Row: 1. Alexander Macleod Crowlista 2. *Malcolm J Macleod 8 Aird 3. John A Maciver 10 Crowlista (later 8 Crowlista) 4. Angus J Macleod 2 Timsgarry 5. John M Macdonald 6 Crowlista 6. Alexander Macdonald 4 Crowlista 7. Donald Macleod 2 Timsgarry (twin of #10) 8. Quentin Mackenzie Point (headmaster) Third Row: 9. Mary Macleod Point (teacher) 10. Katie-Bell Macleod 2 Timsgarry (twin [ » 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 ]

The first two are evidently the same excursion, to Tiumpan Head.  Thanks to Murdina for the photos and to Finlay and Katie Mary and others for the identification (click through for the detail) … still some gaps to fill.  These and a few others have been added to the Excursions Gallery.

Teacher:  Mrs Catherine Finlayson, Ardroil Back:  Donald Maciver 8 Crowlista Catherine Ann Macfarlane Balnacille Manse Rachael Mackay 4 Timsgarry Peter M Matheson 24 Crowlista Front: Agnes Macfarlane Bailenacille Manse Jessie Matheson 24 Crowlista Alex M Matheson 24 Crowlista Anna Finlayson 1 Ardroil Dinah Macfarlane Bailenacille Manse.

David Watson was ordained as minister of Uig in 1845 but as the congregation had mostly migrated to the Free Church, his Church remained largely empty. He was at odds with the people and the estate, as the following notes in the 1851 diary (published by Acair) of the Chamberlain John Munro Mackenzie attest: Thursday 13 February Walked to the Manse of Uig and found Mr Watson busy planting potatoes and clearing his arable land of Stones with a number of men employed. Went to [ » read more ]

The Dewar Commission, charged with investigating the state of medical provision in the Highlands and Islands, interviewed, amongst others, John Macrae (Seonnaidh Mòr), the farmer at Timsgarry, on 12 October 1912 at Garynahine.  The questions are put by the chairman, Sir John Dewar MP. You have three nurses in the parish, and the nuring is very satisfactory?– Yes, very satisfactory indeed. Have you room for more nurses?– Yes.  We would certainly require another nurse.  It is a very wide district.  It extends from here away [ » read more ]

On the day in November 1913 when the Reef Raiders drove the stock from Reef Farm, the local Constable made the following report (the list doesn’t correspond exactly to the men identified in the photo): Charge, Breach of the Peace Police Station Miavaig, 28th November 1913 Sir, I beg to report to you that between the hours of 10am and 1pm on Friday the 28th day of November 1913, on Reef Farm, occupied by Alexander Macrae, Farmer in the Parish of Uig 1. Malcolm Macritchie [ » read more ]

Dolly Doctor, in Tales and Traditions, tells of the wreck of a ship at Carnish in 1775. In the picture Sgeir an Iaruinn is the small island in the middle of the picture, with Shielibhig in the distance on the far left. All night the people round Uig Bay had listened to the cries of woe and frightful screaming from the crew of the ship gone aground, as piece after piece broke away from the ship and the crew were being washed overboard; but they could [ » read more ]

Uig Community Shop has just opened a new extension; the picture shows the arrangements in August 1981, with Calum Ruadh at the manual pumps.  Thanks to Carol Wallis (waiting by the car) for the photo.