Featured Notes – Comann Eachdraichd Uig

Stac Dhomhnaill Chaim in 1849

This drawing of Stac Dhomhnaill Chaim – the fortified rock on the Mangersta coast, in which Donald Cam Macaulay lived – is from 1849 and shows the crumbly access to the stack even then.

A Welcome to the Chessmen

Some of the Chessmen will be on display in Uig on 13 September 2011 and in honour of this very special occasion, an Uig bard has written a welcome.

The Congested Districts Board took an interest in poultry farming in the crofting parishes and in 1908 a Commission proceeded around Scotland taking evidence from many involved in the trade. On 22 July of that year they were in Uig, interviewing Mr & Mrs Duncan Maclean of Gisla Farm.

The New Church at Ceann Langabhat, 1913

In 1909 the United Free Church congregation was worshipping in the old leaking Free Church. Work began on a new building in 1913 and they endured a summer of outdoor worship before the new church was opened.

Landing at the Flannans

Martin Martin, in his Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (1695) gives an account of the use made of the Flannan Isles at the time and the superstitions that attended a visit: “The inhabitants of the adjacent lands of the Lewis, having a right to these islands, visit them once every summer, and there make a great purchase of fowls, eggs, down, feathers, and quills…”

The Stirk, the Road and the Chicken Pox

Some notes from the Crowlista school log book in 1919-20. The school was located from both of the populations it served, Crowlista and Aird Uig, and there were recurring problems in getting the children to show up.

Visitors at Uig Lodge, 1897-98

A fine collection of photographs from an 1897-98 album belonging to the family of William E Lawson, a London barrister who took Uig Lodge for those two seasons. The photos show Lawson with his dogs and other family entertainments, girls at the shieling, and the gamekeeper Roderick Mackenzie and his son Donald.

Kelp Harvesting

A short piece in the Guardian last week describes the modern way of harvesting kelp in South Uist. Uig was a kelp-harvest area too: 40 tons in 1791 and 266 tons in 1833.

Donald Macdonald, DSM

Donald Macdonald, Geshader and Timsgarry, was mentioned in Dispatches in March 1919 and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as a result of an incident in the Channel.

A Church in Trinidad

Colin Ian Maclean (Cailean Ruaraidh Phadraig) was born in 1927 in Crowlista and brought up at 8 Timsgarry. He was minister of the Church of Scotland charge of Trinidad, Port of Spain: Greyfriars and St Ann’s at the time of the laying of this foundation stone for this new building at Arouca.

Angus and Lottie and Jeff and Laura

In the summer of 2010, only 124 years after his great grandfather Angus Macleod left Crowlista for America, never to be heard from again, Jeff Chown returned to find his relations in Uig.

The Last Man of Bereiro

The Uig Landscape Project (Durham University) is looking at sites around Crowlista, including the old settlement of Bereiro at the head of Traigh na Sruban. The last inhabitant of Bereiro was Donald Matheson, born about 1794, who was a Hudson’s Bay man, returned to Uig, and emigrated again in 1834.

An Airman at Aird Uig, 1959-61

RAF Corporal Technician Pete Davis and his wife Hilary spend the first 18 months of their married life Lewis after he was stationed to RAF Aird Uig. They lived in Linshader and Aird. This is an engaging account of their time in Uig.

Uig School, mid 1970s

A picture from the early years of Uig School, with Crowlista school in the background. Most (nick)names now filled in, thanks to Donna, but we need a few more yet.

A Memorable Sunday in Lewis

Last Sunday will be a memorable one in Lewis. During the night the Mercantile Marine authorities at Stornoway received instruction to mobilise the Royal Naval Reserve. On Sunday afternoon motor cars were dispatched to all parts of the island with notices summoning the men to report themselves at Stornoway.

The Soldiers’ Return

From notes by Rev Col AJ Mackenzie, the story of the Old Soldiers of Uig who after the battle for Batavia, had many long years of service before they could finally return home, a full nine years after they had left it as young recruits to the 78th.

Uig Cattle Market in 1958

An account of the cattle sales at Ardroil from the People’s Journal, 27 September 1958. In the Outer Isles the folk who make their living off the land can’t come to the market. So the market goes to them. And the cattle sales may well decide whether the crofter and his family have a good year or a bad year.