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  • Uig Museum/ Taigh Tasgaidh agus Tasglann ÙigComann Eachdraidh Uig is the local historical society in the district of Uig, in the far south west of the Isle of Lewis.  We run a registered museum, maintain an archive, research aspects of local history, collect objects and photographs, help with genealogy enquiries, organise talks, undertake occasional projects and meet regularly to discuss old news and new news. The community of Uig consists of some 20 small active crofting townships on Loch Roag and the open sea, from Gisla to Brenish.  The population is about 400.  Local interest in history and heritage (whether archaeology, the Vikings, legends and stories, clearance and settlement, ethnography, genealogy, crofting or fishing) is huge and the Comann Eachdraidh has amassed a large and very detailed body of knowledge.  Previously housed in Lochcroistean School (now a cafe), the society moved in 1998 to the new community centre overlooking Timsgarry and Uig Sands, where the museum and archive can be visited. [gallery] The Hebridean Comann Eachdraidh movement was born in 1977 with the establishment of the first such society on Lewis, at Ness.  Every community throughout the Hebrides now supports a Comann Eachdraidh, all dedicated to collecting and preserving the language and cultural history of the islands.  Comann Eachdraidh…
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Comann Eachdraichd Uig

Comann Eachdraichd Uig

Fresh Notes and old stories – From Uig Historical Society, Isle of Lewis

Category: Life in Uig

The Old Lewis House: A View from 1902

The Report on the Social Conditions of the People of Lewis (1902) by the Crofters Commission gives a detailed account of the traditional Lewis blackhouse, which agitated the minds of reformers from Sir James Matheson onward, and the measures taken from about 1880 to improve it, particularly with regard to sanitation.
Continue reading “The Old Lewis House: A View from 1902”…
Posted on: 17 February 2012 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

An Ceistear: Darkness in Uig

“When I was born, and for the period of 23 years after, the whole inhabitants of the parish were sunk in dark ignorance of God. There was not so much as a form of Godliness in the whole place. Wickedness of all descriptions committed in broad daylight ”
Continue reading “An Ceistear: Darkness in Uig”…
Posted on: 12 May 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Before the Dingwall Sheriff

George Gillies, residing at Grista , and John Maclean, residing at Fimisgarry , in the parish of Uig and Island of Lewis, accused of having broken into the parish church of Uig, and stolen therefrom a waterproof coat, some carpenters’ tools, and a pane of glass, pleaded not guilty.
Continue reading “Before the Dingwall Sheriff”…
Posted on: 14 March 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Peats of Fire Lighting the Way

The Rev Angus Maciver was the son of Angus Maciver “An Ceistear” (the Catechist), born at Reef in 1799. The family lived at Tobson on Great Bernera from 1835 to 1853. This extract from The Life of a Lewis Catechist, published in the Stornoway Gazette in 1971-2, is Rev Maciver’s memory of meeting-house nights.
Continue reading “Peats of Fire Lighting the Way”…
Posted on: 8 March 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

A New School for Mangersta

There had evidently been a small school at Mangersta in the 1820s and in the neighbouring village of Carnish in the 1840s, but when both those townships were turned into farms there was no population requiring a school, until 1911.
Continue reading “A New School for Mangersta”…
Posted on: 1 March 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Wartime Shops, Vans and Buses

Donald John Macleod was brought up in Enaclete during the war. He recalls the shops, grocery vans and buses that were the source of ample provisions, news and craic at the time.
Continue reading “Wartime Shops, Vans and Buses”…
Posted on: 20 February 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Stores for the FP Manse, 1939

receipt from Cyril Goodge (petrol and provisions at Miavaig) for the Free Presbyterian Manse, date 13 September 1939 – the day after the induction of Rev John Angus Macdonald as FP minister in Uig, so presumably he is setting out his kitchen. It’s also just a few days after the start of the war. Rationing began in January 1940.
Continue reading “Stores for the FP Manse, 1939”…
Posted on: 1 February 2011 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Calling Breanish

After years of patient waiting, Breanish township has at long last been linked to the world outside by telephone.
Continue reading “Calling Breanish”…
Posted on: 2 December 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

RAF Party Stuck at Achmore

In the winter of 1961, the Commanding Officer of RAF Aird Uig and twenty-six of his officers and men were stranded in Stornoway while returning from the first night of the charity concert organised by the camp in the Town Hall.
Continue reading “RAF Party Stuck at Achmore”…
Posted on: 22 July 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

In the Freezer

There are no safes for breaking in the Outer Hebrides, but there’s treasure more worth lifting in the crofter’s huge deep freeze. A verse from the Stornoway Gazette: we didn’t go hungry in 1972.
Continue reading “In the Freezer”…
Posted on: 11 July 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

A Serious Accident at Cliff

After the end of the Great War, dangerous materials were still washing up on the beach. All credit to Nurse Maclean for her tender care of Murdo Macleod, Cliff, in 1919.
Continue reading “A Serious Accident at Cliff”…
Posted on: 23 June 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Gamekeeper finds missing airman, 1959

From the Stornoway Gazette, 7 July 1959: The Commanding Officer of the R.A.F. station at Aird Uig has expressed gratitude…
Continue reading “Gamekeeper finds missing airman, 1959”…
Posted on: 6 June 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Wartime Enaclete

Thanks to Donald John Macleod, Enaclete and Bridge of Don, for these memories of Enaclete during the 1940s. As a…
Continue reading “Wartime Enaclete”…
Posted on: 20 May 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Wedding Telegrams of the 1960s

Our wedding collection is growing slowly but surely, and new in today are 1960s wedding telegrams and some lovely photos.…
Continue reading “Wedding Telegrams of the 1960s”…
Posted on: 14 May 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Sandy and Mary, 1959

From the Stornoway Gazette supplement, 18 December 1959. Wedding bells have been ringing in Mangersta for the past year. Cupid…
Continue reading “Sandy and Mary, 1959”…
Posted on: 6 May 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Some Faces in Winter

CE Uig hosted a photographer earlier this month, Gawaine Meechan, who was taking photos of as many as would stand…
Continue reading “Some Faces in Winter”…
Posted on: 19 March 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Life under St Kilda

There is a set of spectacular photos of the marine world under St Kilda, over on the new Ionad Hiort…
Continue reading “Life under St Kilda”…
Posted on: 5 March 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Frosty days in Uig

Continue reading “Frosty days in Uig”…
Posted on: 26 February 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Of Finns and Fairies

This is the final section of an interesting and detailed piece on the Pygmies Isle (first mentioned by Dean Monro in…
Continue reading “Of Finns and Fairies”…
Posted on: 12 February 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin

Holidaying in Uig, 1926

These new-to-us pictures come from the albums of the late Roberta Maclennan, whose brother Duncan was the doctor in Uig…
Continue reading “Holidaying in Uig, 1926”…
Posted on: 20 January 2010 Last updated on: 26 June 2023 Written by: admin
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Comunn Eachdraidh Ùig & Uig Museum
Uig Community Centre
Timsgarry
Isle of Lewis
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Email: museumuig@yahoo.co.uk

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