Foise Iain Smith bull.jpg The Rocket Smiths, Valtos Uigeachs Down Under The Bull Valtos 1955 Alex Reithmir Valtos 1965 1965 1965 1965 Valtos 1965 Alex Mackay, Valtos 1965 1965 Valtos Shonnie Smith Valtos Valtos 1965 Share
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One of the popular schemes of the Congested Districts Board (1898-1912) was the provision of bulls, rams and stallions, on loan, to crofting parishes where the stock was in need of improvement. Uig did particularly well on the bulls, it seems.
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The late 1840s were years of desperation in Lewis (as elsewhere), with much of the population near to starvation and dependent on ‘destitution meal’ from the Proprietor. The solution that presented itself was assisted and effectively compulsory emigration; here are the numbers fixed on for emigration from Uig in 1851.
Read more →The late 1840s were years of desperation in Lewis (as elsewhere), with much of the population near to starvation and dependent on ‘destitution meal’ from the Proprietor, Sir James Matheson, who according to the Poor Law Act of 1845 was obliged to do something about his famished tenants. Weakened, overcrowded and in many cases without [...]
Read more →The following Valtos births were registered in the Old Parish Register for the Parish of Uig. Birthdates may be actual, or dates of baptism, or mis-remembered dates of birth recorded a year or more later when the child was baptised. The children are grouped below by family, as near as can be determined, but the [...]
Read more →A list of tenants of Valtos with their annual rents and accumulated arrears, from the Seaforth Muniments (estate papers). Tenant Rent Arrears Malcolm Smith £ 14.6.3 £ 39.3.11 Angus Smith £ 7.5.6 £ 21.2.10 Angus Morrison £ 7.5.3 £ 9.14.11 Malcolm Macleod £ 7.5.6 £ 21.11.0 Murdo Macaulay £ 14.6.3 £ 8.11.0 Donald Macaulay £ [...]
Read more →The following marriages, all involving at least one Valtos family, are extracted from the Old Parish Register of the Established Church in Uig. Not all marriages were registered and the date may refer to the calling of banns, rather than an actual wedding. The dip in numbers from 1844 onward is no doubt due to [...]
Read more →From Estate papers, a list of tenants and their rents in 1867 – including Cliff. No. Tenant Rent 1 Angus Smith £ 1.6.0 2 John Mackay (Roy) £ 2.6.0 3 Angus Morison Jr £ 3.16.0 4 Donald Maclennan (Angus) £ 4.6.0 5 James Morison £ 2.16.0 6 Angus Macaulay £ 2.16.0 7 John Buchanan Jr [...]
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The Valtos Centre, based in the old Valtos School from shortly after it was closed, was first used in 1972 and developed over a couple of years until a visit there became a major fixture in the educational calendar for island pupils, and for scout groups and the like from further afield.
Read more →[singlepic id=1325 w=610] Back: 1. Sandy Morrison Balallan? 2. 3. 4. Molly Morrison from Bragad, teacher at Valtos School, married to Sandy Morrison Balallan 5. Molly’s sister? 6. Norman Buchanan 8 Valtos 7. Peggy Buchanan (ms Newall) 6 Kneep 8. Shonnie Buchanan 8 Valtos? 9. Middle: 10. Donald Murdo Buchanan 8 Valtos 11. 12. Isobel [...]
Read more →Tha Peigi Oighrig NicÌomhair (anns a mheadhan) air iomadh òrain a sgrìobhadh thar na bliadhnaichean. Rugadh Peigi air a’ Chnìp, Sgìre Uig ann an 1926 agus gu dearbha fhèin bha teanga nam bàrd a’ ruith troimh ‘n teaghlach aice. Bha grand uncle dhith ‘Dòmhnall Donn’ na bhàrd baile air a’ Chnìp na latha, agus sgìobh Aonghas Coinneach, bràthair Pheigi fhein, mòran òrain agus rannan.
Read more →[singlepic=1136,380] During the Second World War, five Macdonald brothers from the village of Valtos, Uig, Isle of Lewis, served at sea. The five sailors were sons of Donald and Christina Macdonald 22 Valtos. Their mother Christina (nee Maciver), formerly of 25 Valtos, had lost two brothers in the first World War. Norman Maciver serving on [...]
Read more →[singlepic=894,380] From West Over Sea (1953) by DDC Pochin Mould. Near the sheep fank on the flank of Benisval there is, so they tell me, a stone commemorating the visit of Lord Campbell, Lord Chief Justice in the 1850s. When I splashed through the Kinloch Resort river, I crossed from Harris into Lewis, and it [...]
Read more →The Rev William Matheson, “Mac Gille Chaluim” and the pre-eminent Island genealogist of his day, gives the following account of the Macaulays resistence to, and eventually tentative alliance with, the Mackenzies who took ownership of the Isle of Lewis in 1610, after the decline of the ruling Macleods and the failed attempt at colonisation by [...]
Read more →[singlepic=637,,386] 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 [...]
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 [...]
Read more →The following comes from the Spring 1987 edition of Sanais, the Comann Eachdraidh’s quarterly publication under the editorship of Anna Mackinnon. There are many tales about the Old Soldiers of Uig and this is another about the doughty Calum Olach of Valtos, serving with the Seaforth Highlanders as one of the Saighdeirean Mac a’Mhinisteir. They [...]
Read more →Pictures also viewable here if the slideshow doesn’t work for you. [slideshow=43] Thanks to Iain Watson for these pictures and his memories of scout camps in Uig. The pictures were all collected by Don Laing, who used to be a Scout Leader in Stornoway for many years from the early 60′s until he died in [...]
Read more →[singlepic=908,424] Chrissie Matheson 39 Cliff and Jessie Macdonald 24 Valtos. Share
Read more →[singlepic=865,357] 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 Share
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