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The
Highland Clearances transformed the cultural landscape of the Highlands
of Scotland, and in the space of less than half a century, the region
became one of the most sparsely populated areas in Europe. The scale of
this change was phenomenal when you consider that the Highlands and
Islands represent an area bigger than some major European countries like
Belgium or Holland.
Despite pressure on land and the general
hardships facing the Gaidhealtachd (the Gaelic speaking Highlands and
Islands), Assisted Passage Schemes in 1888 and 1906 proved to be largely
unsuccessful as people resisted being removed from their land and
relocated in distant foreign lands. Consequently, by 1914, there was
either a squatter or cottar for every registered croft in western
Scotland.
RIGHT: Jessie Murray, 30 Swainbost, milking.
Seonaid a’ Phost a’ bleoghan na bà.
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The Liberal Party introduced new
legislation between 1906 and 1914 that was designed to address the main
social, health, and welfare concerns of the period. But these met with
mixed success, though genuine improvements were made in a number of
cases. However, it would take until after World War Two and the
establishment of the new Labour Government inspired Welfare State before
major structural changes were put in place that seriously tackled
poverty, health, mass education and social exclusion.
When
World War One broke out, thousands of Highlanders and Islanders joined
the services to fight for their country. With long links to the sea,
many Hebrideans became Naval Reservists, while others were recruited
into the Seaforth Highlanders. About one sixth of the entire population
of the Island was involved in the war effort in some capacity, including
young women working in munitions factories.
Following the war, returning servicemen
expected improvements in conditions and demanded that farm land in
north-western Scotland be redistributed as crofts. The British
Government had earlier been sympathetic to these demands and passed an
Act of Parliament, in 1911, to allow the compulsory purchase of land for
that purpose. However, the outbreak of war had prevented the
implementation of the scheme.
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