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Domestic
Articles		 Blackhouse Blackhouse (p.2) Blackhouse (p.3) Census 1791 Census 1845
Family Emigration Gallery Bothan Lionel Village
 
The people of the Western Isles of Scotland (or Outer Hebrides) have historically lived an impoverished existence, eking a modest living from moderately fertile soil and from the richer but highly dangerous seas that surrounded them.  The climate and prevailing weather conditions did little to make the lives of the crofting and fishing families who inhabited the rural villages that occupied pockets of land along the coast within a mile or so of the sea.
 
A thatched blackouse in Lionel (possibly Taigh Loudan).  An elderly woman is standing near the doorway.  In the background are the villages of Fivepenny and Knockaird showing signs of cultivation on the crofts.

 
Despite the difficult conditions, 18th to early 20th century Hebrideans lived a generally contented life, managing the land and available natural resources as best they could.  Key to this was a strong sense of 'cairdeas' (friendship or fellowship) in which families and neighbours supported each other, sharing chores like croft work, cutting and harvesting peat, or maintaining homes and reinforcing the strong bonds that typically existed between relatives and neighbours, where co-operation and mutual support were essential to village life.
 
 

Click thumbnail images to enlarge
ABOVE:  Malcolm MacLean, 16 Habost, stopping for a smoke while taking the peats home.
Calum Màiri ,  agus an t-each a’ leigeil anail.
LEFT:  Dan Smith, Cross, shearing a ram.
Dan Dhannsain ‘a Cros a’ bearradh rùide.
BELOW:  Catherine Murray, 10 North Dell, feeding the hens.
Catriona Shèocain , 10 Dail bho Thuath, a’ biathadh nan cearc.

 
The page links above give a flavour of the social and domestic conditions that existed in Ness and other rural communities in Lewis during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.