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A Short History of Emigration from the Western Isles
The Western Isles are among the most beautiful places in Scotland, but the various effects of climate, geography, and mistreatment by those in power, amongst other reasons, have meant that life here has often been difficult, and over the centuries many thousands of people have left the islands in search of a better life.
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A Short Illustrated History of Rubh’ an Teampaill, Northton
The shores around the chapel at Northton (called Rubh’ an Teampaill in Gaelic, meaning Headland of the Temple) are some of the earliest places we know of that people settled in the islands. In 2001, archaeologists found charred hazelnut shells deep beneath the ground that were dated to around 7,000 BC, meaning there were people…
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A Look Back on Manish (part 2)
with Donald MacDonald (Domhnall Shàm), Horgabost Houses In my grandfather’s day, the cattle were in the house along with them; my great-grandmother’s sister lived beside our own house, and she had the fire in the middle of the floor. When she stoked the fire in the morning on a still day, you had to go…
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A Look Back on Manish (part 1)
with Donald MacDonald (Domhnall Shàm), Horgabost Schooldays The longest distance I was ever away from home when I was at school was on the day of the King’s Coronation on the 12th of May 1937. The Manish schoolchildren were taken to Scarista sands, and that was the first sands I had ever seen! To me…
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A Look Back on Cuidinish (part 3)
with Neil MacCuish, Horgabost Fair-haired Duncan the Tailor Duncan Morrison, he was known as Donnchadh Bàn Tàillear – Fair-haired Duncan the tailor – there was himself and his wife, and they would read the Bible before going to bed. Sometimes the paraffin in the lamp ran out, and as the light went down, the old…
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A Look Back on Cuidinish (part 2)
with Neil MacCuish, Horgabost House weddings When you came in to the far end of the Cuidinish road there was a branch going up to the MacLennans’. That was where the Poll Garbhadh people came from, down at the head of the sea. When you turned left, there was a big house – a big…
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A Look Back on Cuidinish (part 1)
with Neil MacCuish, Horgabost The Light at Calum MacLeod’s House Calum MacLeod’s house was far from the main road at Cnoc Esgan, and, the time we were seeing the light there, there was just a track down through the village. It was in 1939 that they got the footpath through. I was working on Calum’s…
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New Website Tender Brief
Northton Heritage Trust (NHT) wishes to commission a redesign of its current Hebrides People website, alongside the modernisation of its archive database. Over the next few years, NHT will develop the existing Seallam! Centre into a World Class Visitor Centre focused on Hebrides People, their genealogy, and the culture and heritage of Harris and St…
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Scottish Land Fund Success!
We are delighted to say that Northton Heritage Trust has received £239,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase The Old School House and three areas of land in Northton in the Isle of Harris, allowing the group to extend the Seallam! Visitor Centre and car park and develop an educational centre with accommodation for…
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Consultancy role to support SLF Stage 2
Northton Heritage Trust (NHT) has secured funding as part of their Stage 2 award to support the delivery of outcomes. The Trust’s Board wishes to commission a consultant to work with them to on this. They are now inviting tenders from suitably experienced consultants to deliver this role. The Trust has a Business Manager who…
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Explore the St Kilda archive for free
Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, all database results for St Kilda are free. Visit the St Kilda archive to see how the database works!