Museums, archives and heritage in the Hebrides

Hebrides, The (or Western Islands), the collective name of the islands on the W. coast of Scotland; area, (about) 1,800,000 acres; population 82,335. About 100 of them are inhabited. They are geographically divided into the Inner Hebrides, comprising the 3 groups of Islay, Mull, and Skye, and extending from The Aird, in N. of Skye, to the Mull of Islay, a distance of 150 miles; the Outer Hebrides (separated from the Inner Hebrides by the Minch), or The Long Island, comprising Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Barra, &c., and extending from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head, a distance of 130 miles; and the small St Kilda group, about 60 miles W. of the Outer Hebrides. Anciently they comprehended also the islands in the Firth of Clyde, the peninsula of Kintyre, the island of Rathlin, and the Isle of Man. They are politically divided between the shires of Ross, Inverness, and Argyll. The principal towns are Stornoway, in Lewis; Tobermory, in Mull; Bowmore, in Islay; and Portree, in Skye. The humid climate of the Hebrides is unsuitable for corn crops, and only a comparatively small portion of the soil is arable. The principal crops are oats, barley, and potatoes. Much of the surface is occupied by sheep-farms and moors. Besides the raising of cattle and sheep, and distilling (principally in Islay), the only important industry is the fisheries, of which Stornoway is the chief seat on the W. coast of Scotland. The manufacture of kelp, which was at one time extensively carried on, is now almost extinct. The Hebrides are visited by great numbers of tourists, and have regular steamboat communication with Oban and Glasgow. There are lighthouses at the Butt of Lewis, Stornoway, Monach islands, Scalpay island, Ushenish, and Barra Head.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Barra & Vatersay Historical Society

Barra Heritage and Cultural Centre, Castlebay

Isle of Barra HS9 5XD

01871 810 352

www.barraheritage.com

The Comunn Eachdraidh (Historical Society) was formed in 1995 to conserve and promote the culture and heritage of the islands of Barra and Vatersay. The society collects artefacts, documents and photographs, and has built up extensive archives and collections.

Bernera Museum

Bernera

Bernera, Isle of Lewis HS2 9LF

01851 612 331

goo.gl/UBDMhz

The collection comprises some 500 artefacts which illustrate the domestic, economic, cultural and religious life of Bernera district. Its strengths lie mainly in the fields of domestic, social life, fishing and the sea. A room is dedicated to the Iron Age village at Bostadh.

Calanais Visitor Centre

Calanais

Isle of Lewis HS2 9DY

01851 621422

goo.gl/ElJ2nG

A cross-shaped setting of standing stones, unique in Scotland and outstanding in Great Britain. Dates to around 2,900-2,600BC.

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis

Cross School, North Dell, Ness

Isle of Lewis HS2 0SN

01851 810377

goo.gl/ya4WMB

Since being established in 1977, the society has managed to research and record a wealth of material, largely based on the oral tradition of the isles, that documents the unique social history of the Gaelic speaking communities of Ness and northern Lewis. Over that period, hundreds of hours of audio and videotape have been recorded and transcribed, as well as thousands of photographs that have been collected, to produce one of the finest and most important archives in Scotland of life in rural Lewis during the 19th and 20th century.

Dell Mill

North Dell

Ness, Isle of Lewis PA86 OSN

www.galsontrust.com/web/?page_id=507

Muileann Dhail (Dell Mill), mid-19th century part of an enclosed quadrangle beside the River Dell, one of the island’s few substantial farm complexes that were usually operated by mainland farmers. The intact mill in the eastern range extends north, incorporating a large, all-iron internal water wheel.

Dualchas: Skye & Lochalsh Area Museums Service

Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Elgin Hostel, Dunvegan Road

Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EE

01478 613857

www.highlandarchives.org.uk/skye-and-lochalsh.asp

As part of the Highland Archive Service, the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree, is responsible for collecting, preserving and making available archives relating to the history of the Skye and Lochalsh area. The archives date from the 17th century to the present, and consist of documents in different formats including minute books, correspondence, maps, plans, photographs, drawings and sound recordings.

Mingulay, Berneray & Pabbay

Mingulay, Berneray And Pabbay

0844 4932237

goo.gl/rr3WLu

Wandering among the abandoned settlements on this remote group islands is an evocative reminder of those who once lived here. The last of the inhabitants left in 1912, leaving behind a precarious existence based on crofting, fishing and fowling.

Mull Museum

Clumba Buildings, Main Street

Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6NY

01688 302208

www.mullmuseum.org.uk

The history of the Isle of Mull is captured in the Mull Museum – a small museum crammed with information about Mull in the past. From early people living in duns and brochs, through the times of warring clans and their castles, to more recent events. Exhibits of crofting, farming, fishing and everyday objects show what life was like in Mull in the past.

Museum nan Eilean

Francis Street

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2NF

01851 822746

www.cne-siar.gov.uk//museum/index.asp

Museum nan Eilean was established in 1983 by Comhairle nan Eilean, the Western Isles Islands Council, as it was then, to provide the first professional museum service for the Western Isles.

Museum of the Isles

Clan Donald Skye, Armadale

Ardvasar, Isle of Skye IV45 8RS

01599 534454

www.clandonald.com

This award winning accredited museum was opened in 2002 to house our growing collection of artefacts and paintings. Six interconnecting galleries take you through 1500 years of the history and culture of the area once known as the Kingdom of the Isles. A seventh gallery is the venue for special exhibitions that change each year.

Ness Heritage Centre

Sgoil Chrois

Ness, Isle of Lewis HS2 0TG

goo.gl/DNYtK4

An impressive archive of documents, genealogical records, photographs, video and audio recordings and artefacts; contributed over the years by a willing and generous community that cherishes its own history and heritage. This collection comprises some 500 artefacts illustrating the social, economic, cultural and religious life of Ness. Its strengths lie mainly in the fields of domestic life, social life, fishing and the sea. The material dates from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Raasay Heritage Trust Museum

Isle of Raasay IV40 8PB

01478 660207

www.angelfire.com/il2/raasayheritagetrust

The Island of Raasay is located off the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. Raasay Heritage Society was formed to preserve and promote the language and culture of the island for future generations and to show visitors all aspects of the island’s unique past and its unusual geological and botanical features.

Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre

Elgin Hostel, Dunvegan Road

Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EE

01478 614078

www.highlandarchives.org.uk/skye-and-lochalsh.asp

As part of the Highland Archive Service, the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree, is responsible for collecting, preserving and making available archives relating to the history of the Skye and Lochalsh area.

Staffin Museum, The

6 Ellishadder, Staffin

Isle of Skye IV51 9JE

www.skyecomuseum.co.uk

The Staffin Museum is a small community-based museum located in the village of Ellishadder, on the eastern coast of the Trotternish peninsula, Isle of Skye. The Staffin Museum contains excellent collections of local geological and fossil specimens, as well as representative artefacts illustrating prehistory and social history on the Trotternish.

Taigh Chearsabhagh

Lochmaddy

Isle of North Uist HS6 5AA

01876 500293

www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org

Museum and two gallery spaces with regularly changing exhibitions. Photo archive room with over 2,000 local photographs & reference books relating to Gaelic language, local & Scottish history and genealogy.

Uig Heritage Trust

Uig Community Centre

Timsgarry, Isle of Lewis HS2 9JT

01851 672 476

www.ceuig.com/about/uig-museum

The Comann Eachdraidh runs a small registered museum situated in the community centre in Timsgarry. We have a number of displays covering different aspects of local history. We also have a good archive of background material available for browsing and a large collection of old photographs.