New research reveals story of resistance to privatisation in 1807 Harris
Dr Juliette Desportes explores recent findings from Inverness Sheriff Court archives for our Leverhulme Trust funded project, Landscapes of Protest
In the early 1800s, the farm of Northton (Taobh Tuath), Isle of Harris, was the scene of a violent confrontation between the recently introduced farmer and his crofter neighbours in nearby Scarista (Sgarasta). The case, as we shall see, was typical of the growing tensions brought about by the rise of privatisation and ‘improved’ agrarian practices. While less spectacular than the better-known land raids erupting some decades later, early findings from our project suggest that acts of protest such as these were quotidian across the Highlands and Islands and constitute one of many little-known stories of daily struggle for the land.
The project is now into its second year, and if you have missed any previous blogs and updates,