Stiomrabhaig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stiomrabhaig
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Abandoned crofter's village
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The abandoned township of Stiomrabhaigh looking North West
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 Stiomrabhaig
Location in Scotland
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| Country | Scotland |
Stiomrabhaig is an abandoned crofter's village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. A crofter is a person who farms a small piece of land, often in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. This village was once a busy home for many families, but now only ruins remain, telling a story of how people lived and moved in the past.
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The Story of Stiomrabhaig
In 1851, a count of people (called a census) showed that Stiomrabhaig had 16 homes and 81 people living there. But by 1858, everyone had left. This happened because of something called the Highland Clearances. During these clearances, many people in the Highlands of Scotland were forced to leave their homes. Sometimes, this was done in a very harsh way.
The people of Stiomrabhaig were a bit luckier than others. They had special agreements (leases) directly with the landowner. When these agreements ended, they were offered new small farms, called crofts, in a nearby village called Leumrabhagh. They accepted this offer and moved there.
Life in Lewis and New Beginnings
The Isle of Lewis was quite successful until World War I began. The war stopped the important trade of herring fish with countries like Russia. Even though many people had moved away during the clearances, the population on the island was still growing. This meant there wasn't enough land for everyone.
Many people wanted to move back to Stiomrabhaig, but the landowners kept saying no. It wasn't until 1921 that things changed. A man named Lord Leverhulme, who owned a lot of land on Lewis, gave up on his big plans for the island. This allowed crofters to finally return to Stiomrabhaig.
Challenges and Leaving Again
Even the return to Stiomrabhaig had its sad moments. Two young men drowned while moving their belongings from Calbost to the village.
The government never officially recognized these new settlers as crofters. This meant they didn't get any help, and no road was built to the village. Living without basic facilities was very hard. Over the next twenty years, many families slowly moved back to Leumrabhagh. By the start of World War II, only two families were left. By the end of the 1940s, Stiomrabhaig was empty once more.
Stiomrabhaig Today
Today, you can still see much of the old village. Its ruined buildings, old farm beds (called lazy beds, which are raised strips of land used for growing crops), and stone walls stand quietly between the wild moorland and the sea. They are a reminder of the families who once lived there.
