Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, Isle of Lewis

Gearrannan sits on the West coast of the Isle of Lewis facing out to the the wild Atlantic Ocean.

There have been people living in this area since the Iron Age but it is thought that the current settlement dates back to the 1600s, although the current buildings probably date back no earlier the the beginning of the 1800s.

For nearly 300 years the residents were tenants paying rent to the local Laird and eking out a subsistence living with the fear of eviction hanging over their heads if they fell behind with their rent.

In 1886 The Crofting Act gave them security of tenure and ensured reasonable rents were charged.

To supplement their crofting income the inhabitants travelled far and wide, teams of women worked gutting herring and every year followed the fleet from Stornoway and then to the East Coast travelling as far South as Lowestoft in East Anglia, returning at the end of the season. The men were also known to travel, several are recorded as being on South Georgia in the South Atlantic for the Whaling season.

Life changed slowly, electricity did not arrive until 1952, it was the 1960s by the time running water was piped to the village (although not into the houses themselves !).

By the 1970s there were only 5 residents remaining and in 1974 the last resident left and the village was abandoned... at least for a while.

In 1989 Urras nan Gearrannan (the Garenin Trust) was set up by the Western Isles Council and work began to preserve and restore the buildings to be used as a museum and learning centre.

There is now a very interesting museum at the site plus a cafeteria and 4 rental cottages.

For a more detailed history visit: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lewis/gearrannan/index.html

For more information regarding the museum (including opening times) and the holiday accommodation visit: https://www.gearrannan.com/