Photocopied letter dated 9/9/1893 to the County Clerk from a group of Tiree cottars.
Letter dated 9/9/1893 to the County Clerk from a group of Tiree cottars looking for land to rent in Hynish under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892.
Photocopied petition dated 1893 to Argyll County Council from a group of Tiree cottars.
Petition dated 1893 to Argyll County Council from a group of cottars from Kilmoluaig, Balevullin, Sandaig, Kilkenneth, Moss, Cornaigmore, Cornaigbeg, Kenovay and Barrapol, all wanting to rent land under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892.
1893 petition to the County Council
Transcription of a petition of 1893 to the County Clerk by Tiree cottars asking to benefit under the Small Holdings Act.
Courtesy of Argyll & Bute Archives
The Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act of 1886 introduced a new form of land tenure based on security of tenure, fair rents, and compensation for permanent improvements at the termination of a tenancy. The new Act only applied to holdings which were held on a yearly tenancy and whose annual rent did not exceed £30.
Cottars who had no crofts remained outside the political settlement until 1892 when the Small Holdings Act enabled County Councils to acquire suitable land ‘for the purpose of providing small holdings for persons who…will themselves cultivate the holdings.’
In 1893 forty-two cottars, most of whom were formerly in possession of crofts, petitioned the County Clerk William Sproat asserting the demand for small holdings on the island and claiming their right to benefit under the new Act.
Photocopied petition dated 19/11/1892 to the County Clerk from a group of Tiree cottars.
Petition dated 19/11/1892 to Argyll County Council from a group of cottars from Balemartine, Mannal, Balinoe and Barrapol, all wanting to rent land under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892.
Photocopied petition (undated) to the County Clerk from a group of Tiree residents.
Undated petition to Argyll County Council from a group of residents of Scarinish, Heanish and Baugh, all wanting to rent land under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892.
Photocopied petition dated 27/7/1893 to the Chairman of Argyll County Council from a group of Tiree cottars.
Petition dated 27/7/1893 to the Chairman of Argyll County Council from a group of cottars from Scarinish, Heanish and Baugh, all wanting to rent land under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892.
Photocopied petition dated 3/3/1893 to the County Clerk from a group of Balephuil cottars.
Petition dated 3/3/1893 to the County Clerk from a group of cottars from Balephuil who want to rent land under the Small Holdings Scotland Act of 1892..
Photocopied newspaper cutting of a letter by the Duke of Argyll and a reply from a cottar.
Letter from the Duke of Argyll about the non-viability of allotments and a reply from a Tiree cottar.
Photocopied summary of replies from applicants for allotments and small holdings to the County of Argyll in 1893.
Summary of replies from applicants to Argyll Council for allotments and small holdings in Hough in September 1893.
Lachlan MacQuarie’s letter of 1866
Transcription of Lachlan MacQuarie’s letter of 1866 to the Duke of Argyll about a summons of removing served on him in Baugh.
Courtesy of His Grace the Duke of Argyll
In 1860, Dr Alexander Buchanan was appointed Medical Officer for Tiree. He was encouraged by the Duke of Argyll who seems to have promised him the tenancy of Baugh Farm. Previously doctors had not stayed long in Tiree due to insufficient remuneration.
His arrival was fiercely opposed by the sitting tenant at Baugh, Lachlan MacQuarie. The latter wrote to the Duke accusing Dr Buchanan and the factor Mr Geekie of excessive drinking and setting a bad example to the islanders which had led to an outbreak of petty crime.
As well as maligning the doctor and the factor, MacQuarie questioned the Duke’s ability to judge character. His appeal was rejected and Dr. Buchanan settled down in Baugh Cottage on the site of the present kitchen of Baugh House.
