- Bernera Riot
The Bernera Riot occurred in 1872, on the island of
Great Bernera , inScotland in response to theHighland Clearances .Location
Great Bernera (Bearnaraigh Mòr) is an island in
Loch Roag , off the Isle ofLewis in theOuter Hebrides . It is fairly close to Lewis, but it was not until 1953 that a bridge was built, after the islanders threatened to dynamite the hillside to create a causeway. Bernera continues to be acrofting community, as it was at the time of the riot.Beginnings
The whole of north west Scotland suffered from the Highland Clearance over a period of a hundred years or more. Although much lamented in Gaelic song, and literature, in very few places did they meet a stiff resistance - Bernera was one of them, and
Skye was another, where theBattle of the Braes took place.Sir James Matheson having bought the island of Lewis, also took charge of adjoining Bernera, and appointed a solicitor, Donald Munro to be his factor. Munro was perceived as being heavy handed, and his evictions were naturally unpopular.
In protest against the behaviour of Donald Munro, the islanders of Bernera effectively went on strike and refused to send their livestock over to Lewis.
The Riot
In response to the islanders' strike, Munro threatened to send in the
Stornoway Volunteers. The military were not sent in, in the end, but bailiffs with eviction notices were sent over.When the bailiffs arrived at Bernera, they were pelted with a shower of clods of earth. The sheriff officer also had his coat torn.
The Response
Three crofters were arrested, and the islanders complained to Sir James Matheson himself. Matheson who was somewhat aged at the time disowned Donald Munro, who came to be dismissed in 1875. The prisoners themselves were acquitted.
Influence
The riot was mentioned in a number of Scottish radical journals in the following years.
The
Crofters' War took place about ten years later, and led to the founding of theNapier Commission , which led to compromises being made on behalf of the crofters, and the reform of crofting in Scotland.The Gaelic poet, Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn (John Smith) lived in Lewis near Bernera at the time of the Riot, and wrote his poem "Spiorad a' Charthannais" (Spirit of Charity) in condemnation of feudal tyranny.
References
* Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) "The Scottish Islands" (Edinburgh) Canongate isbn=1841954543
* Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland ". London. HarperCollins.
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