This talk will examine the history of two neighbouring townships on the island of Tiree during the nineteenth century: Balinoe and Balemartine. Covering the period of the rise and fall of the kelp economy, the potato famine, mass migration and the ‘Crofters’ War’, it provides a detailed history of these crofting communities and how landholding and economic life was shaped by wider economic forces, family choices and the policies of the landlord, the Duke of Argyll. We will look at the controversial issue of rent rises and access to land for the community of ‘cottars’ and how the experience of particular families shaped their actions in struggles over the land in the 1880s. The talk will also consider some of the challenges and pitfalls in using the records in the Argyll papers to reconstruct a history of the land in Tiree.

Paul Warde is Professor of Environmental History at the University of Cambridge. He has written many books and articles on economic and environmental history. His current research focuses on the experience of change among families and communities through Britain’s industrialization, with special reference to the Hebrides and the north of Ireland.The seminar will be given on Zoom.
Attendance at the seminar is free to members of the Friends. Non-members are asked to make a £10 donation to the Friends at Donate to Friends of the Argyll Papers (enthuse.com).
All attendees should book their place by emailing Alison at: friendsoftheargyllpapers@gmail.com