The roots of crofting on Eriskay stretch back to the Highland Clearances in the 1800s, when families were forcibly evicted from their homes across South Uist, Barra, and surrounding areas. Many were moved to Eriskay, a small rocky island exposed to the elements and was dismissed by landlords at the time as “a rock,” regarded as worthless and only just suitable for grazing sheep therefore they were happy to force people on to Eriskay where they would be forgotten and left to survive.

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In 1841, only 80 people lived on Eriskay, but by 1851 that number had grown to over 400 as more and more displaced families arrived. Overcrowding, poor housing, and a lack of cultivable land made survival incredibly difficult. Yet the people of Eriskay persevered, making use of whatever land they could. Crofts were small and completely exposed to the elements. The work was relentless and involved the whole family, with men and women toiling side by side to make the most of the little they had.

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The Crofters’ Holdings (Scotland) Act of 1886 offered a turning point, giving crofters security of tenure and the ability to pass crofts down through generations. This was followed by further legislation that gradually improved the rights of crofters, including the right to buy their land in 1976, the right of community bodies to purchase croft land in 2003, and more recent reforms in 2010 that required the government to monitor the economic condition of crofting and report regularly to the Scottish Parliament.

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The Townships of Eriskay

In the 1880s, with the establishment of the first Crofting Commission, Eriskay and the Stack Islands were formally organised into a number of crofting townships:

·         Arcasaid Mhòr

·         Am Baile (Balla)

·         Bun a’ Mhuillin

·         Coilleag

·         Na Haun

·         Rubha Bàn / Rudha Bàn

·         Na Parceannan

·         Roisinis

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Each township managed its own section of grazing ground. During the summer months, animals were sent to the hills to give the crops a chance to grow around the townships. They were often taken down from the summer grazing’s for use on the crofts but were tethered on the crofts, where every patch of land was precious. The crofters also grew oats, barley and corn to sustain livestock, but the island’s poor soil meant the main food crop was potatoes, grown using traditional lazy beds. This method, involving turning soil with dried seaweed used as fertiliser, was labour intensive but effective,  and is still used by some on the island today.

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Fuel came in the form of peat, but Eriskay’s own supply was limited. Many crofters had to row small boats across to Ben Struth in South Uist, then climb steep hills to dig peat, carrying it back in heavy sacks and on arriving on Eriskay, the sturdy Eriskay Pony would take the load to the croft houses. Despite the exhausting work, these trips were social occasions. Children were excused from school, women packed food, and neighbours helped one another in the spirit of island life.

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Conditions remained tough. When the Napier Commission visited in 1883 to investigate the plight of crofters, John McAskill of Eriskay gave powerful evidence. He described severe overcrowding, with three times more people on the island than it could support, and shared the daily realities of poverty, hunger, and hard labour. His testimony helped raise awareness of the struggles crofters faced and contributed to national debate and eventual reform.

Today, crofting continues on Eriskay, although far fewer people are involved, and most crofters rely on additional income. Some hold the tenancy of more than one croft. While the landscape may look peaceful, it still tells a story of survival and community. Sheep and Eriskay ponies graze freely in winter and return to the hills in summer, as they have for generations. The Crofting Commission, a Scottish Government body, now oversees regulation and support for crofters.

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Crofting may no longer be the economic lifeline it once was, but it remains a living tradition and a link to the past, a mark of identity, and a tribute to the strength and determination of those who built a life here under the harshest of circumstances. The culture, language, and environment of Eriskay have all been shaped by crofting, and its legacy continues to inspire and sustain the community today.