Reimseabhagh
Posted: Wednesday, 11 January 2006 |
5 comments |
This principally for Arnishlighthouse but also for all those who love remote places - this picture shows the cultivation ridges of Reimseabhagh (pronounced 'Ramasaigh'), no 10 on your map of deserted villages in Park or a' Phairc Leodhasaich, just across Loch Seaforth from Molinginish. It is a very beautiful place and life there must have been good. The inlet is well sheltered and the small village well sheltered from the west winds by the hills. I believe it was cleared early in the 19th century.
The MacLennans who lived in Gearradh a Loiteigeir, the little village west of Reineigeadal and half way to the head of Loch Trollamaraig were evicted from Reimseabhagh. They, or some of the family prospered however in Gearradh a Loiteigeir. Near the edge of the land in Gearradh a Loiteigeir is the ruin of a house. All that is left are two chimneys. Down by the very edge of the land is the ruin of what was a shop and beside it a pointed building which was the store for the shop. It is pointed because the roof was the front end of a boat. The shop was well sited as the rock goes down straight into the sea and the sea seldom breaks there. It was a good place for his customers, who in those days were all water-borne, to tie up alongside to get to the shop. His customers came from Reinigeadal, Moilingeanais, Gearraidh Mhurchaidh, Noiseadair, Elieananabuich, Maraig, Scalpaigh and also included the keepers' families in Pairc. The shop sold things like paraffin, dungarees, tobacco, oatmeal, sugar, tea etc - much on credit. The credit was often redeemed by the bartering of a tweed which the shop owner would then sell on at a profit. A most unusual or unlikely place we might think for an entrepreneur nowadays, but such helped to keep the economy going in much harder days than we can ever imagine.
Posted on Molinginish at 02:19
Comments
Many thanks for the pics, Molinginish. As I said in my piece on Deserted Villages, maybe people will live here again one day? Let's hope so, and not under the shadow of wind turbines.
Arnish Lighthouse from Stornoway
Harris blogs are like buses. You wait ages for one then you can bloody get rid of the blighters!
Davey from Mull
At least we have buses in Harris!
Murchadhmor from Harris
Course you have buses in Harris? Where else would you keep your hens?
Is this the sort of argument you're looking for?
Tim Henman from Rooster Cottage Carloway
i look good in my bright yellow shorts. if i fall in the sea simon beag won't find it hard to find me. ha ha ha . wot do you think.
gregor from school
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