Napier Report

An important document from the history of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has been published on-line. Back in 1886, Lord Napier published a report into the living conditions of cottars and crofters, who had been complaining bitterly about excessive rents, insecurity of tenure and summary evictions from land, which had been in the same family for generations.  Police forces sent to implement the evictions found themselves confronted by civil disobedience, requiring the deployment of naval and army forces. A famous instance happened in the Braes area of the Isle of Skye.

The Lochaber College Mallaig has now published the findings of the report on the Web. It was instrumental in changing the law and thereby the living conditions of the poorest in the remoter corners of Scotland. If you're interested, visit this page.