The 1900 Borve croft allocation

The 1900 Borve croft allocation

Throughout the 19th century, the population of Berneray continued to climb. The 1951 census shows that 40 households provided a population of 216.

In 1854, the estate factor who controlled Berneray made Borve, a large area in the central and western part of the island, a farm. Most of the population was cleared. Some of the residents emigrated, either to Australia on assisted passage or to places such as Nova Scotia in Canada. Some moved to Harris or elsewhere in the Outer Hebrides. Some, however, stayed on Berneray, moving to Ruisgearraidh (Ruisgarry) in the north of the island. A few were left in Borve as 'cottars', to provide labour on the farm.

In 1883, the Napier Commission began investigations into the hardship and situation of the people of Berneray. Residents were allowed to speak out, and the difficulty of sourcing food, due to the lack of permitted land, was a predominant complaint.

In 1900, the Board for Congested Districts persuaded the Harris estate to break up Borve farm and make Borve, once more, a crofting community. Crofters on the island were allocated portions of the land - 24 crofts in total were allocated, and a road built.

Modern houses were built (some of two storeys) on many of the crofts, with slated or felted roofs instead of the traditional thatch. The road, croft allocation, and many of the buildings are visible today, especially from the top of Borve Hill.

There is a memorial to the croft allocation that also celebrates one hundred years of crofting in Borve. This is close to the Community Centre. The plaque (see picture below) lists the 24 crofters (their Gaelic names first) who were allocated land.