Knoydart: A History

by Denis Rixson

Knoydart—the northern edge of the 'Rough Bounds' is one of the most evocative names in Scotland. This text offers a history of Knoydart from the earliest times to the present day. A remote and desolate peninsula, its name derives from Viking settlers who only reckoned it worth three ouncelands—compared to five for the island of Eigg. Its warlike but impoverished inhabitants caused endless problems for their neighbors during the 17th century before becoming notorious in the 18th century under the leadership of Coll of Barrisdale. His protection racket has bequeathed the word 'blackmail' to the English language and he was notorious across Scotland. For the Jacobites, as well, Knoydart was a fertile recruiting ground. In the 18th and 19th centuries the area suffered large scale emigration, partly as a result of the brutal clearances of 1853. A further long century of decline followed, during which sheep and then deer were preferred to people. In 1948 discontent swelled again and it became the scene of the famous land-raid by the 'Seven men from Knoydart'. It has changed hands more often in the last 150 years than in the previous 700 years. The land continues to lie at the heart of the Knoydart problem and the book attempts to place events in their larger historical context. This is the struggle of a community to preserve itself against the harshness of the environment and the cynical exploitation of man.

Genres: History

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Denis Rixson (b. 1952) was a teacher in Mallaig, Morar, Scotland.

Reviews

[Michael Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read that delves into the inhabited history of the remote Knoydart Peninsula in the West Highlands. A story that encompasses the early Viking settlers, impoverished inhabitants, ruthless leaders, the Jacobite Rising, and the brutal impact of the Clearances. Rixson looks into Knoydart's economic history and shows how crime and war were financially beneficial to all, and demonstrates that agriculture alone would never have provided the answer because there was/is insufficient arable land to sustain community numbers. Rixson also reveals why sheep replaced the once lucrative cattle trade, only to be replaced in turn by deer.

[John Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, but author seems obsessed by a Tory view of subsidies. When poor people get them they are a "bad thing", when rich people get them they are not even called subsidies. Learned lots about linguistic markers of past settlement.

[Ross Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knoydart is a rugged peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, located between the sea lochs Nevis and Hourn. This is an accessible study of Knoydart and its history.

This is not an academic study of Knoydart, but it absolutely fills a gap by focussing specifically on the peninsula. The author has a very accessible writing style, but is clearly much stronger on the later history from the 18th century onwards and the 1853 clearance in particular. There is a clear interest on the history of landholding reform. It is acknowledged and understood that there is a real paucity of sources before the 18th century but this and the authors perhaps lack of expertise in this area create a book that is a little weighted to the later history. Despite this much of the later history is focussed on the issues of landholding, clearance and ‘improvement’. There is an odd gap in discussing the nuts and bolts of life in Knoydart from the 19th century to the present day. What are the facilities? When was the school founded? What is its roll now? What medical provision is there? What of the Old Forge Inn?

Minor gripes - the maps are difficult to read and need updated. There are no footnotes for what is clearly a well researched book.

This book is easy to read and informative. Gets a clear 4/5 from me.