The Lowland Clearances: Scotland's Silent Revolution 1760 - 1830

by Peter Aitchison, Andrew Cassell

The Highland Clearances are a well-documented episode in Scotland’s past but they were not unique. The process began in the Scottish Lowlands nearly a century before, when tens of thousands of people – significantly more than were later exiled form the Highlands – were moved from the land by estate owners who replaced them with livestock or enclosed fields of crops.

These Clearances undeniably shaped the appearance of the Scottish landscape as it is today as they swept aside a traditional way of life, causing immense upheaval for rural dwellers, many of whom moved to the new towns and cities or emigrated. Based on pioneering historical research, this book tells the story of the Lowland Clearances, establishing them as a wider part of the process of Clearance which affected the whole country and changed the face of Scotland forever.

Genres: History, Scotland, Nonfiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Andy Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. Very useful in researching my next novel.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Highland Clearances are infamous for their cruelty and the great numbers that were thrown off their land, many to leave Scotland forever on assisted passages to North America whether they wanted to go or not. The Lowland Clearances add a fairly new dimension to this process but the actual numbers who emigrated because of land enclosures, loss of tenancies and livelihoods, were far greater. It's just that the process was slower and the people left gradually over a long period of time. Their reasons were the same, however.

Lowland clearances happened by stealth rather than by blatant eviction. Leases were tied to making improvements to the land and property. "Tenants were instructed to bring in new land, to drain marsh and bog, to plough out stones, to uproot ancient trees, to create a new Eden from the wilderness. It was back-breaking and it was heartbreaking, because come the end of a lease....the farm was obviously worth more and often consolidated into a larger farm. Lairds and their factors might have played the paternalist role but what really mattered was money". Improved land meant higher rents which tenant farmers couldn't pay so their leases weren't renewed. From the lairds' and landowners' point of view, the improvements - this Agricultural Revolution - transformed the wealth and productivity of the nation. It was still dependent upon labour though - to work the farms, to build the roads and bridges, to plant the estates and maintain them was labour intensive.

I've always thought how lovely planned villages are in Scotland (at least 130 according to Smout), particularly those in conservation areas. I didn't know how cynically they were provided, however. It wasn't the generosity of the landowner, providing adequate accommodation for the estate workers. It was a way of stopping agricultural labourers, cleared from their land, from leaving the area to go to the towns to work in industry. Planned villages meant that tenants could follow their own trade, e.g. weavers, fishermen, but were readily available when needed on the land at critical times of the year. In other words, it was an investment in retaining this handy pool of reserve labour.

What this book does ably is to provide an introduction to the subject which has whetted my appetite for finding out more. It's a bit of a muddle though. It's written by journalists who were tasked with providing three radio documentaries for BBC Scotland and it reads like a documentary transcript. It jumps from period to period, relying on its flow by linking together quotes from well known Scottish historians and relatives of those who emigrated. The title is a misnomer as almost half of the book relates to pre-1760 when the agricultural revolution began to make its mark in Scotland. The last quarter or so discusses the Highland Clearances and a period later than 1830. It was the title that made me buy the book though and I'm not sorry. The evidence shows that this wasn't a 'silent revolution'. It caused a great deal of upset and misery to tens of thousands of ordinary people many of whom, such as The Galloway Levellers, revolted in a true sense by knocking down enclosure walls and fences, maiming cattle, etc.

When we read about The Agricultural Revolution, about the ways it transformed and modernised Britain, increasing the health and wealth of the majority, we mustn't forget the human suffering that had to take place to allow these changes to happen.

The lords and lairds they drive us out
From mailings* where we dwell,
The poor man says "Where shall we go?"
The rich says "Go to Hell."
These words they spoke in jest and mocks,
But by their works we know,
That if they have their herds and flocks,
They care not where we go.

*rented property

[Graeme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating book tells the story of how the agricultural improvements promoted by Scotland's landowners forced large numbers of people off the land across the Lowlands in the period between 1760 and 1830.

[HeatherD · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a non-fiction book, it was easy to read - the history was presented in an interesting and compelling mannger. Lots of great examples. Although it was clearly not intended to be an academic work, more supporting footnotes would have been appreciated.

[Johanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting study of lowland clearances, the precursor to the terrible highland clearances. looks at the similarities and differences and how the clearances formed modern Scotland for better and worse.
(A long reading time because it was borrowed after I'd started it and took ages to return!)

[Marcas Brian MacStiofáin Ó Mhaitiú Ó Domhnaill · Rating 5 out of 5]

an amazing book, showing light an scotlands hidden history

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Highland Clearances are infamous. The Lowland Clearances have been sanitised in the popular mind by describing them as “improvements” but the author points out how many more Scots were driven to the desperate act of emigration by an earlier, slower process of deprivation of their land and livelihood by the “improvements” of capitalism in the rest of the country.

The people of Arran (that island I saw from my bedroom window as a child) were doubly disadvantaged. They did not benefit from belated and partial legal protection from avaricious landowners and were Gaelic speaking.

Only those families who survived replanting to North America, later Australia and New Zealand can tell their stories.

[Angela Breidenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book because it brought out the subtle changes that caused such change in the Scottish Lowlands. The research was fabulous. Stories of the people often brought tears. I related well to the history with ancestors from the Galloway hills in Carsphairn Parish and Ayrshire. Excellent storytelling of historical events, but also wonderful opportunity to understand how our ancestors interacted in their place and time. This kind of history book will help you understand how your family experienced Scotland of the past and possibly why they emigrated, if yours was a family from the Lowlands like mine. Enjoyable read. I'd like more. Now if I could only get my eyes on the documentary series these newsman created that inspired this book!

[peter mcmanmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seems to be relatively blind to the wholesale upheaval and suffering of the people who were the victims of the agricultural “improvements “. He speaks like a Brit who has been brought up to cherish the history of empire building and brutalizing of marginalized communities who were ultimately forced to emigrate from their homelands and ironically prosper when released from the stultifying influences of the British cast system. Whether it was the highlands, the islands or the lowlands he felt that Scotland was the better for it.
It is hard for an American to Understand this very British thought process.

[Gary Lawrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about the relatively unknown

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful understanding of the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the enclosure of land and the destruction of the poor tenant farmer class. Well presented and enjoyable to read.

[John Fullerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable and written with a lively intelligence and curiosity, this is an engaging page-turner of great educational and historical value and, considering the emotive nature of the 'ethnic cleansing' of Scotland, extraordinarily even-handed and open-minded, embracing many different views. I found it fascinating, and it filled a yawning gap in my knowledge of Scotland, especially Lowland Scotland. Congratulations to the publishers on reissuing the book.

[Steve James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched and balanced insight into the 'improvements' or Lowland Clearances which did not draw the same shock and awe historical perspective as the Highland Clearances. I particularly enjoyed the historical context in which the writer sets the unraveling of events - for example, the French Revolution as well as the Industrial and Agricultural revolutions. I'll look at the lowland countryside around me in a new light.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A interesting period of social history . This book was apparently written together with a radio series and takes evidence from many academics. An excellent book with limited appeal though.

[Morvie Fik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend everyone to read this.