Old Photograph Crofters Torrin Scotland

Old photograph of crofters and cottages at Torrin, Isle of Skye, Scotland. This Scottish crofting and fishing village lies on the eastern shore of Loch Slapin, five miles south west of Broadford on the road to Elgol. The village boasts good views of Blaven and Loch Slapin. Crofting evolved from a turbulent period in the nineteenth century during the Highland Clearances. It was largely a means to sustain populations. In the 21st century, it is found predominantly in the rural Western and Northern isles and in the coastal fringes of the western and northern Scottish mainland. The Crofters' Holdings Scotland Act of 1886 provided for security of tenure, a key issue as most crofters remain tenants. The Act encouraged tenants to improve the land under their control, as it ensured that the control could be transferred within families and passed to future generations. Croft work was hard, back-breaking work, mainly done by women which yielded a subsistence living.



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