Local History

The earliest known settlers in the Kinlochbervie area are the Mackays of Sandwood, though in roundhouses and ancient sheilings we have evidence of life in prehistoric times.  Today, the most common surname is Morrison – several families of Morrisons having come here from the Hebrides about 400 years ago.  Originally people built their homes in the coastal area of Aisir (Oldshore), where the best land was.  You can still see many croft houses there today with their thick walls, though now they have slate rather than thatched roofs.  The population greatly increased in 1819/20, when inland areas of Strathnaver were cleared to make way for sheep, and many displaced people settled here, mostly on the shores of Loch Inchard.  To cater for this influx of people, the government provided a church building near the present harbour.  It was designed by Thomas Telford, built in 1829, and is the oldest public building in Kinlochbervie.  In 1846, there was an outbreak of potato disease which caused a great deal of hunger and many people emigrated.  Crofting and emigration remained the pattern for the community until the rise of the local fishing industry during the 20^th century.

Shortly after World War 2, the Ministry of Information undertook a study of Kinlochbervie.  The result was a series of pictures with an accompanying commentary, entitled 'Self-Help in the North West Highlands'.  If you would like to see this, click here.

There is also a Ministry of Information film and booklet about Achriesgill called 'The Crofters' dating from 1944.  The film has been put on video cassette and is sometimes available for sale on the internet.

Statistical Accounts