Glendale
| |
|---|---|
 Glendale | |
  Glendale Location within theIsle of Skye | |
| OS grid reference | NG175495 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | IV55 8 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| 57°26′51″N6°42′39″W / 57.447593°N 6.710770°W /57.447593; -6.710770 | |
Glendale (Scottish Gaelic:Gleann Dail) is a community-owned estate on the north-western coastline of theDuirinish peninsula on the island ofSkye and is in theScottish council area ofHighland.[1] The estate encompasses the smallcrofting townships of Skinidin,Colbost, Fasach, Glasphein, Holmisdale, Lephin, Hamaraverin,Borrodale,Milovaig, Waterstein, Feriniquarrie, Totaig, Hamara, and others.
The Gaelic name,Gleann Daill, is derived fromgleann, meaning "valley", which usually refers to a harsher environment that can be steep and/or rocky,[2] anddail meaning "field, dale, meadow, plain or river-meadow", which usually refers to fertile, arable land beside water. TheOrdnance Survey (2005) suggest thatdail may also mean "level field by a river".[3] This makes the English translation read: "valley of river-meadows" or "valley of level fields by a river".
Mac an Tàilleir (2003) suggests thatdail is derived from the Norsedalr, giving a tautological name, where both parts simply mean "valley".[4]
The crofts are strung out along a small strath of oolitic loam, which is the basis for the good quality of the farming land. The hills above are underlain bybasalt, which also provides good grazing for cattle and sheep.[5]
During theunsettled times of the late nineteenth century, when the localcrofters sought land reform, this area played an important part in the struggle. After theBattle of the Braes in 1882, the unrest spread to Glendale.
The landlords refused to allow the local population to collect wood from the shore for heating, and they had to use straw to thatch the houses as they were forbidden to cut rushes. Land was in short supply as the holdings had been sub-divided 40 years earlier to provide for thosecleared from better land.[6]
Led by John MacPherson, the crofters demanded the return of the common grazing land that had been taken from them. Taking direct action, they began grazing their cattle on this land, court orders for their removal notwithstanding. Police action in January 1883 proved ineffective and eventually a government official was sent to Skye on board the navy gunboatHMSJackal to conduct negotiations. Five crofters including MacPherson agreed to stand in a token trial. They were sentenced to two months in jail and became known as the "Glendale martyrs",[6] and are commemorated by a memorial in the village. It was also agreed that a Royal Commission, which became theNapier Commission, would be set up to investigate the crofters' grievances, which eventually resulted in the far-reachingCrofters Act of 1886.[7]
HistorianNeil Oliver stated that "what happened in Glendale was a hugely significant part of what was going on in the Highlands. The events that unfolded there were extraordinary. For communities to remember and teach the wider community about their own history is terrific".[6]
In July 2010 there was a homecoming of the Glendalediaspora during which local man Iain MacPherson blew the horn once used by his great-grandfather John.[6]
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