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The Lowland Clearances
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The Lowland Clearances (1760s–1830s) emerged as a significant
consequence of the Scottish Agricultural Revolution, which transformed
the longstanding agricultural practices that had been prevalent in
Lowland Scotland during the seventeenth century.
A considerable
number of cottars and tenant farmers from the southern counties of
Scotland relocated from their farms and small holdings to burgeoning
industrial hubs such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and northern England, or
even ventured abroad. Alternatively, some chose to remain on their land
while adjusting to the changes brought about by the Scottish
Agricultural Revolution.
As the commercialization of farmland
progressed in Scotland during the 18th century, land was frequently
leased through auction processes. This practice resulted in an increase
in rental prices, which excluded numerous tenants from the market.
Additionally, shifts in agricultural methods led to the replacement of
part-time labourers or subtenants - referred to as cottars, cottagers,
or bondsmen - with full-time agricultural workers who resided either on
the primary farm or in rented housing within expanding or newly
established villages.
Consequently, many contemporary authors
and modern historians have linked the Agricultural Revolution to the
decline of cottars and their traditional lifestyle in various regions of
southern Scotland.
The Agricultural Revolution in Scotland
encompassed a series of significant changes in farming practices that
commenced in the 17th century and extended into the 19th century. This
transformation initiated with enhancements to the farmland in the
Scottish Lowlands, marking a shift in Scottish agriculture from one of
the least modernized systems to one that would evolve into the most
advanced and productive system in Europe. Traditionally, Scottish
agriculture employed the runrig management system, which likely
originated during the Late Middle Ages.
The fundamental farming
units prior to these improvements were known as 'baile' in the Highlands
and 'fermetoun' in the Lowlands. In these units, a limited number of
families cultivated open-field arable land and shared grazing rights.
Although the specifics of the runrig system varied by location, a common
characteristic was the periodic (likely annual) redistribution of
individual sections, referred to as "rigs," of arable land by lot,
resulting in families having intermixed plots throughout the field.
The Douglas Family's Journey
The Douglas
family, like many others, faced the harsh reality of eviction and
displacement. With their homes and livelihoods taken away, they had no
choice but to seek new places to settle. Glasgow, with its growing
industrial economy, became a prime destination for many displaced
families. The city offered job opportunities in factories and shipyards,
providing a chance for the Douglas family to rebuild their lives.
Migration to Ireland
In addition to Glasgow,
Ireland also became a destination for many Scottish families during the
Lowland Clearances. The Douglas family, seeking stability and new
opportunities, moved to Ireland where they hoped to find work and a
place to call home. The migration to Ireland was part of a larger
pattern of movement, as many Scottish families sought refuge and a fresh
start in a new land.
Contributions
Do you have an ancestor whose
story should be told here? Please let us have the details.
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Source
Sources for this article include:
The Lowland Clearances: Scotland's Forgotten People;
Tom Devine The Scottish Diaspora: Emigration,
Settlement and Impact; David Dobson
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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