Life in Newburgh on Ythan

By Talpa

A dark history.

During the 19th century landowners in the Highland and Islands, many of them ruined financially by the 1745 Rebellion, saw an opportunity to restore their finances by replacing their tenants with sheep, and set about clearing their lands of the Highland families and communities who lived there. Many of those who went down this road carried out their task with ruthless and barbarous efficiency.
This is the township of Boreraig where once 22 households made a living from the fertile valley. In September 1853, Lord Macdonald's factor arrived with the Sheriff-Substitute and a body of police and began the forcible removal of the families living there, burning their roofs to prevent the evicted from returning.
If you want to fully appreciate the cruelty involved that day than take a look at this article.

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