na Dorsan is a monument that commemorates a century of transformation and celebrates the unity of a resilient community. Unveiled on November 1st, 2024, it stands as a testament to the strength of the people of the Galson township and their enduring commitment to reclaiming their home.

na Dorsan, Gaelic for "the doors," designed by renowned artists Will Maclean and Marian Leven, reflects the determined spirit of the people who, after being forcibly cleared from their land in 1863 to make way for a sheep farm, were able to return in 1924, when 52 families found new homes in Melbost, South Galson, and North Galson. The story of Galson’s transformation is not just about a physical resettlement, but about the reclaiming of identity, culture, and shared history. 

na Dorsan was commissioned by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, in collaboration with Airidhantuim Community Council, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, and Galson Grazing Committee.

You can find out more about na Dorsan, here. 

Photo credit Ralph Tonge Photography

The Bernera Riot Cairn commemorates the Bernera ‘Riot’ of 1874 when the people of Bernera rose up against the landowners Ground Agent who wanted to move their common grazing to a smaller area. 

On the 4th March the people chased the ground agent off Bernera, supposedly to his harm and distress. Shortly after a Bernera man was arrested in Stornoway as one of those who caused harm. When the people of Bernera heard of this they march on Stornoway demanding justice from the landlord. A few weeks later three Bernera men were summonsed to court on the 17th of July charged with assault. The trial lasted all day and was successfully defended by Charles Innes, a solicitor from Inverness, and the men went free.

The cairn is made up of stones from every croft on Bernera and capped with stones of the crofts the men who stood trial were from.

Symbolically located at the end of the road to Eishken, a deer shooting estate, the monument commemorates the ‘Heroes of the Land Struggle’ from the surrounding villages in Lochs who raided the Park Deer Forest in November 1887. 

Reports suggest that up to 1,000 men were involved and several hundred deer killed. The raid was organised by Donald Macrae, head teacher at Balallan school, to draw public attention to the history of clearance of settlements in Pairc earlier in the 19th century for sheep and deer, and the failure of the 1886 Crofters Act to provide additional land for the many cottars and impoverished landless residents of this part of Lewis. 

The raiders spent two nights in the Deer Forest before dispersing after a military taskforce was raised by the authorities and the Riot Act read by the Sheriff. Six men were charged with mobbing and rioting, tried in Edinburgh, but found ‘not guilty’ by the jury in January 1888. 

Unique archival material about the construction of this and other Lewis land monuments is held in the museum at Ravenspoint in Kershader, South Lochs, where there is also a video of the Angus Macleod Lecture given in 2023 by Professor Will Maclean, the designer of this and several other land raid monuments.

Photo credit Sam Maynard Pairc (picture taken at the cairn opening day in 1994)

Designed by Will McLean and built by local stonemason Jim Crawford, the memorial stands on a low hill, surrounded by earthworks reminiscent of wartime trenches.

When servicemen returned from the First World War in 1919 they came up against resistance to the assurances they had been given that they would be allocated crofts at Gress and were met with strong resistance from the landowner who proceeded to put legal obstacles in the way of progress for the men and their families.

With frustrations growing at the lack of movement the men from the surrounding villages decided to take the matter into their own hands and began to ‘raid’ Gress Farm.  Their determination eventually won and the crofting community of Gress was established with 45 crofts.

The monument serves as a reminder of their fight for land rights and honours the legacy of the crofters' impact on Scottish land reform.

Photo credit to Margaret Macleod ('impactmagz')

The cairn commemorates and represents the Aignish Riot, of 9th January 1888, when 1000 residents of Point, men and women, raided the fertile Aignish Farm and clashed in a battle with the police and the military. 

People were starving and in desperate need of land. They were pushed to the limit by poverty. The decision was taken to raid the farm but the forces of law and order got wind of plans. The sheriff, police constables, Marines and Royal Scots were  deployed to tackle the situation. The Riot Act was read in Gaelic, but that did not encourage the people to disperse. Fighting broke out and arrests were made indiscriminately. Thirteen of the raiders were imprisoned for terms ranging from 6-15 months. 

The riot brought national attention to  their plight. The stand these people took was the first step that led to Aignish farm being divided into 32 crofts in 1905.

Photo credit Sandie Photos

An Sùileachan encompasses different aspects of our history: the 19th century Lewis Land Clearances, the 20th century land raids by the Reef Raiders and changes in Scottish Land Reform and community ownership of the Bhaltos Peninsula.

An Sùileachan is a viewpoint, a visitor attraction with bi-lingual interpretation and provides a focus for local, cultural and educational events, whilst also acting as a celebration of island craftsmanship.