The Western Isles have been inhabited for over 6000 years. The Vikings invaded in the 9th century and today many place names are of Norse origin. Gaelic and English are both spoken. The Isle of Lewis and The Isle of Harris still retain some of their history and culture going back over 6000 years. The history of the Islands covers quite a bit of hardship over the times, when the islanders have fought with great determination to carve out their future. Historically Lewis and Harris have gone their separate ways, despite the existence of the common clan surname Macleod. - however today they are more united.

Callanish Stones
One of the things that The Western Isles are famous for - is the Callanish Stones - a worthy rival to Stonehenge - in fact these stones are older than Stonehenge. In these ancient stones there is much pre history It would appear from these that The Western Isles had a settled society long before the Norsemen sailed to the Islands. The Standing Stones were old when even Rome wasn't even heard of.
 
Calanais comprises a late Neolithic stone ring and associated lines of standing stones.. Callanish has three sets of stone circles all within a few miles of each other - the main being a ring of large stones about 12 metres in diameter encloses a huge monolith at its centre. Charcoal samples were taken in the 1980's and subjected to radio-carbon dating in America which showed that these stones were erected between 2900 and 2600BC. Up till the 80,s previous estimates of how old they were - were really only educated guesses.
 
Norse Settlements - 9th Century
Until the 9th century the Western Isles was regarded as part of what we now know to be Scotland. Across this time permanent Norse settlements were being formed in Lewis and indeed throughout the Hebrides. A race of people of mixed Norse & Celtic ancestry came into being.

The year 1066 - Important to The Isle of Lewis
Everyone associates 1066 with the battles of Stamford Bridge - The battle of Hastings - when the Normans conquered England but actually this date is very important to The Isle of Lewis and other Hebridean Islands. One of the Norse leaders Godfrey Crobhan escaped slaughter and made his way to The Isle of Man trying to control the island and indeed he succeeded - his kingdom extended from The Butt of Lewis to Dublin.

Godfrey Crobhan - vassal of the King of Norway - brought peace
Although he was a vassal for the king of Norway - he conveniently forgot this fact and behaved rather badly to the islanders. Meanwhile the King of Norway who heard about this sent over nobles to "take control" of the situation. One such noble was Ingemund who set up headquarters in The Isle of Lewis - however all he and his followers did was to plunder, fight and abuse the womenfolk - so when king Magnus of norway heard about this he set of with his men to reach Lewis and annihilated Ingemund. Godfrey Crobhan was expelled and the kings' son Sigurd took his place and peace and tranquility reigned for quite some while.

Fights for Ownership Raged on
Over the next hundred years or so many fights raged by several others to regain The isle of Lewis - descendants of Godfrey Crobhan - one being Somerled and Godfrey the Black who each laid their claims to Lewis. Somerled won and Godfrey returned to Norway defeated. Somerley was eventually murdered on Renfrew in 1164 and Godfrey then regained possession of Lewis once again

Alexander 11 of Scotland fought to own Lewis and Harris
Alexander 11 of Scotland also wanted to add Lewis to his kingdom and there were many fights between him and the Norwegians - ultimately the Norse king died in 1265 and the last of the race of Godfrey Crobhan passed away and Lewis became part of England.

Macleods - Tormod and Torquil
Over this period 700 years ago when Norway finally lost its hold on Lewis and indeed North West Scotland, there was a scramble for "The Isle of Lewis". Initially the Macleods grabbed "Lewis", "Harris" , "Raasay" and much of Skye and pars of the mainland coast - but then later two descendants Tormod and Torquil fought to slit it out.

Eventually Tormod held Skye and Harris, whilst Torquil had Lewis and Raasay. Although it is some 200 years or more since the Tormod Macleods sold Harris and nearly 400 years since Torquil Macleods lost Lewis the Macleods presence can still be seen especially in the surnames which prevail today.

Lewis ceded to the Scots - Treaty of Perth
Lewis was ceded to the Scots in 1266 by the Treaty of Perth. Lots of the Norwegians then returned home and many islanders who had left Lewis - then returned back to the island.

Villages - Still have Norse Names
Many of the villages on Lewis have still retained the Norse names - Grimersta, Swainbost, Grimshader and many Lewis people have fair hair and blue eyes of their Norse ancestors.

Many fights for ownership over the next 700 years
Apart from the descendant of the Norsemen - by far the main body of the rest of the Islanders is composed of Celtic stock, most of whom spoke and indeed many still speak Gaelic. There were over the years fights between the Macleods and the Morisons. The Brieves were revered for quite a period. There was also the Clan MacAulay - who occupied for a time - the area of Uig. There was the Macdonalds and the Macleans

16th Century - Roderic - against the King
In the sixteenth century the "Long Island" (as the Western Isles are known) had to endure great disorder. Roderic - who was almost the last of the Macleods - was ruling. There was a royal expedition in 1540 - the king trying to collect taxes which the Macleods owed and in an endeavour to gain a foothold in Lewis - they did actually take Stornoway Castle - but the hostile islanders serving under Rodreic's sons - won and the fight was abandoned. They did try again a few years later - to no avail.

The Blachouses in Lewis - Western Isles The blackouses were lived in on the islands right up until the 1960's - these were dwellings which houses both animals and humans. There was no chimney and a peat fire was lit at all times in the centre of the kitchen and living area. It was in the early 1900's that laws were enforced which meant that animals had to be housed separately - this resulted in a new type of houses named "whitehouses" Click Here to see more of the Arnol Blackhouse.....

Dun Carloway Broch

The Iron Age Broch at Carloway in The Western Isles a stunning example of a broch. The broch was a structure built as a means of defence. The Carloway broch was probably built for either a tribal leader or at least for a really important member of the community. It was built with two concentric drystone walls. It isn't know exactly how long the Carloway Broch was in use, however it is known that it was in use in the 1500's. Click Here for more details - The Carloway Broch.....

The Herring Girls of Stornoway Part of The Islands history envelopes and centres around the fishing industry which over the years has been of great importance. The Herring Girls played a major role in the fishing industry. The girls were really "hardy" and have contributed greatly to The Islands history Click Here for more details - The Herring Girls....