A man talks about the land clearances of the Scottish Borders in the 18th century, and searches for some of the lost, forgotten villages which these created.
It should be remembered that this was never an English/Scottish thing, it was all about the rich taking a dump on the poor. It all began with the Enclosure Acts in England, which basically allowed the rich to seize common land and make it their own. It had the effect of driving the poor off their land. Next up were the Lowland Clearances as you mention here, and then the horrors of the Highland Clearances. It was always about the rich and the poor, with Clan Chiefs in the Highlands driving their own Clansmen off their land and onto the 'Coffin Ships' for America and Canada. The 1st Duke of Sutherland is still reviled to this day.
As a place of my ancestors I am so grateful for you remembering our heritage. I feel as though the Scottish history is being wiped out. I share your distress over this. Thank you Mark. Gaelic is being wiped out as well. My heart hurts for this.
@@sanderson9338 Gaelic is not Britonnic like Welsh is or like Pictish probably was; like Irish its a Goidelic language. Pretty obvious from the name. Its definitely not the only Scottish language but Hayden also never claimed that.
Many of the lowlanders like my ancestors immigrated to the mountains of the southern USA and created a beautiful mountain hillbilly culture and music In America. They went from southern Scotland to Northern Ireland to the Appalachian mountains,Ozark mountains and all over the southern USA and become known as Scots/Irish or (Ulster Scots) in your part if the world. But these people had a huge influence on American folk, bluegrass and County music and culture in the rural culture of the southern USA.
@jonnyneace8928 True but Scots and Scots/Irish brought their fiddles and their story telling. They quickly adopted the banjo and the American invented Mountain Dulcimer. Their is actually modern Scottish and Irish folk music that does use the banjo. (Men of Worth ) and Donnie Macdonald use the Banjo along with the guitar and Octive Mandolin.
@@backhandgrip23 I'm an Elliott from South Carolina, USA but don't know if my family came to the states through the port of Charleston or from the Scots Irish who came down from the Northeast. Does anyone know?
They changed the world! Astronauts, Presidents, inventors, writers and poets. There isn't a sport worth anything that does not have name from the ancient borders! Recently looking through my own books and material that I use for display at our Scottish festivals. Came across an old copy of Sherlock Holmes, which Sir Conan Doyle based on a physician he once took a University course from.. Dr. Joseph Bell!
I was shocked to see that the U.N. classified Scotch Lowlanders as an Indigenous minority within the U.K. I appreciate the gesture but I don't know if it's necessarily accurate. Because the tongue is not Gael. Even those with Gaelic blood speak Anglo Saxon.
Yet another piece of our history most of us were never taught about. I had never heard of the Lowland Clearances but looking at the land it makes perfect sense. I love the respect you showed the place. Total respect all the way from Biggar.
This was done so well I just had to post this on our local Scottish Association FB page. They tend to be Highland centered and were focused on the Highland clearances. Had to pipe up about the clearances of the Lowlands. Started really before the so called Union in 1706 when this was accelerated. Many of the border Clan Chiefs and people were hanged and forced off their homelands. The purge continued through the agriculture clearances.
Exactly. And it is for this reason I am always amazed at the slavish identification of Scots lowlanders with the 'British', and their hatred of all things highland and Gaelic. This is what London wants.
@@Londubh1 That is not anything new. The Early Modern Lowlanders considered themselves more akin to the Welsh and English than to the Highlands (especially the Western Highlands), and in social organization and material culture (having a strong French influence, in contrast to the strong Scandinavian influence of the Highlands and especially the Western part), often indeed were. Their earlier identity as Hen Ogledd categorized them as part of the diaspora of the southern half of Albion (in contrast to Caledonians and groups such as the Picts), and Roman records indicate this cultural divide existed at least far back as their invasion. Heck, while the destruction was not as thorough, the Pict-Gael-derived Scots subjugated and undermined their regional identity and language long before the English succeeded in doing so.
@@DavidNotSolomon Sure. That is standard practice for militaries and the upper classes/castes, though. And while the Lowlanders may consider themselves more as part of the southern diaspora (or later on, a mid-lands diaspora), that does not mean that the _southerners_ view them as such.
@@nevisysbryd7450the early modern lowlanders considered themselves more akin to the Welsh, not the English, as they quite literally were the same people as the Welsh. They spoke Cumbric, which is similar to Old Welsh. Then the Kingdom of Strathclyde, for example, was annexed by the Gaels united with the Picts (which erased the Pictish culture). So the Gaels wiped out the Pictish culture and the Cumbric culture. But then the Angles took over. So the loss of Celtic identity in the lowlands can be attributed to both the Gaels (Irish) and the Angles (English). So I don’t understand why any of these groups would feel the need to tell Scottish people who they are in this day and age, they Scots have had enough identity loss and confusion.
Maybe thats why my family is in the United states I dont think they would have left if they had a choice. Every time a I watch your videos I feel like I am home. That may be why we cherish cold rainy days in the south here.
@@sanderson9338 Sounds like his family rose to the challenge and helped to found the most powerful nation on earth. Being an Aussie of Ayrshire descent, I'm jealous of him too, while I raise sheep on the harshest continent on earth haha.
Hello Mark, your passion is amazing.....I am a Johnson here in Nova Scotia, Canada.....my Johnson's were members of the border clans on the scottish side, my Mother a Stewart from the Highlands....keep the passion for the history..subscribed
Thankyou I have learnt so Soo much about my ancestors the places they called home "were all Armstrong's and Elliott's here" many many things I have heard seen make me feel for a home I have known 'hireath' mm this again reminds me again there is a place patiently waiting for my return .. I hope I find when I'm there . 🏴🇳🇿
My family, from my dad's sides and my mom's all trace roots back to Scotland. Whether they be Highland, Lowland or Borders I do not know but the word "Clearance" has been handed down in family folk lore.
My great-great-grandmother was clear from the highlands along with her family and ultimately exile to America with her Irish husband, I never gave much thought to any other clearances I'm glad I found this, much wrong was done in those days and it still goes on today, just technically different but the same, and the Souls of those times are growing restless and this narrator is their voice.
Mark Nicol So true. I had studied the history of the British Empire as a hobby for years and only recently "discovered' the Clearances ...And that some of my ancestors came to Australia because of them. I was astounded.
@@karate4348 Thankfully, more Scottish history is being taught in schools now. The Scottis Government also ensured Scottish poets and languages were given space too. It is a good start. We need to reclaim our own history and culture.
I know with my clan it’s almost like we never even existed. All that Remains is the rules of a tower house that is rarely ever mentioned or featured in anything let alone a family name that’s all but forgotten.
This is so, so intriguing! The 'market cross' is he saying.. he is envisioning the crossroad of their lives. What a lovely presentation. I feel like he is an old friend telling me the story. He's putting the pieces together as he walks over the history.
I have watched these segments many times, most remarkable. Knowledge of history, geography, terrain, thank you Mark for bringing us home, teaching us and plugging us into our distant past, and with it a greater understanding of our ancestral blood. Slainte my friend!
I live in Mississippi, close to Jackson. But I grew up in a small cotton mill town (Stonewall) in east Mississippi, among a host of Scots and Irish blooded folks. Back in 1986 I was in Scotland for my first time, loved it, the old mill at Lanark reminded me so much of the town I grew up, and if I had my way, and given the chance, I would span the ocean for a 4th time, and in Scotland I would remain. There are so many Scots which populated the rich farmland of the South and many don't know their history, which I have tried in my lifetime to reveal to them. That is why your work is vastly important and most timely. In fact the American War between the States, was in my opinion, a continuation of conflicting ideas which is rooted in the history of Britain, moreover, the influences which served to divide English and Scot, also served to divide the North (New England) and the South (Scots and Irish). Mississippi is laced with towns named after Scottish cities. Just saying what historians here say was our Civil War was just another round of English & Scot/Irish hostilities, though few historians have come to admit it. But, on those occasions I have been on Scottish soil, I know I have come home. By the way, I bought my wife a google-home for her birthday in December. Now we can watch your segments on full screen tv. Maybe one day you can come over here and do a segment on Scots in America, re the migration, influences, and etc. It would be a first, and if you put them on DVD's, I'm sure they would sell, especially at the Highland Games around the country. Could do the same in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and etc. Just a thought, but keep doing what your doing, and if your ever over this way, look me up..
quality. those ramparts and market cross, just imagining all the people running about there being busy pretty epic and now it's some mounds and a stane in a field and in some years down the line it won't even be that. shame really!
This makes sense -- the wide open landscapes and small towns and villages belie a more populous past. The powerful landowners could save or condemn those earlier communities. Somewhat like Newcastleton, Denholm was a planned village created by the Douglas family in the 1760s (a hamlet had been there before, mostly decimated by the invading English). Denholm would have been populated in part by farmers put off the surrounding lands, although many of them simply left the borders, never to return.
Mark, as a Scots-Irish American with Borders roots, I very much appreciate your work. I hope that you will someday explore the lore and land of the Irvings/Irvines in Annandale. Ever been to Bonshaw Tower, the Kirtle Water and environs? It might definitely be worth a look if you ever journey to the West Marches.
erinviene. my great-great-grandfather was a Irving and oddly enough he was born in the Shetland Islands but his parents we're from Irvingtown Ireland, haven't quite figured out how that happened? he ultimately made it to Florida and so here I am.
Near the town of Brechin, there were two estates that both evicted the small land tenants, they had no where to go so built a community in a gorge between the 2 estates. During WW1, when the men were away, they evicted the village, and planted woodland over the site. 2 Canadians had a cairn built on the site, a Celtic cross dedicated to the destitute, they were both born there. The larger tenants who benefitted, became a higher tier as part of their class structure. Edit, I talked with an old man, back in the 80s, who remembers the singing coming from the village bar after some local event. I have been to the site and saw trees that had grown up through the ruins and the remains of items like old zinc bath tubs. Free Scotland
Greetings. Excellent. I am a Storyteller and the fact that these stories have been "crushed" out of history, helps me to understand the mentallity of English history. Stay blessed. OL.
Many thanks for your video and topic. I have both Border and Highland family connections on both sides. I’m looking forward to studying the Border Clearances as I’m quite sure my family members had to. I’ve from their villages.
Dude I’m really enjoying your uploads , im in Orr , absolutely magical and enchanting, the way and your passion for your homeland tha you omit , gravity
Fantastic videos .. i'm starting to upload them onto FB .. credited to you of course with a link to this channel. Thanks for your honesty and hard work Mark . Well Done
The highland clearances were just more documented I think, than the lowland clearances, both brutal and sad, I think it all started with James the 6th, he wrote the Statute of Iona and the Enclosure Act, which caused the clearances eventually. Scotland would have around 50 million but we only have a little under 5 1/2 million, had it not been for such events. Great vid, love your stuff, thanks for all you do!
Greetings. Excellent. I am a Storyteller and the fact that these stories have been "crushed" out of history, helps me to understand the mentallity of English history. Stay blessed. OL
its a sad thing to loose your memory because from your memories you create the future. who controls the past controls the future. buildings and places remember things for us and without them people forget
Big THANK YOU for this piece! I am currently reading "Secrets of the Sea House" by Elisabeth Gifford and the issue of Highland Clearances is happening in the background of the story. I was intrigued to learn more and the information is scarce and not widely publicized. Deeply moved by the aftermath of these events.... :(
Fairsplit Divorce & Separation Financial Solutions no worries thanks for watching!! The Highland clearances are slightly more talked about and understood than the Lowland clearances I talk about here. But both had the same devastating effect on the people and landscape.
Fantastic video mark I’ve just done a dna test and low and behold as a Carlisle man I had no clue I come from a long line of Armstrong’s as far back as Gilnockie castle
I watched the Time Team episode featuring the island of Mull. They talked about this wiping out of entire villages and the great loss of records with it.
Yes I looked at old maps and was perplexed by so many villages marked on them. They aren't there now. Much like the vanished village Brigadoon. A horrible injustice. My grandfather was born on the Cluny MacPherson Chief's estate. My grandmother's family left Ireland after the famine. They and their siblings came to NYC, Australia and Canada.I didn't know that there were also Lowland Clearances.
Fantastic piece throughly enjoy your posts. Such a sad piece of Scottish history like the highland clearances the clearance of the lowlands was a political decision which created an area for the socially Wealthy and gave them more power and influence, much of which still exists today.
Now you know why many left for Northern Ireland and soon after the U.S. Without these folks originally from the Lowlands where would the U.S. be nowadays??
Mark what a great memorial to all the people affected by the clearances. Where can I get a map from the period. Trying to track down some of my people from Kirkcudbright and dumfries areas. Thxu kind sir and God bless
Absolutely brilliant video, Mark. I just so happened to type "Scottish Lowland Clearances" into youtube to see what would pop up, and apparently I done that search just one day after you had uploaded this video. What a coincidence! I'm a bit of a history nutt when it comes to Scotland, so I was very pleased to find that you had done a video on this topic. I wonder if there's any lost villages where I live, in Renfrewshire. Speaking of lost villages, I was looking into my family tree and it just so happens that my Grandas side of the family all seemed to have resided at a village in Aberdeenshire which no longer exists. It's apparently called Crawton Village, which was next to Stonehaven and Dunnottar castle. I can only find little to no information on it, but apparently the last inhabitant abandoned the place in 1927. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawton This obviously wouldn't have anything to do with any clearances though.
OhDidYeAye just finished filming it yesterday ha ha. Swathes of the Lowlands were affected by the clearances, I would imagine Renfrewshire would be included. Couple of books been written ithe subject now. Have to admit I was pretty astounded when I found that Mercat Cross. Read a lot of people who have looked for it but couldn't locate it. Check out some of my other history films on my You Tube Cannel.
Yeah, I actually just found this book www.amazon.co.uk/Lowland-Clearances-Scotlands-Silent-Revolution/dp/1780270690/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490394001&sr=8-1&keywords=lowland+clearances Apparently there's a wee bit of controversy over the book as it had gone through a re-print due to readers pointing out that they had failed to mention an uprising in Galloway against the first of the lowland clearances in 1724. www.thenational.scot/news/14901936.Campaign_to_have_book_about_Lowland_Clearances_reprinted_is_a_success/ I could imagine how it must have felt finding the Mercat Cross. I get such a rush just reading about new things on the internet nevermind finding them in person, haha. Will do big chap. ;)
A fellow Macgee, i recently dicovered that Macgee or Magee etc (im Magee) was an alias taken by some MacGregors during the MacGregor genocide in the highlands, either you went to the new world, your children were adopted by other clans, or changed your name or were put to the sword. Royal is our race. Check this out hal_macgregor.tripod.com/gregor/disguise.html its fascinating
A very good and proud video by Mr Nicol raising this often overlooked aspect of the huge changes wrought in Scotland during the 18th Century. For further information see this talk by Prof. Tom Devine on the Lowland Clearances for an explanation of the forces behind these clearances. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mYU2ibb6zRc.html . Prof.Devine also covers this topic in Chapter 4 "Forgotten History: Dispossession in the Borders" in his seminal book "The Scottish Clearances: A History of the Dispossessed" - a magnificent book that people interested in this topic should read.
The same thing took place in England only there is was called "the Enclosures" and had the same effect. Land confiscated from the peasants by act of parliament.
Hi Mark, is there a suitable email address that I could use to contact you? I would love to chat with you about the clearances in the Borders as part of my dissertation project. Thanks, Rachael.
ALAN McManus no much but there’s a lot in that book I said. Bewcastke is actually a pretty barren area now when you go down but it’s stuffed full of Reiver and Roman history, it’s no far from the Wall
My Grandfather on my mother's side was Laurie, a sept of the Kennedys,, I often wondered why border people would come to Glasgow, he was a cavalryman in the Scots Grays WW1, never forgot that, scarred a generation. We seem to be used like the sheep which were more profitable than people in the minds of our past governments, In the words of my father's clan forget not, or in the Kennedy, Avise la fin, consider the end. Foul expedience has always stretched in our country, my friend.
think they were awarded land in northern ireland for the first clearance from high and low lands, as a result the small dewellers here were dispossessed and sent the west of ireland under the scheme `` to hell or to connaught`` initiated by oliver cromwell ,, This was all about large scale farming and to create huge landed estates -- the dispossed had to take the boat out of here. and start again in a new Land..
@serlaigh chantelle It turned out this act of rebellion against the lowlanders resulted in their departure to America where they set up home in the mountain range of Virginia and Kentucky ,and went on to make a big contribution to the wars of freedom where they became known as the ``Scotch Irish`` ,, the rest is history.
We will never truly know the answer. I don't know exactly how my forefathers left Scotland. But I think it's safe to assume not everyone on the border was given land and safe passage. From researching the Armstrong Clan it appears many were slaughtered. There was a time where any Armstrong found was to be hung on the spot. I would guess that the King being the King of Scotland previously probably had preferences for certain clans and possibly hatred for others. All we can do is fit as many pieces of the puzzle together as possible and attempt to make an educated guess.
Hiya, me again.... Is this old cross marker across from the old cemetery..!.? I'm Google map using as I'm watching your video..lol Did you find the village of Lour.!.?
mark whilie watching you doco of Peebleshire 1647 i found some of my relatives name on the map they6 are called diack which was my grand mother's maiden name thank you for show this video, can you provide me with a lotion that i can obtain more info about the famiiiles names mentioned on the map
jack harrison there’s a resource called the Heritage Hub in the town of Hawick. You will be able to contact them online and they will be able to tell you.
Herbert Norman Dolphiston Tower south of Jedburgh belonged to this family. The name Randulph de Anslie was inscribed on the lintel over the main gateway. This was a heavily fortified tower but like many in the area was demolished for agriculture. Not sure if anything remains, even ditches or bumps in the ground.
Mark Nicol thanks for the reply. That is my families clan. I visited Scotland recently but didn't find anything about that clan till the day I had to leave. Thanks bro! The Castle was destroyed by Bruce's/ Wallace's troops to not allow it to be in the hands of the enemy. Just like the celts did with the Romans.
Have you been to the site? There are a lot of old tower / castle sites in that area almost all completely forgotten. I was planning on doing a video down there soon. That’s why I knew about Anslie lintel above the door.
Mark Nicol no i haven't i found out about it to late in my travels to Scotland. I shall when I go. I'm located in TX now. Trying to figure it all out. I don't think it's a coincidence that the lowland families and the ainslies have been deleted from history. It will be interesting to see if you do go and film it. I'm starting with no info or history.
What intrigues me is that the Anslie family inscription was recorded at some point in history. Even if the tower was fully destroyed this huge lintel stone would have been valuable building material and more than likely survives in a farm building or such like near by. TX = Texas?
Another great video Nicol! This must have taken you ages! Why are you not presenting with BBC or Channel 4? If you decide to stick with YT... get a good editor. Makes a world of a difference if you're into producing influential stuff. Just check out google. Great choice of tracks for this compilation. Shots and scripting frikkin perfect! Congrats! Nobody ever mentions sound but you have this sorted here too. If you ad lib mostly... you are more skilled on these subjects than any presenter from big media. The caveat is, editing is the key to reaching more people on this stuff. Bigger audience etc... Otherwise there is nothing wrong with using this platform as an archive to look back on. Or a database to refer people to kind of thing. YT is seems relatively stable in this genre right now... Still ...back everything the f*ck up ofcourse! Great channel!
