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Placename Bhaltos (Valtos) |
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Translation fields of the peaked points. |
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Description Valla-ass (n). Bhaltos was one of the first townships to show organised resistance to the proprietor and factor during the period of the crofting wars. The Kilmuir estate was purchased in 1855 by Captain Fraser from the MacDonald estate. Kilmuir quickly became the highest rented estate on Skye. Captain Fraser is said to 'have been hurt' by complaints from his tenants in 1877 when grumblings initially began. (This was the same year as the 'great flood' when his mansion house was destroyed. See an Drochaid Dhubh). Four years later agitation began and he was offering his tenants on the east side (see an Taobh-sear) the opportunity to leave their land. 'if all is carried out in good spirit up to the point of leaving. You can point out to them that I should like to be on good terms with my tenants, the Valtos ones not excepted, ie if they remain it must be on a pleasant footing'. Captain Fraser's greed was never in doubt as he had brought an east-coaster from Crook near Nairn to re-value his land in 1876. Described by Fraser as an experienced and competent person and practical farmer, he had no knowledge of survival on the meager strips of land given to tenants of the Kilmuir estate. He did however acknowledge the quality of the land and its production capacity resulting in a doubling of the rents to be enforced from Martinmas 1877. Norman Stewart, a Bhaltos crofter and fisherman stood up against the landlord refusing to pay the increase in rent. Nicknamed 'Parnell' after the Irish Nationalist leader he became the main agitator in the cause for rent reviews and changes in crofting legislation. The full story of these events are given in the 'Local history project'. 'If the land-lords consulted Moses or Joshua they would find substantial evidences as to the rightful owners of the soil. The Lord Advocate and Sheriff Ivory can quote Acts George and John' Norman Stewart, Bhaltos 1885 |
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