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The potato famine in the Highlands; people were at the mercy...

Date 16 January 1974
Track ID 53965
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1974.19.A4

Original Tape ID

SA1974.019

Summary

The potato famine in the Highlands; people were at the mercy of the landlords.

The potato famine was in Mr Morrison's father's time, from 1840 to 1847. People survived on shellfish. At that time the Factor Mòr in Ardfenaig was like an absolute monarch, and things went badly. Mr Morrison has met a great-grandson of this factor, Campbell, from London. At the time of the famine there were a lot of people on the land and the estate could not provide for them. The Rev. John MacLeod from Morvern went down south to collect money to keep the people alive. It was the same all over the Highlands. People had no security of tenure or fair rents, and were at the mercy of the landlords.

Item Subject/Person

Campbell, John [The Factor Mòr]

Recording Location

County - Argyllshire

Island - Mull

Item Location

County - Argyllshire

Parish - Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon

Island - Mull

Village/Place - Ross of Mull

Language

English

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good