Heritage NorthBerneray Explores its History
| Berneray Explores its History | |
| 31 January 2008 Berneray Historical Society is embarking on a major programme to document, archive and digitise a wealth of historical data and records which exist about the island’s history.
Entitled Dileab Bhearnaraigh (Berneray’s Inheritance), the project is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and includes the employment of a project worker on a two-year contract to carry out the work. Following a rigorous selection process from a large number of applicants, the Historical Society appointed Berneray resident and former primary school teacher Sue Wilson as the project worker. She started work in mid-November based in the Nurse’s Cottage on Berneray, a building owned by Berneray Development Group which is already home to the Historical Society and also to the island Visitor Information Centre. An excellent start has already been made on the project, as Sue has embarked on digitising the considerable amount of material which already exists in the Nurse’s Cottage. This mainly comprises photographic material and also establishing family links on the islands, going back to the emigrations and beyond. It is intended that Berneray will become the first historical society in the southern isles to join the Hebridean Connections programme, which already brings together records and data from four historical societies in Lewis. Sue is therefore working closely with Hebridean Connections coordinator, Sarah Egan, to ensure that the data is in the correct format for input to their database. Once Berneray is included in this network, it means that anybody anywhere in the world will be able to access the records online. “We know that there is a wealth of information surrounding Berneray’s Gaelic history and culture, elements of which have been organised previously – as for instance for the Millennium Exhibition in 2000, but it has never previously been digitised or archived on any kind of comprehensive basis,” explains John Angus MacCuish, the manager of the project on behalf of the Historical Society. “So it is particularly important to us, not just to accumulate a lot of data, but to make it accessible and interesting to as many people as possible. “A lot of our history is held orally and anecdotally. It is really important to us that we capture as much of this as we can – while we can. Before launching this project the Historical Society carried out a research project in the island which suggested that people here are very much behind the concept of what we are doing and will be very supportive.” Providing training to the volunteers of the Historical Society is a key part of the project worker’s role. This will enable the project to continue beyond the initial two years of Sue’s employment, as there are many aspects of the work which will be long term in nature. These include a mapping project to plot precisely where the many points of historical interest on the island are to be found, including wells, fanks, jetties and so on. There is also the opportunity to source new material via audio and video, especially with some of the older residents of the island. “Once you delve into it, you soon realise that this is a job which will never be finished,” says Sue Wilson. “But it is incredibly exciting that the funding has been secured to enable this project to take place, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. I am confident that very soon we will be able to provide much higher quality information for the benefit of those who visit the Nurse’s Cottage in person and to people from outside the island who enquire with ancestral or other queries. “I would like to take the opportunity to encourage anybody who has information which they think might be of interest for this project – whether it be old photographs or documents or stories or songs, absolutely anything pertaining to the history of Berneray – please do get in touch. We welcome everybody’s involvement in this project!” According to John Angus MacCuish: “This project would not have got off the ground without the enthusiastic support of many people. That includes our funders: the Heritage Lottery Fund, Berneray Development Group, Berneray Community Council, Berneray Community Association and also the individuals and organisations who have helped us along the way, in particular Dana McPhee, until recently museums officer at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and Alison Cropper, Uist area coordinator. On behalf of the Historical Society I would like to thank you all.” Colin McLean, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for Scotland, adds: “Our grant will ensure that the history and heritage of Berneray can be accessed by more people, long into the future, while at the same time providing exciting opportunities for local people to help achieve this.” | |
