Bressay History Group

BRESSAY AGRICULTURE IN 1860

The population of Bressay was past its peak at this time with 840 people recorded in the 1861 Census.

All the crofts were tenanted, and most of the crofts were held under the runrig system – a system which really defied improvement because it created an unproductive form of agriculture with little incentive for enthusiastic crofters. This led to subsistence living because of the lack of adequate food.

Fencing materials did not exist in 1860, therefore Shetland Kye – which took precedence over sheep – were either tethered on the inby land or kept in the scattald during the summer months.

Most of the crofters rented their crofts annually, but a few of the more successful tenants had longer leases as a means of encouragement to improve their production. Changes were afoot when, on Mrs Cameron’s death in 1871,the Garth Estate factor, John Walker, put up a notice on the church door announcing that all tenants would have to agree a lease. Whilst this caused ‘Uproar in Bressay’ because of the uncompromising nature of the notice the idea behind it was based on firm evidence of the success of the agricultural improvements which commenced in Scotland 100 years earlier. The increase in production was vital to feed the growing population of Scotland – particularly the rapidly expanding cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It was also believed by John Walker that if similar improvements could succeed in Bressay the island economy would improve and the Garth Estate which was in financial difficulties would also become more successful.

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