A memorial to the people forced to emigrate during the highland clearances Helmsdale Sutherland Scotland
Zoom in to read the inscription on the memorial
Background
The Duke of Sutherland and his wife were responsible for evicting thousands of tenants from their land in the Highlands to make way for sheep farming. The Duke was motivated by the desire to increase his estate's rental income and to remove the risk of famine for the population.
The Clearances
The Highland Clearances were a series of events that took place in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Landowners like the Duke of Sutherland evicted tenants from their land in favor of sheep farming, which was more profitable and required fewer administrative tasks. The Clearances were marked by economic instability, forced evictions, and brutality.
The Duke of Sutherland's role
The Duke of Sutherland's role in the Clearances is controversial. He was appalled by the living conditions of his tenants, but his estate management had been planning for clearances for years. The Duke's factors were ruthless in their job, burning many houses and using force to move people.
The Duke of Sutherland's statue
There is a statue of the Duke of Sutherland near Golspie, Scotland. The statue has been the target of repeated vandalism, including an attempt to dynamite it in 1994. In 2011, protestors attempted to topple the statue.
A memorial to the people forced to emigrate during the highland clearances Helmsdale Sutherland Scotland
Zoom in to read the inscription on the memorial
Background
The Duke of Sutherland and his wife were responsible for evicting thousands of tenants from their land in the Highlands to make way for sheep farming. The Duke was motivated by the desire to increase his estate's rental income and to remove the risk of famine for the population.
The Clearances
The Highland Clearances were a series of events that took place in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Landowners like the Duke of Sutherland evicted tenants from their land in favor of sheep farming, which was more profitable and required fewer administrative tasks. The Clearances were marked by economic instability, forced evictions, and brutality.
The Duke of Sutherland's role
The Duke of Sutherland's role in the Clearances is controversial. He was appalled by the living conditions of his tenants, but his estate management had been planning for clearances for years. The Duke's factors were ruthless in their job, burning many houses and using force to move people.
The Duke of Sutherland's statue
There is a statue of the Duke of Sutherland near Golspie, Scotland. The statue has been the target of repeated vandalism, including an attempt to dynamite it in 1994. In 2011, protestors attempted to topple the statue.