SkyeBaggie
The Lord versus The People
The Lord verses the People
Two days after taking this shot I played football against author Roger Hutchinson. He wrote the Soap Man. A biography of William Lever. Hence, this is about the story behind this memorial, not about the quality of the photo.
William Lever became Lord Leverhulme in recognition of his good work at his soap factory on Merseyside. A well educated boy he realised that if you look after your workers you get more out of them. Thus at Port Sunlight he provided housing, “clean” recreation and reasonable pay. However he paid them in tokens that they had to spend in his shops.
Abroad, his attempts to get cheap palm oil, for his soap, were seen as paternalistic and patronising and lost money. His company, Lever Brothers has gone onto grow into the Anglo-Dutch super company, Unilever. Looking to slow down as he approached retirement he bought the Isle of Lewis (as you do) and later the the Estate of Harris.
At this time the Hebridean men had just returned from the horrors of the WWI. Some more were lost in the Iolaire disaster when a ship returning troops to Stornaway from the railhead at Kyle of Lochalsh sank in site of the port. Further insult was the fact that Lord Leverhulme had bought the land that was promised to them, by the Government, for crofting. There was no compromise and via several skirmishes the locals decided to grab/raid the land to feed their own families.
This monument is testament to this struggle and story. On one hand we had an entrepreneur wanting to give the people of the Western Isles “meaningful work” via industrialised fishing and dairy farming. On the other we had the will of the people who wanted to preserve their tradition, be in control of their own destiny and feed themselves. Every time I drive past it I feel it is giving me the finger! Maybe it is!
Lynne Berry-word of the week is “Backpfeifengesicht”
The Lord versus The People
The Lord verses the People
Two days after taking this shot I played football against author Roger Hutchinson. He wrote the Soap Man. A biography of William Lever. Hence, this is about the story behind this memorial, not about the quality of the photo.
William Lever became Lord Leverhulme in recognition of his good work at his soap factory on Merseyside. A well educated boy he realised that if you look after your workers you get more out of them. Thus at Port Sunlight he provided housing, “clean” recreation and reasonable pay. However he paid them in tokens that they had to spend in his shops.
Abroad, his attempts to get cheap palm oil, for his soap, were seen as paternalistic and patronising and lost money. His company, Lever Brothers has gone onto grow into the Anglo-Dutch super company, Unilever. Looking to slow down as he approached retirement he bought the Isle of Lewis (as you do) and later the the Estate of Harris.
At this time the Hebridean men had just returned from the horrors of the WWI. Some more were lost in the Iolaire disaster when a ship returning troops to Stornaway from the railhead at Kyle of Lochalsh sank in site of the port. Further insult was the fact that Lord Leverhulme had bought the land that was promised to them, by the Government, for crofting. There was no compromise and via several skirmishes the locals decided to grab/raid the land to feed their own families.
This monument is testament to this struggle and story. On one hand we had an entrepreneur wanting to give the people of the Western Isles “meaningful work” via industrialised fishing and dairy farming. On the other we had the will of the people who wanted to preserve their tradition, be in control of their own destiny and feed themselves. Every time I drive past it I feel it is giving me the finger! Maybe it is!
Lynne Berry-word of the week is “Backpfeifengesicht”