St Kilda was permanently inhabited for at least two millennia, its population probably never exceeding 180 (and certainly no more than 100 after 1851). The entire population was evacuated from Hirta (the only inhabited island) in 1930. Currently, the only permanent residents are defense personnel although a variety of conservation workers, volunteers and scientists spend time there in the summer months. Occasionally a very lucky tourist may get the chance to visit as part of an organised boat trip or even as part of a North Hebrides cruise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Kilda,_Scotland
This was the first film to be shot on St. Kilda, the later film from 1928 ‘St. Kilda - Britain's Loneliest Isle’ is shown below and is concerned more with the population that would later be evacuated from the island. This earlier film was by the pioneering bird cinematographer, Oliver Pike, and focuses on the island's bird population, as well as the St. Kildans' remarkable methods of snaring sea birds for food and gathering eggs from the precarious cliff face. To achieve the spectacular shots of the bird colonies and birds in flight, Pike had to develop his climbing skills, with the aid of the locals, burdened as he was with a heavy film camera. It may take a while to view all of these films, but I think its worth the effort.
Neat old films. Was very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Wow! The things you can learn if you look for them on the internet. My heritage is from British Isles, Scotland, Germany. On my Dad's side it was from England, and on my Mom's side it was German. My grandfather was German.
ReplyDeleteThese people were ever so strong. I can't imagine living so isolated or maybe I could for a while. I'd love to visit this part too.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating history of a wonderful hardy people. Such a shame the island was eventually abandoned except for the military and the conservationists. I, too, would love to visit there one day, in fact I'd love to tour most of the Scottish islands.
ReplyDeletewhy were they evacuated?
ReplyDeletei love the kids
children always behave the same in front of a camera
:)
From wikipedia
ReplyDelete''Numerous factors led up to the evacuation of St Kilda. The islands had existed for centuries in relative isolation until tourism and the presence of the military in World War I induced the islanders to seek alternatives to privations they routinely suffered. The changes made to the island by visitors in the nineteenth century disconnected the islanders from the way of life that had allowed their forebears to survive in this unique environment. Despite construction of a small jetty in 1902, the islands remained at the weather's mercy.
After World War I most of the young men left the island, and the population fell from 73 in 1920 to 37 in 1928.After the death of four men from influenza in 1926 there was a succession of crop failures in the 1920s. Investigations by Aberdeen University into the soil where crops had been grown have shown that there had been contamination by lead and other pollutants, caused by the use of seabird carcasses and peat ash in the manure used on the village fields. This occurred over a lengthy period of time as manuring practices became more intensive and may have been a factor in the evacuation.The last straw came with the death from appendicitis of a young woman, Mary Gillies, in January 1930. On 29 August 1930, the remaining 36 inhabitants were removed to Morvern on the Scottish mainland at their own request.
full story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Kilda,_Scotland
basically their way of life was no longer viable, the population dwindled to almost nothing, people moved away and the isolation became more difficult as the rest of the world moved into its 'modern' age........very sad.
i just read the article
ReplyDeletei find it very sad
:(