Tools & tillage: a journal on the history of the implements of cultivation and other agricultural processes (1.1968/1971)

117


Fig. 1. A crann-nan-gad, illustrated in Blackadder’ Report 1799-1800. AA the beam formed of two pieces of
wood, joined together by an iron ring a. B - stilt or handle, d-mould-board, i -pin for attachment of yoking,
e - pin.

Ein Crann-nan-gad, abgebildet in Blackadders Beschreibung 1799-1800. AA Der Grindel, bestehend aus zwei
durch einen eisernen Ring a miteinander verbundenen Holzstiicken. B - Sterz oder Fuhrung. d - Streichbrett,
i - Pflock zum Befestigen der Zugvorrichtung, e - Pflock.

A PLOUGH TYPE
FROM THE OUTER ISLES OF SCOTLAND
Alexander Fenton

When the present writer discussed the early and
traditional cultivating implements of Scotland six
years ago, the single stilted plough of the Outer
Isles of Scotland was known only from late eight-
eenth century descriptions, from a long diction-
ary entry of the early twentieth century, and from
one surviving example. The earliest illustration
dated to 1895 (Fenton 299).
Since then, two more examples have been lo-
cated, and an illustration of 1799-1800 has come

to light. This occurs in a manuscript preserved in
the County Record Office of the East Riding of
Yorkshire, reference number DDBM/27/3. It is
a Report of a Survey by John Blackadder, carried
out in 1799-1800 on Lord Macdonald’s estates
in Skye and North Uist. It includes diagrams and
descriptions of the cultivating implements in use
in these areas at that period. Amongst them is a
drawing of the crann-nan-gad (the Gaelic name
for the single stilted plough of the Outer Isles),