Aims: Examine the reasons why the working and living conditions of agricultural workers were poor in the nineteenth century (1800s).

Poor Working and Living Conditions Physically Demanding work Working outdoors in all types of weather Long working hours No unions to represent workers ‘Tied houses’ Lost job = Lose house High Rents for houses Living accommodation was very poor

Accommodation for farmers was very basic. Only locally available material could be used in their construction e.g. stone, clay or turf. Most houses only had one room.

Shielings were small buildings located up on the hills away from the main community. In the summer months the cattle would be moved up the hill to the higher pastures for better grazing. It was generally the women and children of the community who would spend the Summer at the Shieling. The men would stay behind and tend to the fields.

The remnants of a Shieling in Scotland. Note that it was built beside a burn to give the inhabitants access to water.

By the 1800s many Highlanders lived in Blackhouses. These houses had a thatched roof and were made from locally available materials. A fire was continually lit in the blackhouse although there was no chimney to allow the smoke out. Animals shared this accommodation and were kept in byre area at one end of the house.

A Blackhouse A Blackhouse had a double wall with turf in between. The roof was a wooden frame that was then overlapped with heather and then thatch. An old fishing net of twine would be attached to large stones to secure the roof.

Inside a Blackhouse

Other Highland Housing Farmers with large areas of land lived in two storey homes with slate roofs Wealthier landowners had huge dwellings (homes), often like smaller versions of castles with several rooms and servants.