Inside a Blackhouse

This is a Black house at Girnanen near Carloway on the west coast of Lewis. This one is used as a museum and is one of a few found in the early part of this century while excavating. It was basically a small homestead of houses. The houses were finally abandoned in the late 1950s. The house basically, was rectangular with a pitched roof made of wood branches or beams to which grasses, reeds and heather was layed on top. the were three sections inside. At one end was the Byre, where the cow and sheep was kept. In the middle section was the living area, where a fire would be lit, which consisted of wood and peat. There was a hole in the roof to let the smoke out. The next section was the sleeping area, beds built into or against the walls. These were box beds made of wood. There was no electricity or running water and they had dirt floors. Quite some existence, I imagine!