The dwellings that our ancestors lived in were quite different from what we are used to. The island was pretty much devoid of trees and thus lumber, so the Lewis folk used materials that were plentiful, namely rock. Their homes were called blackhouses. A blackhouse is constructed by first laying out two concentric walls of stones about four to five feet high. the separation between the two walls would have been about four feet. Next the space between the walls was filled with earth or peat. A thatched roof was added and supported by the inner stone wall. Due to the high winds that occur on Lewis the thatched roof was then covered by netting and secured in place by attaching heavy stones to the netting using ropes. The earth filled space between the walls now became a path whereby the roof, netting and stones could be maintained as well as offering insulation for the building. The entrance was a very low doorway and sometimes there might be a very small window in the thatched roof.
The interior of the blackhouse consisted of a large central living and kitchen area with an open peat fire in the center of the floor that burned constantly. There was no chimney, but a hole in the top of the roof allowed much of the smoke to escape. The underside of the roof became impregnated with smoke and soot. The roof would be replaced in the spring, the old thatch being used for fertilizer. The pungent smell of the smokey fire was in their clothing but since they all smelled the same, nobody took notice.
There was also a room for sleeping at one end of the blackhouse. The mattress was nothing for than straw or heather stuffed into a large cloth sack. Everyone slept in the same room, the beds being made somewhat private by a curtain that one could draw.
The other end of the blackhouse was the quarters for the farm animals. The livestock was kept inside during bad weather, sharing the building with the family. The manure from the animals would be saved for use as fertilizer. It was not the most hygienic practice.
Around the turn of the twentieth century, new laws were passed to stop the practice of animals sharing the living quarters with humans. Newer houses began to be built, of more modern construction, and had a white plaster finish on the outside. They were called "whitehouses" and the older structures were then called "blackhouses".
The last family to vacate their blackhouse was in the 1960's.
The blackhouses were deemed an eyesore and existing ones were torn down.There are still a few on Lewis, including restorations for museum purposes. These photos were taken at such a museum on Lewis.
