crofting
Quick Summary
Crofting refers to a system of small-scale tenant farming, primarily in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Historically, crofters worked small plots of land, often in challenging terrain, and their livelihoods were deeply intertwined with the land and community.12
The system evolved significantly, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, a period marked by the Highland Clearances. During this time, many crofters were forcibly evicted to make way for sheep farming, leading to widespread rural depopulation and emigration. Those who remained or were resettled often occupied marginal land and relied on supplementary activities like fishing or kelp harvesting.2
The crofting system faced further hardship due to events like the potato famine in the mid-1840s. Agitation by crofters in the late 19th century led to legislative reforms, such as the Crofters Holdings Act of 1886, which provided greater security of tenure and fair rents, though it did not significantly increase land availability.23
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