Comunn Eachdraidh Siabost/Westside Historical Society Collection, Isle of Lewis

Comunn Eachdraidh Siabost, Lewis

This is currently housed in the Shawbost Community Centre but may well be moving. I was lucky to be able to talk with a member of the Society but usually there is no one in attendance and entry is by donation.

It is a small collection made from various of the Westside villages including treasured items kept and handed down.

The collection includes two creels, a small line basket, a length of heather rope, a heather brush and a marram grass brush.

The creels are both woven at the start with a different technique to the Uig and Bernera ones. One has a trac border at the top, which is unusual. This one is in great condition and apparently was not used for work but stored inside and looked after.

The heather rope is particularly finely woven. A work of beauty! Great too to see a heather brush and another find I have not seen before is a marram grass brush. This is in superb condition. It has been bound with marram grass twine but also modern string and is possibly a recreation and not ever used.