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Highland Crafts

INTRODUCTION

"Every man is Jack-of-all-trades ... the want of regular tradesmen and mechanics is but little felt"
- F.M. Eden, State of the Poor 1797, Vol. 1

'A Jack-of-all-trades and master of none'? Not so in the Highlands and Islands! Old croft houses are evidence of that. The storms might rage but scarce a slate gets blown off. The original wood panelling can still be seen inside many of them. Running water and electricty had been installed by the latter part of the 20th century. Painted and decorated inside and out, the houses sit trim and neatly on the croft. Yet most of the work would have been done by the crofters themselves.

'Necessity is the mother of invention' is another old saying and this time probably true. In remote areas there are few if any tradesmen to turn to in time of need. If a job has to be done, then the crofter has to do it no matter whether it be joinery, plumbing, electrical fitting or painting. And what is true of the men is equally true of the womenfolk.

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