The Blackhouse at Arnol
Location: 42 Arnol, Barvas, Isle of Lewis HS2 9DB
Telephone: 01851 710395
No. 42 Arnol is a unique and precious relic – the residence of a Hebridean crofting family and their animals, preserved almost as the family left it when they moved out in 1966.
Two aspects of a blackhouse make it very different from a modern house. Animals and people lived together, and there was no chimney. Having animals ‘living in’ had its advantages. It made the house warmer and meant fewer buildings were needed. The smoke rising from the peat fire into the thatched roof also had hidden benefits. It killed bugs, and the smoke-laden thatch made excellent fertiliser for the fields. The blackhouse comprises a living room, (aig an teine – literally ‘at the fire’), a bedroom, (a’ chulaist), a byre, (bathaich), and a barn, (sabhal). The peat fire in the centre of the living room was the centre of family life and was never allowed to go out. It still burns today.
Offer for YAC Pass holders:
Free entry with a valid YAC Pass Card when accompanied by a paying adult