ABOUT US

Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh (CES) was originally established in 1986. The society was revived in 2016 as a branch of Comunn Eachdraidh na Hearadh (the Harris Historical Society) and became a SCiO on 12 December 2018. We held our first exhibition in 2017 - Scalpay's fishing heritage - in the Scalpay Community Centre and this was followed by Calanas - Working with Wool - in 2018.

In 2018 CES rented the former NHS Dental Clinic in the area of Scalpay known as Baile (known in English as the Village) and established the Scalpay Heritage Centre. Our archives and artefacts were stored at the centre and we held a number of successful exhibitions and events. The clinic was sold in 2019 and CES moved back to the Scalpay Community Centre.

In 2021 we began to create a digital archive of our holdings. This is now well underway and one of the benefits of creating the digital record has been to create this site as our virtual 'home' for you to visit and interact with us. It is also a comparatively inexpensive and cost-effective way of operating as the site is maintained by volunteers and the only costs incurred are those for hosting the site and keeping ownership of the domain name. We will still create exhibitions and hold events, primarily within the island but potentially at other venues if required.

We are grateful to CnES for support via their Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Heritage Grant

Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh exists to:

promote an active interest in the history, heritage and culture of the island of Scalpay;
bring together people who share these interests;
collect, identify and preserve documents, artefacts, photographs and other material of historical value in the area;
organise and arrange exhibitions, displays, lectures and other events;
co-operate with universities, colleges, schools and other reputable agencies which have an interest in its work and aims;
raise and hold funds to further the above aims.