There is currently some concern that Stornoway Historical Society may be one of the organisations that will be severely affected by the latest round of Council cuts which are proposed to take effect from 1st April 2026.
Formed in 1993 this very active committee of currently 18 volunteers have over the past 33 years sought to showcase the history of the town of Stornoway by publishing a high quality bi-annual journal entitled “Sy Gone By” and a range of 8 books focused on the history of the town. They have also each year held a series of winter lectures featuring speakers on various aspects of the town’s history and over the summer months assembled interesting historical exhibitions in their meeting room within Stornoway Town Hall for the benefit of locals and tourists alike; and lately – significantly – for cruise ship visitors. In addition to this work, members of the committee attend the building every Tuesday and Thursday for an Open House to answer on-line enquiries, make weekly contributions to the historical pages of the Stornoway Gazette, and attend to members of the public who wish to find out information about the town or conduct research into their family history. Recently the Society has employed a trainee archivist to assist in cataloguing their extensive collection of photographs and documents which is continually expanding and presently comprises close to 14,000 catalogued items. Local Community groups, Seaforth House, Bremner Court and Alzheimer Scotland have all benefited from the Society’s photographic archive as volunteers from the Society interact with such groups to assist with organised social events and reminiscence therapy.
The Council are to be congratulated for the ongoing support they have shown the Society over the past number of years for this has enabled the Society to occupy their rooms in the Town Hall, but this support may now be coming to an end. With a core income dependent solely on membership fees, book and journal sales, and donations from exhibitions and lectures, the Society may now be faced with a significant rental sum to retain the use of their rooms in the Town Hall. It is hoped that the Council might yet find a way of continuing to support the Society’s occupation of the building, which is ideally placed for the work of the Society, and that members of the public will support the organisation in whatever way they can.
Press Release re Comhairle Budget Cuts & Effects on SHS
