Roads to Improvement: An Historical Geography of the Destitution Roads with J Arnaud

Описание: A talk from Gairloch Museum recorded February 2022.

An examination of the ideologies behind road construction as a relief project during the Great Highland Famine (1846-50). As well as providing details about the history and geography of the Destitution Roads, this will explore how organisations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London believed they could solve the ‘Highland Problem’ and improve the region by making material changes to the landscape.

More details about Gairloch Museum and future talks and activities can be found www.GairlochMuseum.org

00:05 Welcome & introduction
01:31 Start of presentation
47:48 End of presentation
48:14 Observation that the roads were not just thought of in 1840. They had been talked about in 1807. Gairloch Museum has papers showing that many of the roads built followed the planned/wished for routes of the early 1800s.
51:06 What is the reasoning for teaching people new skills with the hope they would move away or to the Lowlands?
53:02 Observation that the statistical accounts from the parish ministers had noted these plans.
53:16 How many of the goals of the Destitution Roads realised and how long did they take?
54:49 Do we know who was expected to pay for the upkeep of the roads?
55:23 What is the landscape in the background of the portrait of General Wade?
56:14 To what extent was the practical function of the route second only to the roads’ moral and improving function, that is to transform supposedly idle Highlanders into productive members of society?
58:14 Were there any women working on the road schemes?
59:50 Had the Central Board not existed, when would the Highlands have expected such roads to be built?
61:10 What are the biggest questions you were left with and what follow-on research would you like to do?
62:40 END