Description of Enumeration District .....

wini · Post by **wini** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:40 am

mMost of the descriptions I have come across are very brief and only mention boundaries.

I was quite taken by this one Census 1861 112/01 006/01 009 Murdo MacPhie
Kilmuir, Skye

This Division of Enumeration District consists of two hamlets of a semicircular form and divided by a small stream which runs between them. It stretches in a North Easterly direction sloping gently and gradually till it comes almost to the level of the sea (The Minch) a branch of the Atlantic. It is bounded on the East by high perpendicular rocks which run along the shore about three quarter of a mile or so. On the South East lay a range of high hills clothed with green pastureage to their very summit and where stands the romantic & far famed "Quirang" which attracts the attention of many travellers. The people are active, hardy and industrious. The houses which are built of stone with thatched roofs are not grouped together as in Town and Village, but scattered here and there at irregular intervals. The soil is clayeze & fertile and in general yields a fair return quite sufficient for their own consumption throughout the year.

I wish there were more descriptions like this as it paints a picture for me.

wini

Post by **emanday** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:32 pm

Certainly seems to have been written with the heart of a poet!

Maybe he was the schoolmaster?

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:54 pm

hello wini,

This site is great for descriptions of Scottish towns.
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/gaztitle.html

Kind regards,
Annette M

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:20 am

The ED decriptions become more detailed the later the census.

David

wini · Post by **wini** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:32 am

I Liked the Scots Gazeteer website Annette
David , I wish I could find a few more with such lyrical descriptions.
I will try and find the ocupation of the enumerator. His handwriting is very clear and easy to read, which is more than can be said for some

wini

wini · Post by **wini** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:34 am

I should have asked, would the Enumerator be a resident of the district?

wini

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:14 pm

Hi Wini
As far as I'm aware, the enumerator was resident in the area he was asked to cover - often it was the local school master or similar.

Best wishes
Lesley