Local Government Records
Local government records for the Outer Hebrides date back to 1845 with the establishment of the Parochial Board and later Parish Council system to administer poor relief. With the introduction of County Councils in 1890, District Committees were set up to manage some County Council functions at a local level. In 1930, District Committees were replaced by District Councils. These in turn were replaced in 1975 by a new unitary authority – Western Isles Islands Council (later renamed Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) which remains the local authority for the Outer Hebrides. The local government records which have survived are listed below by island.
Clicking on a link will open the catalogue for the relevant collection in our database.
Barra
Parochial Board / Parish of Barra, 1872-1943
Barra Public Assistance Committee, 1937-1948
Barra District Council, 1930-1956
Barra Road Trustees, 1879-1888
South Uist and Benbecula
Parochial Board / Parish Council of South Uist, 1891-1963
South Uist District Council, 1930-1974
South Uist and Barra District Committee, 1890-1960
South Uist and Barra District Nursing Service, 1927-1934
South Uist (Daliburgh District) Nursing Association, 1914-1936
North Uist
Parochial Board / Parish Council of North Uist, 1870-1948
North Uist Public Assistance Committee, 1930-1961
North Uist District Council, 1930-1951
North Uist District Committee, 1890-1930
Long Island Combination Poorhouse Committee (Lochmaddy), 1875-1942
Harris
Parochial Board / Parish Council of Harris, 1863-1932
Harris Public Assistance Committee, 1932-1965
Harris District Committee, 1890-1934
Harris District Council, 1930-1975
Harris (Tarbert) Ambulance Committee, 1946-1963
Harris Nursing Association, 1928-1948
Lewis
Lewis District Committee, 1890-1930
Lewis District Council, 1930-1954
Lewis Combination Poorhouse / Coulregrein House (Stornoway), 1893-1970
Lewis Public Assistance Joint Committee, 1930-1975
Barvas Parochial Board / Parish Council 1884-1930
Lochs Parish Council, 1890-1930
Stornoway Parochial Board / Parish Council, 1845-1943
Uig Parochial Board / Parish Council, 1885-1930
Police Commissioners of Burgh of Stornoway / Stornoway Town Council, 1864-1975
Landward Committee of the Parish of Stornoway, 1895-1930
Stornoway District of Roads, 1866-1975
Stornoway Public Library records, 1905-1949
Inverness-shire County Council
The principal records are held by Highland Archives, Inverness.
Ross and Cromarty County Council
Valuation & Assessment Rolls are held for 1899-1973.
All other records are held by Highland Archives, Inverness.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Minutes and agendas, 1974-present
Please see this page for an overview of all our archive collections.
