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Collection TS14 - Grimersta Estate Ltd, fishing estate, Isle of Lewis
Identity area
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Date(s)
- 1860s-2008 (Creation)
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Extent and medium
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Administrative history
Grimersta Lodge is situated on the western side of the Isle of Lewis. The Lodge itself was built between 1871 and 1872. Since about 1850, the property has been has been managed solely for sporting purposes (emphasis on angling rather than shooting or stalking.
Grimersta was retained in hand by Sir James Matheson until 1855 and then it was let on a seven year lease to Thomas Clark, a local hotelier. Over the years it was leased to different parties until 1914 when the Estate resorted back to the then proprietor Major Duncan Matheson who sold the Island to Leverhulme in 1918.
Late 1923, Leverhulme sold Grimersta to 13 sportsmen who operated the estate as a syndicate under the company Grimersta Estate Ltd. They were thoughtful of the environment around them and would gift the surrounding villagers fish, whilst also donating to the poorhouse and the hospital. The estate is operated now solely as a fishery estate.
In 1989 when the new north wing was being built onto the Lodge, letters fell out of the gable end wall, the contents of which included information on the Bernera Riots and general estate business.