Stornoway Historical Society

11/10/2025

New mural erected at Tesco Stornoway.

08/10/2025

📚 Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival 2025 is here — and the full programme is now LIVE!

This year’s theme, Archipelago: Island Voices 🌊🗣️, takes us deep into the Outer Hebrides — exploring its landscapes, languages, traditions, and imagined futures.

Expect a rich mix of talks, exhibitions, memoir, marriage, meteorology… even murder — plus screenings of classic island films.

📍 Look out for special events in the Library and An Taigh Cèilidh.
✨ Don’t miss Faclan Òga — a vibrant programme for young readers!

🗓 30 Oct - 01 Nov
🎟️ Full lineup now LIVE — book tickets:
👉 https://lanntair.com/events/category/faclan-2025/

Western Isles Libraries

08/10/2025

05/10/2025

MV Clansman at Ullapool and Stornoway 1973

MV 'Clansman' in 1973, during her short stint on the - . She was built at Aberdeen in 1964 and underwent a major refit at Troon in 1972/73 which included having bow and stern doors fitted, allowing vehicles to "roll-on/roll-off" rather than be hoisted. In 1974, MV 'Suilven' took over the service

[photos: Ken MacKenzie / Highland Council]

03/10/2025

Winter Series of Lectures 2025/26

Here some dates for your diary. The forthcoming winter series of lectures are coming up.

Mon 27 October 2025 Consultant Surgeon Mr Andrew Sim –
The Knotter’s Tale: A Surgical Journey to Stornoway

Mon 24 November 2025 Mr Malcolm Macdonald -
Old Stornoway Buildings

Mon 26 January 2026 Mr Iain Macleod - The Refurbishment of Lews Castle

Mon 23 Feb 2026 Mr Ken Galloway - Vintage Postcards

Mon 30 March 2025 Mr Colin Tucker – Boats named Stornoway (preceded by AGM)

All lectures will be held in the Council Chambers, Sandwick Road at 7.00pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. Details on each talk will be announced prior to the event.

For those who are unable to attend, the lectures are filmed and uploaded to our YouTube channel afterwards at

30/09/2025

Behind the Iron Railings exhibition - Last Week

Today, Tuesday (30th Sept) and Thursday (2nd October) are the last days of our annual exhibition in our Town Hall premises at 2 Cromwell Street We are open on these days between 11am and 2pm. The event highlights some of the interesting houses and buildings from the Victorian, Edwardian and later periods of the 20th century in the town. All Welcome

26/09/2025

Museum nan Eilean, Stornoway is part of the Heritage Service operated by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and is based in Lews Castle Grounds on the Isle of Lewis. Museum& Tasglann nan Eilean. Lewis Chessmen on display. Outer Hebrides Archaeology.

25/09/2025

The 'Behind the Iron Railings' exhibition enters it's final week, next week. So if you haven't seen it please pop in next Tuesday (30th Sept) and Thursday (2nd October between 11am-2pm in our Town Hall premises at 2 Cromwell Street.

13/09/2025

News about our forthcoming conference on Hebridean Emigration, to be held in autumn 2025 in Stornoway and Lewis, and related exhibitions

11/09/2025

📚Book Launch: The Lost Waterfalls of Lews Castle Grounds by Fred Silver and Between Minch and Muckle Flugga by Donald S Murray.
🗣Come along and meet the author/writer Fred Silver in conversation with Coinneach Mòr Maciver!
⏰5:45pm
📆17th September
📍Stornoway Library

04/09/2025

Open Days 2025 reminder

The Society's 'Behind the Iron Railings' exhibition is open Friday 5th and Saturday 6th September for the annual Open Days event in our Town Hall premises. We are open from 10am-4pm on these days. We are also open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between between 11am-2pm. All welcome.

16/05/2025

The video of our March public lecture is now available to view on our YouTube channel.
Malcolm Macdonald presented a talk on 'A History of Stornoway Football'.