Battlefields›Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854

modern

Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854

Q: When did Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854 take place?

Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854 took place in 1854, Scotland. On 31 March 1854 a party of around 35-40 police under Sheriff Taylor and Superintendent Cummings, sent by landlord Major Robertson of Kindeace to serve eviction (removal) writs, were met by a crowd of about 300 local people (roughly two-thirds women, armed with stones, men at the rear with sticks). The police baton-charged the crowd; 15-20 women were seriously injured (some accounts say around 60 women attacked), one woman reportedly died of her injuries, and five women were arrested and briefly jailed in Tain before release on bail. The writs were served. The event, publicised as the 'Massacre of the Rosses'/'Massacre of the Greenyards' via Donald Ross's pamphlet, became a landmark case in raising public awareness of Highland Clearance brutality and contributed to the later push for crofting reform.

Q: Who won Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854?

Sheriff's officers (police force) was victorious. The defeated side was Greenyards tenants and residents (evictees and their supporters). On 31 March 1854 a party of around 35-40 police under Sheriff Taylor and Superintendent Cummings, sent by landlord Major Robertson of Kindeace to serve eviction (removal) writs, were met by a crowd of about 300 local people (roughly two-thirds women, armed with stones, men at the rear with sticks). The police baton-charged the crowd; 15-20 women were seriously injured (some accounts say around 60 women attacked), one woman reportedly died of her injuries, and five women were arrested and briefly jailed in Tain before release on bail. The writs were served. The event, publicised as the 'Massacre of the Rosses'/'Massacre of the Greenyards' via Donald Ross's pamphlet, became a landmark case in raising public awareness of Highland Clearance brutality and contributed to the later push for crofting reform.

1854

Scotland

Era

modern

Battle Type

Skirmish

Location

Scotland

Status

Unregistered

The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated

Greenyards tenants and residents (evictees and their supporters)

Victor

Sheriff's officers (police force)

Outcome

On 31 March 1854 a party of around 35-40 police under Sheriff Taylor and Superintendent Cummings, sent by landlord Major Robertson of Kindeace to serve eviction (removal) writs, were met by a crowd of about 300 local people (roughly two-thirds women, armed with stones, men at the rear with sticks). The police baton-charged the crowd; 15-20 women were seriously injured (some accounts say around 60 women attacked), one woman reportedly died of her injuries, and five women were arrested and briefly jailed in Tain before release on bail. The writs were served. The event, publicised as the 'Massacre of the Rosses'/'Massacre of the Greenyards' via Donald Ross's pamphlet, became a landmark case in raising public awareness of Highland Clearance brutality and contributed to the later push for crofting reform.

The Battle

History & Significance

A modern skirmish fought in 1854 Scotland. Recorded strengths: Approximately 35-40 police officers/constables under Sheriff William Taylor and Superintendent Cummings, opposed by a crowd of roughly 300 local residents (abou….

Confirmed battlefield location

Casualties & Losses

15-20 women seriously injured by police batons (one source specifies around 60 women attacked in total, including named victim Grace Ross with a fractured skull); one woman reportedly died of her injuries; five women arrested

Forces Involved

Approximately 35-40 police officers/constables under Sheriff William Taylor and Superintendent Cummings, opposed by a crowd of roughly 300 local residents (about two-thirds women), of whom perhaps a dozen or so men stood at the rear

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlimited access

Uncover the history of anywhere in the UK

Pick any location and Aubrey pulls together everything the record actually holds about it:

GeologyDomesday BookLocal findsScheduled monumentsRoman BritainBattlefieldsCivil WarLIDAR terrainLocal namesHistorical mapsLiteratureFull timeline

First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your first month for £4.99

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854

Eileanach Lodge,settlement & field system 550m WSW of

Scheduled monument · Post-Medieval · ~3.9 miles

Boath, three chambered cairns NE and NNE of Easter Ballone Farm

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~4.2 miles

Balnacrae, chambered cairn 230m WSW of

Scheduled monument · Neolithic · ~6.2 miles

Other modern Battles

Raid on Rannoch

1753

Scotland

Independent Company garrison action at Inversnaid 1752

1752

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

General Bland Highland inspection tour 1752

1752

Scotland

Dress Act enforcement in Glenmoriston, 1749

1749

Scotland

In the same landscape

Battles near Massacre of the Greenyards, Strathcarron 1854

Battle of Bealach nam Broig

1299

~6.1 miles away

Bliadhna nan Caorach Ross-shire sheep riot Boath 1792

1792

~8.2 miles away

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around this battlefield

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in the UK — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near this battlefield View a sample report

All Battlefields