Figure 1.-- Livister School was a small village school on Whalsay Iskand in the Shetlands. The village is located on the south end of the island near the Loch of Huxter. The school and the Oot Ower Lounge were the few major buildings. We note a portrait of the children outside the school in 1888. There were about 50 children. They would have come from both the village and the surrounding rural area. The boys wear jackets and both knee pants and long pants. One younger boy boy wears a sailor suit. We were a little surprised not to see any kilts. Almost all the children we can see are barefoot. The girls wear long skirts or dresses. Given Scottish weather that suggests povety and some rather hearty children. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the schoo.

Livister School was a small village school on Whalsay Iskand in the Shetlands. The village is located on the south end of the island near the Loch of Huxter. The school and the Oot Ower Lounge were the few major buildings. We note a portrait of the children outside the school in 1888. There were about 50 children. They would have come from both the village and the surrounding rural area. The boys wear jackets and both knee pants and long pants. One younger boy wears a sailor suit. We were a little surprised not to see any kilts. A reader writes,"It seems to me that there are not many photographic evidences from 19th century showing Scottish children in kilt. Surely poor Highlander children wore kilts, but we have not many photos of them." We believe that trends on the Islands were similar to the Highlands, but can not yet confirm this. One boy at the left wears what looks like rather ragged clothing. Almost all the children we can see are barefoot. The girls wear long skirts or dresses. Several girls wear pinafores. Given Scottish weather that suggests povety and some rather hearty children. The school is now a youth center. As with many small village schools, they have been closed and the children bussed to larger consolidated schools.

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Created: 1:21 PM 3/26/2012
Last updated: 3:33 PM 3/26/2012