North Dell
North Dell is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. North Dell is within the parish of Barvas. It lies 5 km south of the Butt of Lewis, between the settlements of South Dell and Cross and comprises 22 crofts. North Dell is reputed to be the best village for the growing of potatoes in Lewis – along with Garrabost in Point!
History
In the 1820s due to illegal distilling Stewart MacKenzie of Seaforth, then owner of Lewis, decided to build a legal distillery. This was set up in North Dell in 1831. The Dell Enterprise was never very successful and by 1849 it was converted to a mill. The mill was closed for the duration of World War II. It reopened after the war ended and continued until 1970.People who were cleared from Gress were settled here in the early 18th century. In 1874, the remaining tenants were moved from Gress to North Dell when the old Dell Farm became vacant.
Following the Education Act of 1872, a new school was built in North Dell, the Cross School. It served the villages of South Dell, North Dell, Cross and half of Swainbost. It finally closed in 2011 with 13 pupils. The buildings are now owned by Comunn Eachdraidh Nis and is home to an historical archive, museum and a café.