In 1893 the Airdens crofters waged their own land war. They withheld their rents and on several occasions forcibly prevented sheriff officers from serving legal papers.
Prosecutions followed riotous proceedings and four crofters - subsequently known as the Airdens Martyrs - served short prison sentences. The term ‘martyr’ was applied throughout the UK during the 19th century for those -usually just a few individuals- who suffered imprisonment for a cause.
In 1883, the. . .