[decimon]

The thing which fascinated me is the remote island had supported human habitation for at least 2000 years then they finally gave up and moved to the mainland in the 1930s or maybe 1920s.

I'll guess they moved because by that time the mainland folk were living much more modern lifestyles.

[yarddog]

Yes, I think that is what happened. When they left the island, there were less than 30 people left and no students in the school which probably means the only ones still there were older.

The younger ones had probably already moved. I remember reading that after Culloden, the English sent a boat to St. Kilda thinking Prince Charles might be hiding out there.

The islanders didn’t know who the Prince was, they also didn’t know who King George was.