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Sandavore farmhouse is one of Eiggs most historic buildings. It is first mentioned in the 17^th century as the island‘s first inn, following the Statutes of Iona which decreed that hospitality was no longer to be enjoyed for free at the expense of the common people, and that inns should be established in every district in Scotland. The house would have been the largest out of a group of blackhouses which formed the village or township of Sandavore. Tenants of the farm included members of the Morar MacDonalds, closely allied to the Clanranalds, under whose clan authority Eigg was at the time. The most famous among them was the piper Donald MacDonald, who also had the farm of Cross in Arisaig. He is said to be buried in the recessed grave in the wall of the old Chapel at Kildonnan.

As one of the seven farms on the island, Sandavore was sometimes held in joint tenancy which means that several people shared the rent. This was the case in the late 18^th century after Culloden when islanders found themselves in economic difficulties. The farmhouse was then inhabited by the Roman Catholic priest. An exchange was made when MacDonald of Laig invited a fiddler from Muck to come and live on the island, offering him a large house in Cleadale. The fiddler did not like such a large house and swapped with the priest who was delighted at the bargain, having gained enough space to set up a chapel above the byre.

In the late 19^th century, when the island suffered much depopulation through emigration, Sandavore ceased to exist as a village and became one large farm, rented out to the island factor, while under the ownership of the MacPherson family. The house was then enlarged, with several former croft houses becoming part of the farm steading nearby. From then on, Sandavore remained the home farm for the island owners. Under the ownership of Sir William Petersen, a crenated wall was built to hide the steading from view when approaching the island, so that it would match the sheds at the pier which were the estate gatepost. But it was under the ownership of the Runciman family, shipping magnate and government ministers, that the farm was considerably improved. The steading was so clean that “you could have eaten your dinner off the floor.” Milk, butter, cream and cheese were produced there for the island owners. The house was modernised with a bathroom being added and electricity provided. This was a rarity at the time!