2014

NR3868 : Finlaggan - The Chapel

taken 10 years ago, near to Ballygrant, Islay, Argyll And Bute, Scotland

Finlaggan - The Chapel
Finlaggan - The Chapel
Information board on Eilean Mòr.
Finlaggan

The ancient historical site of Finlaggan lies towards the north of the isle of Islay, the remains of the buildings are clustered on a little islet called Eilean Mòr ("Big island" despite its size) with a tiny circular islet, Eilean na Comhairle "council isle" a few dozen yards to its southwest - according to a sign board on the site "The Council Island, reached from here by a stone causeway, was the meeting place for the Council of the Isles. Recent excavations have revealed the ruins of an Iron Age stronghold - a dun or broch - on the island. And at a later date, perhaps in the C13th a castle was built over the ruins of this fort. The castle was dismantled and replaced by buildings occupied in the 1400s, one of which is thought to have been the Council Chamber."
A third island, Eilean Mhuireill lies much further away off the southern end of the eastern coast of the loch. It is a Crannog LinkExternal link and may have once been used by the Clan Donald as a prison island.
Eilean Mòr is now linked to mainland Islay by a wooden causeway, but until recently access was only by small boat. Council isle remains detached, as does Eilean Mhuireill.
This group of islands in Loch Finlaggan was the clan headquarters of the Clan Donald, Lords of the Isles, and though the OS map labels the site as a "Castle" it is better thought of as an ancient palace.
Most of the ruined buildings now visible date from the 14th to 16th centuries, but the site dates back much further into antiquity, with its period of greatest importance being in the reign of John, First Lord of the Isles (1329-80), while its history stretches back to at least the Iron Age.
The main identified areas on Eilean Mòr consist of:
The Great Hall
The Lord's Residence
C14th Chapel
Food Preparation Area
Cross Plinth in Burial Ground
C16th/17th Dwelling
C16th/17th Barn
There is a good overview of the site here LinkExternal link
The relevant Canmore pages (with details, photos etc.) are:
The Castle / Palace: LinkExternal link
Council Isle: LinkExternal link
Standing Stone: LinkExternal link
Eilean Mhuireill: LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright M J Richardson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Religious sites Educational sites Islands Primary Subject: Historical Place: Finlaggan Island: Islay Ruin: Chapel other tags: Argyll and Bute Information Board Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Information Board [8] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
NR3868, 70 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
M J Richardson   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Friday, 9 May, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 20 June, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NR 3885 6814 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:50.1355N 6:10.3429W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NR 3885 6814
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Supplemental image
This page has been viewed about 36 times
You are not logged in login | register