Tuesday 21 January 2014

Not an End Game




From the darkness of the interior of Ensay House there is a view to the shores of South Harris. The island of Ensay was well-wooded when raided by Norsemen, who killed the inhabitants and burned the trees. This led to soil erosion. However, the 460-acres, which the Sound of Harris ferry passes on its way to and from Leverburgh, recovered sufficiently to be farmed efficiently in the 19th Century. A horse-drawn precision seeder was introduced when dibbers were being used elsewhere. The large house was built in Edwardian times and renovated in 1991, while the small private chapel of Christ Church has been restored. So the end did not come a thousand years ago with the raids and the Old Norse words for 'ewe' and 'island' have been preserved in the name. Here's a view back to the house from beyond the chapel.


Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of revivals

1 comment:

Richard Evans said...

Once supported 15 people.

The town of Ensay in Victoria, Australia was named after this island by one of the early settlers, a Scotsman named Archibald Mcleod