| Scottish Gaelic name | Eilean Èisdeal |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Uncertain |
| Location | |
  Easdale Easdale shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NM735172 |
| Coordinates | 56°17′32″N5°39′29″W / 56.29222°N 5.65806°W /56.29222; -5.65806 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Slate Islands |
| Area | 25 hectares (62 acres)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 61[2] |
| Population rank | 51= [3] |
| Population density | 244/km2 (630/sq mi)[2][4] |
 | |
| References | [5] |
Easdale (Scottish Gaelic:Eilean Èisdeal) is one of theSlate Islands, in theFirth of Lorn,Scotland. Once the centre of the Scottish slate industry, there has been some recent island regeneration by the owners.[6] This is one of the smallest of the inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides and is home to traditional white-washed cottages[7] and disused slate quarries.[5] The island supports a successful arts programme and an award-winning museum[8] and is without cars or streetlights.[9]
Aferry sails from Easdale toEllenabeich on the nearby island ofSeil (Gaelic:Saoil), which is separated from Easdale by only a narrow channel.[4][10] Confusingly, Ellenabeich is sometimes known as 'Easdale' as a result of its connections with the island.[10]
In 1549,Donald Monro, "Dean of the Isles" wrote, in brief reference to Easdale, of an island "namit in the Erische Leid Ellan Eisdcalfe"[11][12][a] However the derivation of "Eisdcalfe" and this word's etymological relationship to "Easdale" is not clear. Haswell-Smith (2004) notes thateas is Gaelic for "waterfall" anddal isNorse for "valley".[4] Nonetheless, it is not clear why either description should apply to the island which is low lying and has no waterfalls. Similarly,Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland states that the first element is obscure, the second is the Norsedalr.[14]
The Gaelic name,Èisdeal ([ˈeːʃtʲəl̪ˠ]) orEilean Èisdeal has a long vowel and local folk legend attributes this to a derivation fromèist thall "listen to that yonder".[15] It is not clear if thisÈisdeal shares its derivation with Glen Ashdale/Gleann Èisdeal (Glen ofAsh trees)[16] onArran.
Ellenabeich or Ellenbeich appears to be from the GaelicEilean nam Beathach ([ˈelanəmˈpɛhəx]) "island of the animals" but this may be a reflex of an earlier andhomophonous formEilean nam Beitheach "island of the birch trees".[16]
Easdale lies in theFirth of Lorn little more than 200 metres (220 yd) west of the shores of the island of Seil.Mull is some 5 km (3 mi) to the north west. A scattering of islands, large and small, lie to the south includingLuing,Belnahua and theGarvellachs.[5] The highest point on Easdale is only 38 metres above sea level but offers commanding views in all directions.[5]
The Easdale Slates were created in theOrdovician period about 445 million years ago. The rock is blueish-black in colour, contains significant quantities ofiron pyrites and features a ripple that distinguishes it from slates found inWales andCornwall. The slate beds are tilted at an angle of circa 45 degrees.[17]
In the 7th century theCenél Loairn kindred controlled what is today known asLorn in the kingdom ofDalriada.[18] It has been suggested that nearby Seil may be theInnisibsolian referred to in theChronicle of the Kings of Alba, which records a victory of the Scots over aViking force during the time ofDonald II in the 9th century.[19] However, it is likely that Easdale would have become part of the NorseKingdom of the Isles either at this time or shortly thereafter.[20] Following the 1266Treaty of Perth the Hebrides were returned to Scottish control and eventually the island became part of the Netherlorn estates of theBreadalbane family (a branch ofClan Campbell).[21]
Easdale slate had been used in major construction projects in Scotland in the 12th and 13th centuries.[22] Another early mention of slate mining in the vicinity also appears in Dean Monro'sDescription in which he wrote of "Ellan Slait, quhairin their is abundance of skailzie to be wyn".[13][b][c]
Production was significantly increased byJohn Campbell the 1st Earl of Breadalbane following theJacobite rising of 1689.[25] By the time of the 1772 visit to the area byThomas Pennant the island was producing 2.5 million slates per annum.[26] Easdale had thus become a centre of the Britishslate industry, with a community of more than 500 working as many as seven quarries, some of which extended to 90 m (300 ft) below sea level. Easdale slate helped to build major cities of theBritish Empire and can still be seen on rooftops as far afield asMelbourne,Nova Scotia,Dunedin andDublin. Thegreat storm of 1850 flooded the majority of the quarries and, as the islanders were unable to extract the floodwater, most were abandoned.[27] The last slate was cut in the 1950s and the once active quarries are now still pools which provide a safe haven for a wide variety of flora and bird life.[28]
Nearby the former islandEilean-a-beithich once stood in the Easdale Sound between Easdale and Seil. It was quarried to a depth of 75 m (250 ft) below sea level leaving only the outer rim of the island. This was breached by the sea in 1881 and little visible sign of the island now remains.[27]
In 1859 the British Government decided to create Artillery Volunteers around the coasts to defend the nation from the potential threat of attack byNapoleon III. InArgyll more than a dozen such companies were formed, including two on Easdale created in March 1860.[29] Ex-Royal Navy captain John MacDougall was placed in command of the volunteers and the four32-pounder guns they were issued with. Drill halls were built at Easdale and at Ellanabeich with the guns being positioned nearby. Drills included firing cannonballs over 120 metres at small target rafts. Further floods in 1881 meant the original gun position on Easdale had to be resited.[30]
In 1899 the 32-pounders were replaced by more powerful64-pounders that had 3 tonne barrels and which could fire 29kg shells more than twice as far as the original guns. The new guns were mounted on carriages, one of which survives on Easdale.[31][32] Eight men crewed each gun and in 1903 the Easdale Volunteers won the King's Cup at a national competition held nearDundee. In 1908, 48 years after they were formed the Volunteers stood down and were replaced by theTerritorial Force (now known as theTerritorial Army).[33]
By the early 1960s, the population had dwindled to only five people and the island appeared doomed. The island now has a population of around sixty-seventy people and is one of the smallest permanently inhabited island of theInner Hebrides.[d] The Scottish plant collectorClara Winsome Muirhead surveyed the plant life of the island and publishedThe Flora of Easdale and theGarvellachs in 1967.[35]
British indie rock bandFlorence and the Machine filmed their double-feature music video for their singles "Queen of Peace" and "Long & Lost" on the island, with the videos using the villagers as the cast.[36]
The island is owned by Jonathan Feigenbaum, who operates the Easdale Island Company;[37] he succeeded his late fatherClive Feigenbaum (the former chairman ofStanley Gibbons). Clive created local issues of stamps, and Jonathan has continued doing this.[4][38]
In 2005 the local authority,Argyll and Bute Council, discussed plans to build a bridge between the island and Seil, linking the island to the mainland by road,[39] despite there being no roads on Easdale.
The island is home to an award-winning museum[40] owned and operated by Eilean Eisdeal, adevelopment trust,[8] as well as a bar/restaurant called "The Puffer".[41][42] Eilean Eisdeal spearheaded the renovation of the Easdale Island Community Hall, which provides a venue for a wide variety of events.[43] According toMike Scott ofthe Waterboys: "The Hall itself is magical. From the first sighting of its pyramid roof and arced frontispiece across the water to stepping off its stage at the end of the concert, it cast a spell on us."[43]
A company who operate high speed boat trips to view wild life and other local places of interest in the area have their base at Ellenabeich opposite Easdale.[44]
The WorldStone Skimming Championship[45] has taken place annually in September on Easdale since 1997. In 2012 the event came under threat after Jonathan Feigenbaum requested £1,000 for using the slate quarry the championship uses. The competition only went ahead after thePress and Journal newspaper offered to pay the fee.[46] Acommunity buyout of the island by residents is now under consideration.Mike Russell,MSP forArgyll and Bute, said: "Not every community will achieve it and not every community should achieve it. But it is a live issue and becomes even more live in circumstances such as these."[47]
Tourist accommodation is available on the island and nearby.[48] The disused quarries have been described as "perfect for wild swimming".[49]
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