Ok, I know, this post has sat in my drafts longer than I anticipated but here is the post I promised on Seil Island.. Enjoy, as I hibernate some more in my world of model making and painting..
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When we arrived it was a Sunday, and late in the afternoon, I gravitated towards this sign which stated that where I was standing was once the sea. But by the early 19th century, the area where I stood had been filled with the waste from the Eillan a Beitch, ( one of the old spellings of Ellenabeich. That is now the flooded Quarry behind the village cottages. The village of Ellenabeich owes its existence to the Easdale Slate.
Click on photo’s to enlarge.
The village lay out of the streets in their present format dates from 1826. The front of the streets having been built upon the reclaimed land from the sea.
The cottages which are built-in slate, were the homes of the quarry workers and their families. And in their heyday back in the 19th Century they were home to more than 400 people. The whole of Seil Island as per poll in 2001 was said to be 560.
Slate was quarried from the early 17th century, and by the 1800 mining had become a major industry.
The introduction of Steam pumps to remove excess water came into existence around 1807 and made it possible to work in the quarries to the depths of around 80 metres.
Over 130 million roofing slates were produced here, and at that time fetched the price of £1 to £2 per Thousand, depending upon size. But A great storm in 1881 flooded the quarries and the slate industry quickly declined.
The harbour and slate piers were constructed for slate, at first onto sailing ships and later to steam.
Easdale slate was used to roof the growing cities of Great Britain and more distant cities of the world. The remains of the wooden steamer pier from where this crane was removed, can be seen by the flooded quarry.
In 1820 Ellenabeich was a port of call for S.S. Comet, the world’s first commercial steam ship. And passenger steamers continued to call well into the 20th Century.
Seil and Easdale are but two of the Scottish Slate Islands, the other two are Belnahua and Luing, both are visible from Seil Island.
All the Islands have a fascinating history, going back to pre-Christian times. A lovely video I found about Seil Island Here. Showing the crane and cottages. I hope you enjoyed your trip around this main village on the Island, and learnt a little more about Scottish History.
Oh yes, and remember in my last post I said there was a 9 hole golf course and I walked around it..
Well here it is. 🙂
Until Next Time ~Keep Warm And safe!
The Harbour wall is just amazingly beautiful. It’s a catch in my breath to imagine my own ancestors living here, this being their homes. Thank you for the visit Sue. Have a lovely day painting and enjoying nature. ❤
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Hi Dearest Holly,, Wonderful that I can share a little with you, that you can glimpse some of the houses and life in the Highlands.. So pleased you enjoyed.. And yes, I have been chilling out, and detaching as I absorb back into re-creating myself.. LOL..
I have a poem soon to share, at Dreamwalkers once typed, that shares how I have been feeling as I reflect upon my reflections 😉 xxx ❤ LOVE and HUGS and you too enjoy.. xxx
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That is something I surely look forward to , I am always captivated by your reflections, always a joy and food for thought Love and hugs to you dear friend. xxx
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Typing it up now dear Holly, and Many thanks dear friend for saying so.. That means the world to me.. 🙂
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I mean it sincerely Sue, your words inspire and encourage me.
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Ditto .. And oh so many thanks.. 🙂 xx
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Beautiful trip, as you had, dear Sue. It looks very peaceful and inviting.
Enjoy your painting and life ❤
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Dearest Irene.. thank you, I am enjoying life, painting and just BEing at the moment.. And I hope all is well with you and your family my friend..
Take care of yourself.. Love and warm hugs.. Sue xx 🙂
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Thank you Sue, things are going in the right direction here and I have enjoyed a relaxed weekend. Love and huge hugs for you too ❤
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Fantastic Irene… Keep enjoying and relaxing.. 🙂
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Maybe it’s all part of my frame of mind these days. Maybe all bound up in being lucky to be alive. Maybe still seeing everything with a clarity, with a freshness, that I am not used to from previous times.
But! But, there is something about your photographs in your post above that seem so familiar yet seem so very, very distant from Merlin in Southern Oregon.
Thank you, Sue.
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Yes Paul, you were and are indeed Lucky my friend.. No doubt if you were near Oban in Scotland many of the cottages are all painted White.. And yes the difference in locations I assume now seem worlds apart.. 🙂
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Love the history in this post. We have several “factory towns” near where we live. The uniformity of the buildings always strikes me as stark and yet beautiful.
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Hi Bill, many thanks for saying so.. And apologies for the neglect as I recently followed you, but I just have to follow the flow, and the flow has led me away from WP for a while..
Yes the mining towns and villages of coal mines are the same here.. Lots of rows of Terrace houses, built for purpose of the miners way back.. Called Avenues by numbers. The First avenue, Second, and so on
My own grandfather on my mothers side was a coal miner from the age of 14 and lived in such an avenue he rented until his retirement.
An industry that was also harsh in its early beginnings.. 🙂
Thank you Bill 🙂
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Another great post about Scotland, Sue. Very interesting to see these photographs and learn the history of this town.
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These are some wonderful pictures!! Ohhh how I wish someone from Scotland would adopt me lol ohhh well a girl can dream right 😀
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I hope all your Dreams come true.. 🙂 And happy you enjoyed them.. 🙂
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You could have lunch at the picnic table while watching hubby do a round of golf Sue 😀
A nice history of times gone by, makes you wonder sometimes in how they were able to do it all 😀
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Haha.. Yes, I could even get around those 9 holes in no time myself LOL.. 🙂 haha.. I often wonder myself Mark, just how they did it. given the tools back then also. I am always fascinated with the bridges and Viaducts which span valleys etc that carry trains and how on earth they built them. With blood sweat and tears no doubt.. ❤ 🙂 Thank you Mark.. Hope you are enjoying Summer? 🙂
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I’ve been enjoying it even though It has been the usual dance in 40C+ heat…but hey, I don’t have to pay fore a sauna treatment every day 😀
Mind you, I keep looking at your photo’s and seeing rain everywhere, I think that too must become a little too much sometimes. But it must be good for your gardens though 😀
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I think I would wilt and melt in your kind of heat Mark, the rain.. well, we all get a little rusty when we stand in it too long LOL.. Yes rain is good for the gardens up to a point, but there have been years lots of things have rotted in the allotments due to wet summers.. The snow here further North turned to rain then flooded homes.. So not so good.. But we saw Sun today.. even though it was only 8C 🙂 I went for a walk.. 🙂 and it blew the cobwebs 🙂
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That was a fascinating trip around another part of scotland, really enjoyed it. I love looking at the way things were, thank you for that..
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Thank you for bringing beautiful scenery and the history of slateville. Found it interesting
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GREAT POST and PHOTOS as always! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thank you very much Mr R.. always good to see you here.. 🙂
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I particularly like the harbour wall – all the other pictures as well
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Thank you Derrick, yes, I thought just how much that wall would have taken to be built! and the craftsmanship in it still standing
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I love this post! Rich in history and fascinating photos. The harbor wall is amazing.
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Hi Eugenia, yes seeing that harbour wall slotted together like that, pretty amazing.. 🙂 Big smiles xx
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Hi Sue – very interesting and great photos… is that the whole golf course there? 😉 😀
I’ve never visited Scotland and it isn’t really that far away. One day, I shall nip for a wee visit! 😀
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Hi Tom, thank you, and yes that’s the whole 9 holes lol.. 🙂 And its a good days drive with frequent stops.. with Lunch and Gretna Green.. 🙂 well worth it if you visit the The National Parks like Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. 🙂
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As I mentioned before, my great grandfather’s family was from Scotland but there is little I know of the details of that history. I found this to be very interesting and of something I did not know of. Thank you for sharing Sue. xoxo
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So happy you enjoyed the post and you can see some of the homeland of Scotland Renee.. 🙂 Thank you and sending hugs and thoughts your way Renee.. xxx
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Seil Island is captivating with its history Sue, the buildings alone hold many story’s of the lives of long ago, that Sea wall has got to have been done by Master Rock Wallers.
A great and enjoyable post Sue.
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Thank you Ian.. Yes I enjoyed this brief visit to the Island, and I am sure those cottages could tell many a story. And I appreciate the skill it took to build the harbour. My Father in his spare time would often do dry stone walling for local farmers.. There is an art to it, and my Brother-in-law even though he is in his late 70’s has not retired and is a dry stone waller in the Derbyshire Dales 🙂
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Really fascinating Sue! I had no idea. Thank you for this share. 💕
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I’m feeling such a Lowlander 😉
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Looks so determined in braving everything life has to dish out, neat and homey. A place to fall in love with for sure, Sue.
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Hi Sue this is Peggy – just stopping by after months off line. Am at my daughter’s house using her internet. Love this post. The pictures are fantastic. Hope you have been well. We are doing ok in Arkansas USA. Trying to dodge the flu, stay well, and stay active. Put a couple of photos on my blog just to say Hello. Miss my blogger friends.
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Thank you Peggy, So wonderful to see you again here.
The flu has been doing its rounds here and several family members have had it quite severe. But thankfully Hubby and I have so far escaped.. You have been missed Peggy.. LOVE and Hugs to you xx ❤
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So glad you are doing well. I have missed you very much – my friend across the ocean. I will drop by when I can and make sure I say hello. Take care Love n hugs to you my friend
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Big Hugs, And that will be lovely, I know its difficult, I too have not been on line as much this year.. Painting more.. and enjoying it. 😀
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I have been drawing and doing crafts. I guess you and I have too many things in our life to do them all at once. Ha We are both talented you know. Big belly laugh – love you friend
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You are very talented.. And I think this year it is as if I want to cram as much as I can in creating, and yet feel I do not have enough time to do it all. A strange feeling, I have never had before.. So just embracing it and going with the flow.. 🙂 xxx
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I think that feeling of too little time comes when you begin to age and the years slip by too fast. xxx
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Yes I blinked and January disappeared LOL 🙂
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YES! Ha
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🙂
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Such an interesting place. So many of these type of places now have tourism taking over as their main livelihood. Thanks for sharing it with us, and I’m sure you will be enjoying time with your crafts keeping warm in front of a roaring fire. Have a great weekend.
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I will Pauline.. I have a painting on the go between model making LOL.. Enjoy your weekend also xx
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Thank you for taking us on your journey, Sue. I loved learning about the history and seeing the photos. xx
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And thank you Lisa.. Loved having you here to experience Seil Island.. 🙂
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enjoyed this post
brought back many memories of my youth – a long, long time ago now!
[know Seil, and Ellenabeich, very well – used to live on nearby Luing]
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Hello and welcome and apologies its taken so long to get to reply, I had not seen these latest comments come in as I have not been on this blog for a while. I am delighted my post brought fond memories back to you. And what a beautiful place to live, I adore Scotland and will be travelling back for another visit in May. 🙂 Many thanks for taking the time to visit and I hope to repay the compliment 🙂
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So beautiful and quaint places!Lovely your photo series,you did manage to capture the spirit of these remote regions.The slate cottages along the alley are out of this world and of great historical and cultural value.Love to you dearest friend Sue 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Thank you Doda.. we are off again soon, and taking in the train scenic root this time in the highlands.. So will have more photo shares of places of interest I hope.. Sending LOVE.. and mega Hugs xx
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