Monach Islands
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Not to be confused with Heysker/Hyskeir (Small Isles) or Haskeir
The Monach Islands, also known as Heisker (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Heisgeir/Heisgeir), are an island group west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The islands are not to be confused with Hyskeir in the Inner Hebrides, or Haskeir which is also off North Uist and visible from the group.
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[edit] History
The islands have been uninhabited since 1948, but were inhabited by up to 100 people for centuries leading up to 1810 - possibly up to a thousand years before. They were originally abandoned due to overgrazing, but were resettled in the wake of the Highland Clearances.[1]
Shillay (Siolaigh) is home to a small, unstaffed light, built to replace a lighthouse which was abandoned in 1943.[2]
In 2007 renovations of the old schoolhouse were completed, enabling visitors to stay on the island, and learn about its history and wildlife. The old Heisgeir mailboat has also been restored at the Grimsay boatshed. The 28 foot motorised open wooden boat was built circa 1932 for the last family to leave the Monach Islands and had lain unused at Lochmaddy before being rescued by the local history society.[3]
[edit] Lady Grange
Jacobite sympathiser James Erskine, Lord Grange (1679-1784) was supposed to have abandoned his wife (Lady Grange - Rachel Chiesley) on the Monach Isles between 1732 and 1734, and then sent her to Hirta after that. This was on account of her allegedly overhearing Jacobite conspirators in their house in Edinburgh; and she stupidly threatened to expose them. Her husband and a friend of his got rid of her by sending her to these remote places. He also held a "funeral" for her in Edinburgh, [4] despite this, she remained married to him for twenty five years. She lived on Hirta from 1734-42 before being taken to Skye where she died after a failed rescue attempt.[5][6]
[edit] Wildlife
The islands are a National Nature Reserve[7] for the undisturbed machair and their Grey Seal population. About 10,000 come ashore each autumn to have their pups and mate, making it one of the largest such colonies in the world.[8] There are also a large number of nesting seabirds and a rich flora. Grey Herons nest in some of the abandoned buildings.[9]
There are no trees on the islands.
[edit] Geology and geography
The main islands of Ceann Ear (once home to a nunnery), Ceann Iar and Shivinish are all linked at low tide. It is said that it was at one time possible to walk all the way to Baleshare, and on to North Uist, five miles away at low tide. In the 15th century, a large tidal wave was said to have washed this away.[1] The islands of the group, tend to be low lying and sandy, subject to intense coastal erosion. Not unlike the Isles of Scilly it is possible that Ceann Iar, Shivinish and Ceann Ear formed a single body of land within historic times, and that their land area has greatly decreased due to overgrazing and sea inundation, and wind erosion as well.
Smaller islands in the group include Deasker (Deas-Sgeir), Shillay (Siolaigh) and Stocaigh (Stockay).
[edit] References
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate.
- ^ Monach Lighthouse. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Ross, John. "Renovation breathes new life into windswept Monach Isles", The Scotsman, 7 April 2007.
- ^ Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994). Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland.
- ^ Quine, David (2000). Island Guides: St. Kilda. Grantown-on-Spey: Colin Baxter.
- ^ Steel, Tom (1988). The Life and Death of St. Kilda. London: Fontana.
- ^ Monach Islands. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Monach Islands. Western Isles Guide Book. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Murray, W.H. (1966) The Hebrides. London. Heinemann. Page 205.
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