Lewis
 |
Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis |
Lewis (
Leòdhas in
Scottish Gaelic) or
The Isle of Lewis (
Eilean Leòdhais), is the northern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of
Scotland or
Outer Hebrides (
Na h-Eileanan Siar). The southern part of the island is called
Harris (
Na Hearadh). The two names however refer to the two parts of the same island despite the use of the terms 'Isle of Lewis' and 'Isle of Harris'.
Lewis' main settlement, the only
burgh on the Outer Hebrides, is
Stornoway (
Steòrnabhagh), from which
ferries sail to
Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. In the 2001 census Lewis had a usually resident population of 16,872. In Scotland's former counties, Lewis was part of
Ross-shire (
Ross and Cromarty). Historically the island has been a stronghold for the preservation of the
Scottish Gaelic language. In recent years however, there has been an upsurge in English speakers migrating into the island, but also being brought up in Lewis. Approximately 99% of the island's population do indeed speak English, with approximately 60% having some understanding of Gaelic. The island's
accent and
patter is a direct result of
hybridisation incorporating the 2 languages. The Lewis accent is indeed not typical of a Scottish accent. Indeed, when native Gaelic speakers speak English, they are often mistaken for being
Irish,
Welsh and even
American by anyone not familiar with the Highland/Gael
twang.
The island's settlements are on or near the
coasts or
sea lochs, being particularly concentrated on the north east coast. The interior of the island is a large area of moorland from which
peat was traditionally cut as fuel, although this practice has become rarer. The southern part of the island, adjoining
Harris, is more
mountainous with inland
lochs. The island of Bernera (
Great Bernera) in the district of
Uig is linked to the mainland of Lewis by a bridge opened in
1953.
The main industries are
fishing,
tourism,
crafts (including the manufacture of
Harris tweed), and
crofting. Religion is important in Lewis, with much of the population belonging to the
Free Church and
Church of Scotland (both
Presbyterian in tradition). The
Sabbath is generally observed with most shops and licensed premises closed on that day, although there is a scheduled air service to mainland Scotland.
Attractions on the island include the
Callanish standing stones, the
Clach an Truiseil monolith, the
thirteenth century Teampull Mholuaidh church, the
Butt of Lewis cliffs and
lighthouse and the
broch at
Dun Carloway. The
Lewis chessmen were found on the island in
1831.
Most of the place names in Lewis and
Harris come from
Old Norse. The name Lewis is the English spelling of the Gaelic
Leòdhas which comes from the
Old Norse Ljóðhús, as Lewis is named in
medieval Norwegian maps of the island.
Ljóðhús translates from
Old Norse to English as
Home of the Poet (Ljóð = Poet, hús = house). The 12th century ruler of the Island,
Leod, taking his name from the Norse word for Poet.
In 1919 the Isle of Lewis suffered a terrible blow with the
sinking of the Iolaire, when at the close of the
First World War the Admiralty yacht
HMY Iolaire, sank within sight of Stornoway's harbour, killing over 200 naval reservists from the island who were returning home after the war.
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Garenin Black House Village |
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St Columba's Church, Aignish, Isle of Lewis |
There are four parishes: Barvas (
Barabhas), Lochs (
Na Lochan), Stornoway (
Steòrnabhagh), and Uig on which the original civil registration districts were based. The district of Carloway (after the village of that name) which hitherto had fallen partly within the parishes of Lochs and Uig, became a separate civil registration district in
1859. The districts of Lewis are Ness (
Nis), Carloway (
Càrlabhagh), Back (
Am Bac), Lochs (
Na Lochan), Park (
A' Phàirc), Point (
An Rubha), Stornoway itself, and Uig. These designations are traditional and in use by the entire population. The
West Side is a generic designation for the area covering the villages from Arnol to Shawbost (
Siabost). For civil registration purposes Lochs (
Na Lochan) is nowadays split into North Lochs (
Na Lochan a Tuath) and South Lochs (
Na Lochan a Deas).
*
Back (
Am Bac, Sgìre a' Bhac)including
North Tolsta,
Coll (
Col)
*
Ness (
Nis) including
Habost (
Tàbost),
Port of Ness (
Port Nis)
*
North Lochsincluding
Balallan (
Baile Ailein),
Crossbost (
Crosabost),
Leurbost (
Liùrbost)
*
Park also known as South Lochsincluding
Gravir (
Grabhair)
*
Point (
An Rubha)including
Aignish (
Aiginis),
Lower Bayble (
Pabail Iarach),
Portnaguran (
Port nan Giùran),
Upper Bayble (
Pabail Uarach),
Portvoller (
Port Mholair),
Aird*
South Lochs also known as Park
*
Stornoway*
Uigincluding
Cliff (
Cliobh),
Kneep (
Cnìb),
Timsgarry (
Timsgearraidh)
*
West Sideincluding
Arnol,
Ballantrushal (
Baile an Truiseil),
Barvas (
Barbhas),
Bragar (
Bràgar),
Breasclete (
Brèascleit),
Brue (
Brù),
Callanish (
Calanais),
Carloway (
Càrlabhagh),
Garenin (
Na Gearannan),
Shawbost (
Siabost)
It is claimed that you can see all the areas of Lewis from the top of Stornoway War Memorial!
The Isle of Lewis is a place where you can breathe history. From the ancient site of
Callanish with its standing stones to the
Dun Carloway Broch, from the
Iron Age houses near Bostadh (
Great Bernera) to the
Black House village at
Garenin (
Na Gearannan), near Carloway, from
St. Columba's church in
Aignish to the
Teampull Mholuaidh in
Ness, history is to be found all over the island.
This section of the article needs expanding*
Visitor's guide for the Island of Lewis*
Website of the Western Isles Council with links to other resources
*
Flags of the World - Lewis*
Panoramas of the Island (QuickTime required)
* [Wind power dilemma for Lewis http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5205430.stm]
