Pabaigh Mòr
Scottish Gaelic namePabaigh Mòr
Old Norse namepap-øy
Meaning of nameisland of the priest
Location
Pabaigh Mòr is located in Outer Hebrides
Pabaigh Mòr
Pabaigh Mòr
Pabaigh Mòr shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNB100380
Coordinates58°14′N 6°56′W / 58.23°N 6.94°W / 58.23; -6.94
Physical geography
Island groupLewis and Harris
Area101 hectares (0.39 sq mi)
Area rank148 [1]
Highest elevationBeinn Mhòr 68 metres (223 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaNa h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[2][3][4][5]

Pabay Mòr or Pabaigh Mòr is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

History

Old lobster lagoon

The island's name comes from papey, an Old Norse name meaning "Island of the papar or culdees". The island was connected to Clan MacLeod throughout much of its history.[3]

In 1800, Sergeant Evander MacIver was given the island on retirement from the Seaforth Regiment in lieu of a pension. However, 27 years later, his family became victims of the Highland Clearances, and his descendants can be found in Valtos in neighbouring Lewis. It is said that the founder of Cunard was related to this family.[3]

In World War I, it is suspected that a German U-boat landed surreptitiously at the island, and unloaded boxes of provisions, which were found later.[3]

The current owner has restored a couple of blackhouses on the island, but it is uninhabited most of the time. Valtos crofters retain grazing rights on the island.

Teampall Pheadair

The remains of Teampall Pheadair (St Peter's Church) and burial ground are in the south east around Loch na Teampall ("temple loch"). To the south east of the loch is Cnoc na Cille ("hill of the monk's cell").

A local tradition is that the church was used as a refuge by the MacLeods of Lewis. The church may have been damaged by artillery used during the Scottish Crown's campaign against the MacLeods of Lewis in 1506.[6]

The church is now a scheduled monument.[7]

Geography and geology

Pabaigh Mòr lies off the west coast of Lewis in West Loch Roag, north of Vacsay. The island is Lewisian gneiss with a light soil. It has a number of caves, sea spouts, and natural arches. To the north, Pabay Beag is separated by a sheltered pool.[3]

Archaeology

In 1998, human remains were first observed eroding out of the beach on the eastern side of Island. Those remains were subsequently deposited in the Uig Museum. In 2002, further remains were found in the same location and archaeologists from GUARD Archaeology (then part of the University of Glasgow) excavated the site as part of the Historic Scotland Human Remains Call-off Contract. The remains were from a male, aged 50–59, who died approximately between 1450 – 1290 BC, during Scottish Bronze Age. The man was muscled but had a spinal joint disease. The remains of an infant was also recovered, along with some pottery.[8]

Media

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pabaigh Mòr.

References

  1. ↑ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. ↑ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  5. ↑ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
  6. ↑ Barrowman, Rachel C.; Francoz, Charlotte; Hooper, Janet; Rennie, Christine; Tompsett, Gary (17 February 2020). "Chapel-sites on the Isle of Lewis: Results of the Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey". Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports. 88: 1–134. doi:10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2020.88. ISSN 2056-7421.
  7. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "St Peter's Church, Pabay Mor, Lewis (SM11087)". Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "Vol 29 (2009): SAIR 29: A Bronze Age burial from Pabay Mor, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

58°14′N 6°56′W / 58.233°N 6.933°W / 58.233; -6.933

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