Ensay
| Ensay Gaelic: Easaigh | |
 An abandoned house on Ensay | |
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| Location | |
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| Location: | 57°45’49"N, 7°5’3"W |
| Grid reference: | NF977862 |
| Area: | 460 acres |
| Highest point: | 160 feet |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
Ensay is island lies in the Sound of Harris, between the islands of Harris and Berneray among the Outer Hebrides. It is part of Inverness-shire. A narrow sound just 550 yards wide separates Ensay from its neighbour, Killegray to the south, and it lies just three quarters of a mile from the rocky coast of Harris, with the ferry port at Leverburgh two miles from Ensay. The sea all around is thick with perilous rocks and skerries.
The name ‘Ensay’ originates from the Old Norse for 'Ewe Island'.[1]
The island has had no permanent population since the 1930s, but it is still used for summer grazing.
On the island
The small chapel of Christ Church is maintained by the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The island shows signs of Stone Age habitation, with a prominent standing stone. Ensay House was built in the Edwardian period.[2] This was the home of the Stewart family, who used to own the island.
The town of Ensay in Victoria, Australia was named after this island by one of the early settlers, Archibald Macleod.
Pictures
Standing Stone
Taigh Easaigh
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ensay) |
References
- ↑ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf)
- ↑ "Ensay". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1993.html. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
| The islands of the Sound of Harris, Inverness-shire | ||
|---|---|---|
| Harris |
Berneray • Boreray • Keallasay More • Ensay • Gilsay • Groay • Hermetray • Killegray • Opsay • Pabbay • Sgarabhaigh • Shillay • Stromay • Sursay • Tahay • |
North Uist
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