Brevig, Barra

Brevig, Barra

ID: QZP99_94052_11_01 DESCRIPTION: A clachan on the island of Barra. Traditionally a clachan was a small village with a church. Barra is a small island in the south of the Western Isles. It measures eight miles by five. The island was granted to Gilleonan MacNeil in 1427 by the Lord of the Isles. It was sold to Colonel Gordon of Cluny in the 19th century and most of the people were cleared off the land to make way for sheep. The MacNeils bought back the estate during the 20th century. The main town on Barra is Castlebay. Kisimul Castle, the stronghold of the MacNeils, sits on a rocky islet in the bay. Barra is now home to the only beach airport in the world to deal with scheduled flights, linking Barra with Glasgow and Benbecula. This image comes from a collection gifted to Edinburgh Central Library by Dr Isabel F. Grant. The collection includes photographs taken by a number of different photographers. The major archive of monochrome topographical views by James Valentine & Co. is held by the University of St Andrews Library. PLACENAME: Brevig DISTRICT: Barra OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Barra CREATOR (AV): J Valentine & Co. DATE OF IMAGE: 1909 PERIOD: 1900s SOURCE: Edinburgh and Scottish Collection, Edinburgh Central Library COLLECTION: I F Grant Photographic Archive Asset ID: 38676 KEYWORDS: