Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

ARGYLLSHIRE
SLATER'S
THE ISLE OF JURA,
WITH THOSE OF COLONSAY, GAIiVELLOCH, LUNGA, ORANSAY AND SCARBA, WITH MILLTOWN VILLAGE.
JURA, an island of the Hebrides, is thirty-three miles long,*aud
from two to ten miles broad, separated from Knapdale, on the
â– western coast of Scotland, by the sound of Jura (ten miles broad),
and from the island of Islay, to the southf by the sound of Islay
(about a mile broad), and, with the other islands, form the united
parish of Jura and Colonsay. Jura belongs to James Campbell,
Esq., whose residence is at Ardfin, a respectable mansion on the
south shore of the island. It is the most rugged of the Western
Isles, being composed chiefly of huge rocks piled one on another
in the utmost disorder. The west side of the island is wild and
rugged, intersected by numerous torrents, which come rushing
down from the mountains. The inhabitants live all on the east side
of the island. The most remarkable objects in the isle are the
Paps of Jura, an eminence nearly 2,500 feet above the level of the
sea ; they are three in number, standing on tbe same ridge, hue
having two valleys separating them, the tops being round, and
consisting for some distance down the sides of loose stones, ren-
dering the ascent difficult; the southern one is called " Benachao-
lais " (the Mountain of Sound), the next and highest, " Benanoir "
(the Mountain of Gold), the third "Beushiauta" (the Consecrated
Mountain). There are live of these conical peaks, but only three
of them are distinguished as the Paps. Corrabhain (the steep peak)
is the most precipitous, but lowest of the claster. The island
also contains several caves, one of them being so large that it is
said a regiment of soldiers might perform their exercise in this
spacious arena. To the north of the island, in a strait, nearly a
mile broad, separating the island of Scarba from Jura, is the gulf
of CorroyVrecken, where the rush of water is so great during the
ebbing of the tide, as to form a terrible whirlpool, the noise of
which can he heard for many miles. The rod doer abounds in the
upland of this island. Fairs are held on the second last Friday in
May, Friday after last Tuesday in June, Friday after last Thursday
iu July, and tho second last Friday in Octoher,all for cattle. Popu-
lation in 1881, 781.
Colonsay, a rather high rocky island, to the west of Jura,
twelve miles long, and about three broad, ij the property of Duncan
M'Neill, Esq., of Colonsay, who has a good mansion house on the
island of Killorran. The ruinous sacred building, and the numerous
inscriptions on the grave-stones covering tbe ashes of the illustrious
dead, are considered by many almost equal to those found on the
island of Iona. Population in 1881, 387-
Garvelloch, or Holy Island, contains an extensive old fort,
called Dunconnel, once a stronghold belonging to the Lords of the
Isles, and in one of them, called the Nun's Island, are considerable
remains of an old nunnery, said to have been founded by Saint
Columbus.
Oransay, a small island to the south of Colonsay, contains tho
residence of the late Captain Alexander M'Neill, who was one of
many that perished in the melancholy shipwreck of the Orion
steamer, off Portpatrick, in 1850.
Milltown, frequently called Craighouse, the principal village iu
Jura, is eight miles from Port-Askaig Ferry. It has a good quay,
and the harbour, which is large and formed by several small islands,
has obtained the appellation of Small Isles Harbour. About half
a mile north of the village is the parish church and a Board school.
The village contains a distillery, a comfortable inn, and a corn mill.
POST RECEIVING HOUSE, Lagg, Hugh Lindsay, Post Master.— Letters arrive from Port-Askaig on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays, and are despatched thereto on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The nearest Money Order Office is at Craighouse.
Post Office, Craighouse, John M'Kechnie, Post Master. — Money Order Office and Savings Bank.
Post Receiving House, Colonsay, Neill M'Millan, Posi Afasfer.— Letters arrive from Port-Askaig on Tuesday, and from Portrush
on Friday, and are despatched to Port-Askaig on Monday, and to Portrush on Tuesday. The nearest Money Order Office is at Port-
Askaig.
GENTRY & GLERGY.
Campbell Esq. (nf Jura), Ardfin
Campbell Colin, Esq. yr. (of Jura), Jura House
Carmichael Rev. J. Colonsay
Evans Henry, Esq. Jura Forest
M'Cuaig Rev. Angus, Jura Manse
Macfarlane Walter, Esq. of Ardlussa
M'Gilvray P. Esq. Ardfin
M'Neill Sir John. j.p. of Colonsay
Mulqueen J. T. Esq. Jura
Stewart Duncan, Esq. Killoran House
SCHOOLS.
Board Schools:—
Ardlussa — Helen R, Street, mistress
Knockrome — Lachlan M'Beath, master
Small Isles— Colin Campbell, master
Parochial School, Colon say— Neil M-Millan,
master
SHOPKEEPERS, FARMERS,
TRADERS, &c.
Campbell Agnes, farmer, Balramonie
Clark Donald, bootmaker, Keill
Ferguson Jas. & Sons, distillers, Small Isles
Fisher Alex, china merchant, Small Isles
Fletcher D. & J. farmers, Tarbert, Jura
Keith John, tailor, Keill
Lindsay James, farmer & ferryman, Lagge
M'Cormick Archibald, farmer, Kinuachdrach
M'Dougall Allan, shoemaker, Keill
M'Dougall Donald, smith, Small Isles
M'Dougall Duncan & Son, farmers, Crackaig
M'Gilhvray John, inspector of poor, & regis-
trar of births, deaths & marriages, Craig-
house, Small Isles [Isles
M'Isaac Alex, miller & boat builder, Small
M'Kechnie Donald, smith, Ardfin
M'Kechnie John, Jura Hotel, and farmer and
general merchant, Craighouse
M'Millan Neil, registrar of birLhs, deaths and
marriages & inspector of poor, Colonsay
M'Neil Dnld. grocer, Scalasaiglnn, Coloniay
M'Neill Neill, farmer, Ardskiuish
M'Pherson Alexander, bootmaker, Milltown
Stroyan William, farmer, Oransay [Jura
Sutherland David, ferryman, Feoline Ferry,
Sutherland Ann, farmer, Feoline
PLACES OF WORSHIP
AND THEIR MINISTERS.
Established Church, Craighouse, Jura-
Rev. Angus M'Cuaig
Free Church, Jura— Neil M'Donald, Free
Church probationer
Chapel of Ease, Colonsay— Rev. J. Car-
michael
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