Lewis
- For other uses, see Lewis (disambiguation).
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 is, in general, the lower lying part of this island, with Harris being more mountainous.
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, although the language recently has been dying out, with very few of the island's younger generation being fluent speakers. The main language on the island is English; in 1988 approximately 1/6 of the students at the secondary school who studied Gaelic were native speakers, the other 5/6 were classed as learners.
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 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 (i.e., Sunday) 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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Parishes and districts 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), Broadbay, 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).
- Broadbay
- Ness (Nis)
- including Habost (Tàbost), Port of Ness (Port Nis)
- Park also known as South Lochs
- including 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
- Uig
- including Cliff (Cliobh), Kneep (Cnìb), Timsgarry (Timsgearraidh)
- including Arnol, Ballantrushal (Baile an Truiseil), Barvas (Barbhas), Bragar (Bràgar), Breasclete (Brèascleit), Brue (Brù), Callanish (Calanais), Carloway (Càrlabhagh), Garenin (Na Gearannan), Garynahine (Gearraidh na h-aibhne), Shawbost (Siabost)
It is claimed that you can see all the areas of Lewis from the top of Stornoway War Memorial [citation needed]
Sites of historical interest
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
See also
External links
- 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
| Islands of the Hebrides |
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| Inner Hebrides |
| Ascrib Islands | Canna | Cara | Coll | Colonsay | Crowlin Islands | Easdale | Eigg | Gigha | Iona | Isay | Islay | Jura | Kerrera | Lismore | Luing | Lunga | Oronsay | Muck | Mull | Raasay | Rùm | Seil | Shuna | Skye | Soay | Staffa | Summer Isles |Tiree |
| Outer Hebrides |
| Barra (Isles) | Benbecula | Berneray | Eriskay | Flannan Isles | Great Bernera | Harris and Lewis | North Uist | Rockall | Scalpay | South Uist | St Kilda |
Categories
Articles with unsourced statements | Islands of the Outer Hebrides | Lewis