Prehistoric & Roman: 12,000 BC to AD 80
From about
12,000 BC. After numerous millennia of Ice Ages, the thick ice cover retreated northwards to reveal the uninhabited land that would be called Scotland. The land rose as the weight of ice receded, leaving Scotland attached to Europe by land bridges over the North Sea and the English Channel.
By
5,000 BC. Nomadic hunter-gatherers from southern Britain would visit Scotland during the warm summer months. Gradually, some such visitors would make longer expeditions and settle for longer periods. Human remains were discovered in the 1890s, in caves around Oban, some six sea-miles north of Seil Island. Recent (21st century) studies of the DNA identify two brothers or cousins, raised on mainland Europe about 4,500 BC.
4,000 BC. Gradually, new incomers sought land on which they could settle and practise simple crop raising and animal husbandry. Hunting and gathering people coexisted with the new farmers, perhaps for many generations, before settling down or moving on. The more stationary occupation of agriculture lent itself to the establishment of communities and allowed for the development of religious practices such as burial rituals and standing stones. It also introduced motives for the construction of permanent measures of fortification and defence.
2,000 BC. Boat building technology developed from the most primitive rough-hewn log canoes, leading to larger, safer vessels and allowed exploration and trade to and from ever more distant places. The use of bronze was followed by the introduction of iron and the discovery of gold and silver. These technologies brought huge developments in weapons and wealth, with an inevitable increase in rivalry and warfare. Stone fortifications became more elaborate and more widespread.
1,000 BC. Increasing travel between Antrim and Argyll spreads Celtic and Gaelic culture. Merging of Antrim “Scots” (Ireland) and people of Argyll. The control of Chiefs and Warlords straddles the Irish Sea.
900 BC. Fort established at Dunadd, Crinan. Numerous Coastal and Island forts reflect the various struggles for power.
AD 400
- Irish-born Fergus Mor founds Kingdom of Dal Riata at Dunad. The Irish/Scottish Gaelic culture becomes Scottish. Nameless saints bring Celtic Christianity.
500
- Saints Brendan, Cattan and Columba 563: Seil, Luing, Iona.
Norse & Viking Centuries 466 years
800. Norse raiders (Vikings) raid islands and coasts.
- Vikings intermarry in and colonise, finally ruling almost all the Scottish Islands.
1100
- Somerled, the Norse/Gaelic Lord of Argyll, marries a daughter of Olaf, Norwegian King of the Hebrides and Isle of Mann, and (by1154) rules (under Viking supervision) the Western Isles and Mann from Argyll.
1200
- Treaty of Perth between Alexander lll of Scotland & Magnus lV of Norway. Western Isles ceded to Scotland, but MacDonalds & MacDougals, descendants of Somerled, continue to contest Lordship of the Isles & Nether Lorne.
1300
- Robert the Bruce routs MacDougalls at Eilean a’ Chomhraidh, Seil Sound.
- MacDougalls defeated by Bruce. Slate Islands pass to Campbells.
- Mediaeval Kilbrandon Church near old cemetery, Balvicar.
- John Dubh MacLean: pirate in Seil Sound.
Post Viking problems and Lord of the Isles cause persistent unrest in The Islands.
1400
- Sea battle of Bloody Bay, Mull. James 4th defeats the MacDonald Lord of the Isles.
- Lordship absorbed by the Scottish crown.
Making Modern Scotland
- 1500. Earl of Argyll appointed Royal Lieutenant of The Isles: continuing strife between Campbell and MacLeans.
- Dean Monro writes of slate quarrying on Belnahua and Easdale.
1600
- Union of the Scottish and English Crowns. James 6th moves south to be King James 1st of UK.
- National Covenant. Religious discord between Covenanters, Presbyterians and Episcopalians.
- Ardmaddy Castle roofed with Easdale slate.
- Breadalbane Campbells buy Ardmaddy & The Slate Islands from Earl of Argyll.
The Slate Years 266 years
1700
- New Parish Church built at Cuan.
- Argyll raises Island troops to join the defeat of “Bonnie Prince Charlie” and Jacobite cause at Culloden.
- Marble and Slate Company of Nether Lorne.
- Commercial Quarrying starts on Luing.
- Clachan Bridge built from Seil to mainland.
1800
- New Slate Villages built: Ellenabeich, Easdale Island, Toberonochy and Cullipool.
- Larger Kilbrandon Parish Church built above Ballachuan Loch.
- Drill Hall (later Village Hall) built at Easdale.
- Easdale School built.
- Great Flood: Ellenabeich & Easdale Island.
1900
- First World War. Many Islanders recruited and killed.
- The Latvian Helena Faulbaums wrecked off Belnahua 26th October.
- Strachan’s stained-glass in Kilbrandon Church.
- Final sales of Breadalbane Island properties.
- Second World War. Quarries closed ‘till 1947
- All Slate Island quarrying ends.
- Electricity: connections begin in Easdale.
- Vehicle Ferry service to Luing.
- Scottish Wildlife Trust forms Ballachuan Wood Wildlife Reserve.
2008 Slate Island Heritage Trust formed. Crane moved to the Square.