Timsgarry (Scottish Gaelic: Tuimisgearraidh) is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church and the Uig Museum, noted for its giant Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831.
Timsgarry
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  Timsgarry Location within the Outer Hebrides | |
| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NB050338 |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF LEWIS |
| Postcode district | HS2 |
| Dialling code | 01851 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Geography
editTimsgarry lies on the western side of the Isle of Lewis on Uig Bay, 33+1⁄2 miles (54 kilometres) southwest of Stornoway on the B8011 road, to the north of Ardroil. The Erista River flows in the sea at Timsgarry.[1] The coastline here is known as Uig Sands (Tràigh Uuige).[2]
History
editFragments of Iron Age pottery were recovered from Dun Borranish, just to the south of the main settlement, in 1991.[3]
Landmarks
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Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church,[4] and is situated within the parish of Uig.[5] Timsgarry used to have its own chapel, named Capail Mor, further to the west of the present church, which was built in 1724 near to the site of an earlier church, known as Capail Beag.[5][6] The former manse is still present, with the churchyard.[5][7]
The ruins of an even earlier church, Teampall Chrìosd (St Christopher's), is located to the west of Timsgarry. There is a legend that this burial ground was once a bare rock and a man called Eidheann brought the soil from a nearby hill, Cnoc Eidheann to build the knoll it resides on. Under the mound is said to be a pagan temple or dun. At one time the burial ground was supposed to be for the exclusive use of Clan Macaulay.[8] It is now a scheduled monument. [9]
The Uig Museum is located at Timsgarry, within the community centre, and displays local archaeology, such as replicas of the Uig Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831.[10][11][12] These were identified as 12th century Viking chess pieces which were made from walrus ivory and whale teeth.
Uig Lodge Golf Course, to the southwest of the village overlooking Uig Sands Bay, was originally established in 1930 and recently restored. It is currently run by the Uig Lodge and used exclusively by hotel guests.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Timsgarry" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands & Islands. Rouggh Guides. 2017. p. 445. ISBN 9780241314838.
- ^ "Lewis, Borranish A Muigh". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Baile na Cille Church". Uig Church. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "Lewis, Baile Na Cille, Capail Mor And Capail Beac". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Church in Uig before 1824". Uig Church. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Lewis, Uig Parish Manse". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Barrowman, Rachel C.; Francoz, Charlotte; Hooper, Janet; Rennie, Christine; Tompsett, Gary (17 February 2020). "Chapel-sites on the Isle of Lewis: Results of the Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey". Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports. 88: 1–134. doi:10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2020.88. ISSN 2056-7421.
- ^ "Cnoc Eothail,Baille na Cille,burial ground and site of chapel (SM5363)". portal.historicenvironment.scot. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Uig Museum". Comann Eachdraidh Uig. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Uig Chessmen". Comann Eachdraidh Uig. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Facilities". Uig Community Centre Association. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Things To Do". uiglodge.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
External links
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