Monach Islands, Ceann Ear
Nunnery (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name Monach Islands, Ceann Ear
Classification Nunnery (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Heisker Islands; North Uist
Canmore ID 9745
Site Number NF66SW 10
NGR NF 64 01
NGR Description NF c. 64 01
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9745
- Council Western Isles
- Parish North Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF66SW 10 c. 64 01.
Ceann Iar is partially identified by Carmichael (A Carmichael 1884) with Heisgeir nan Cailleach (or 'of the nuns'), stating that a community of nuns lived there far into Reformation times, and 'only died out from natural decay'. He adds that the site of their house had been indicated to him. According to the Collectanea (Iona Club 1842) the island of Heisker was willed to the nuns of Iona before 1289, but Beveridge (E Beveridge 1911) thinks that the 14th, rather than the 13th century, would be a more correct date. (Not mentioned by D E Easson 1957)
Iona Club 1842; A Carmichael 1884; E Beveridge 1911.
No further information found during field investigation.
Visited by OS (W D J) 18 June 1965.
