Hugh Smith’s letter from Islay
Dun Nosebridge
THERE are more than 80 hill forts and fortified sites scattered across Islay, largely dating back to the Bronze and Iron ages which stretched from 1000BC to 400 AD.
As well as the hill forts, a number of promontory and sea cliff forts have been located and these fit into the same time scale.
One of the largest and best preserved of these hill forts is Dun Nosebridge which lies east of the settlement of Bridgend in a commanding position atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the River Laggan.
Various suggestions have been put forward as to the derivation of the hill fort name.
‘Dun’ is definitely the Scottish Gaelic name for fort and it has been suggested Nosebridge may be a Norse version of ‘knaus borg’, which may refer to ‘the fort of the crag’, or it could be ‘knaus bog’, which describes a ‘fort of turf’.
Whatever the derivation, the hilltop fort was built by hand and the project would have involved enormous co-operation and organisational skills over a considerable period of time.
There is little doubt this particular fort would have provided an effective means of defence as there are still signs of ramparts, ditches and banks which add to the site’s terraced appearance.
There is evidence of a timbered fort situated on the hilltop and there are signs the surrounding stone walls have collapsed inward. Traces were also found of cultivation within the fort enclosure suggesting the site was far from being a short-term stronghold.
What is obviously the foundations of buildings going back to the 18th and 19th centuries can be found on the north east slopes of the fort. This would suggest there was a settlement at the fort site.
Records show people were cleared from Nosebridge between 1848 and 1853 following the bankruptcy of the estate then owned by Walter Frederick Campbell, the island’s main landowner.
It is thought likely the clearances at the fort site were ordered by the Edinburgh-based James Brown, the receiver for the sequestered Campbell properties.
Today, Nosebridge remains an impressive reminder of a more barbarous age when islanders had to be on the constant lookout for the threat of inroads and invasion.
New estate manager
A NEW manager has been appointed to run the 54,000-acre Islay Estates, owned and operated by the Margadale family, the island’s principal landowners.
He is David Blake, who recently moved from Salisbury in Wiltshire to take over his new post.
His previous background includes working at Cranbourne Chase, a chalk landscape to the north of Salisbury Plain and now designated as an area of outstanding beauty.
Prior to that he was employed as a wildlife ranger with the National Trust.
The experience he gained in these undertakings will prove invaluable in his latest position. His new remit will include overseeing the estate’s involvement in tourism and environment management, expanding the home farm operations as well as working closely with the estate’s three gamekeepers and the management and staff of the Bridgend Hotel, which is also included in the estate’s portfolio.
The new manager is also a keen and talented photographer and is looking forward to availing himself, when time permits, of the ‘special Islay light’ as he indulges in his hobby.
We wish him successful managing and happy snapping.
Death of Mòd medallist
The whole of Gaeldom was greatly saddened to learn of the death on March 16 of the veteran Portnahaven Mòd gold medallist Donald M MacLeod, known locally as Domhnall Sheandaidh.
He was 91 years of age and was just coming to terms with the death in December last year of his wife Katie with whom he had shared 58 years of happy marriage.
He is survived by his daughters Fiona and Jane, son Alastair and four grandchildren.
Donald struck gold at the National Mòd in Rothesay in 1952 and went on to enjoy a long and successful singing career in which his voice brought pleasure to thousands over the years.
I will be paying tribute to this wellknown Ileach and popular singer in my next letter.
Hugh Smith, 4 Flora Street, Bowmore, Islay, PA43 7JX. Telephone: 01496 810658.