Glensanda: Difference between revisions

| edinburgh_distance=190 miles (road)<br> (149 via [[Corran Ferry]] ferry)

| london_distance=567 miles (road)<br> (526 via Corran ferryFerry)

[[File:Glensanda from Glas Dhruim on Lismore - geograph.org.uk - 1588525.jpg|thumb|Glensanda from Glas Dhruim on [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]], with [[Loch Linnhe]] in the foreground, looking WSW.]]

'''Glensanda''' (Old Norse, the glen of the sandy river) was a [[Viking]] settlement at the mouth of Glen Sanda{{r|RCAHMS}} on the [[Morvern|Morvern peninsula]] within south west [[Lochaber]], overlooking the [[Lismore, Scotland|Isle of Lismore]] and [[Loch Linnhe]] in the western [[Highland Council|Highlands]] of [[Scotland]].

Glensanda Castle (''Caisteal Na Gruagaich (Maiden's Castle)'';{{r|RCAHMS}} overlooks the mouth of the Glensanda River which tumbles down 400 metres along its 5 mile course from 'Caol Bheinn' into Loch Linnhe. The castle was the main base of the [[Clan Maclean|Macleans]] of Kingairloch (Kingerloch) since the 15th century, but the population fell from 500 to zero after 1812 when they emigrated to [[Pictou, Nova Scotia|Pictou]], [[Nova Scotia]].{{r|Indy}}{{r|CamUni}}{{r|MacHist}}

Since 1982 the 2,400 hectare 'Glensanda Estate' has been the home of the ''Glensanda Superquarry'' operated by the [[Aggregate Industries]] group, which mines the '' Meall na h-Easaiche'' mountain,<ref>[http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=178165&image_id=DP094385 Scotlands Places, Meall na h-Easaiche and Glensanda Quarry]</ref> shipping up to 6,000,000 tons of granite aggregates all over the world annually, and with reserves for up to 100 years. To minimise visual impact from the coast the quarry is sited a mile inland, and cut down into the mountain 1,600 feet above sea level. Granite is extracted via a "Glory Hole" and conveyor belt, a pioneering development in alternative quarrying technology.{{r|Indy}}

Little is known of the glen before the Viking age when it was part of [[Dál Riata]], a [[Gaels|Gaelic]] over-kingdom of the western seaboard of [[Scotland]], in the late 6th and early 7th century.{{r|OxfordCompanion1}} According to Professor [[William J. Watson]] the [[Morvern]] district was formerly known as Kinelvadon, from the Cenél Báetáin, a subdivision of the Cenél Loairn.{{r|Watson}}

Glensanda was a [[Viking]] settlement at the mouth of Glen Sanda{{r|RCAHMS}} The Vikings are thought to have led their first raids on what is now modern [[Scotland]] by the early 8th century [[AD]]. Their first known attack was on the holy island of [[Iona]] in 794, just 40 miles west. The end of the [[Viking Age]] proper in Scotland is generally considered to be in 1266.

Glensanda Castle is variously known as ''Caisteal Na Gruagaich (Maiden's castle),''{{r|RCAHMS}} ''Castle Na'gair'',{{r|RCAHMS}} ''Castle-en-Coer'',{{r|RCAHMS}} ''Castle Mearnaig''{{r|RCAHMS}}. It was built in the late 15th century by [[Clan Maclean|Ewen MacLean]], 5th of Kingairloch, who was born circa 1450.{{r|RCAHMS}} Glensanda, a part of [[Ardgour]], has formed part of the territory of the Clan MacLean ever since the Clan MacMaster was removed from the territory in the 15th Centurycentury. The castle was the main base of the [[Clan Maclean]] of Kingairloch (Kingerloch), and supported a thriving community of circa 500 people until around 1780 when they seem to have moved 5 miles north to [[Connach]] (Kingairloch), at the head of [[Loch a' Choire]] (Loch Corry).

In the late 17th century the massacre of the MacDonald clansmen marked the point when the fortunes of the MacLean clan began to wane, and by 1691 century the Campbells had gained possession of most of the MacLean estates. Clan Maclean participated in the [[Jacobite Uprisings]]rising of 1745|Jacobite risings of 1745 to 1746]], supporting the [[House of Stuart]] and the Jacobite cause. Many members of the clan were killed fighting at the [[Battle of Culloden]].{{r|MacK Mac}} Many MacLeans dispersed to other countries such as [[Canada]], the [[United States]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].

In 1812 [[Sir Hector Maclean, 7th Baronet|Sir Hector Maclean]] (the [[Maclean Baronetsbaronets|7th Baronet of Morvern]] and 23rd Chief of the [[Clan Maclean]]) emigrated with almost the entire population of 500 to [[Pictou, Nova Scotia|Pictou]], [[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]].{{r|Indy}}{{r|CamUni}}{{r|MacHist}} Thus the Macleans appear not to have been involved in [[Highland Clearances]].{{r|Mac 1}} Sir Hector is buried in the cemetery at Pictou.{{r|Mac 1}}{{r|MacHist}}

English landowner, James Forbes (1753–1829),{{r|Seax}} of Hutton Hall, [[Essex]],{{r|RCAHMS-King}}{{r|Rias}} bought the estate from Sir Hector Maclean in 1812 and subsequently had the existing house at Connach extended to become the first Kingairloch House. James Forbes daughter Charlotte married Major-General Sir Charles Bruce, [[Order of the Bath|KCB]] to become Lady Bruce, and was the mother of [[Charlotte Campbell-Bannerman]] (1836–1906) the wife of [[Henry Campbell-Bannerman]], [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].{{r|EdiUni2}}

In 1902 [[George Herbert Strutt]] (1854–1928), a 5th generation cotton tycoon from [[Belper]], [[Derbyshire]], and descendant of [[Jedediah Strutt]], bought the Glensanda and Kingairloch estates.{{r|Indie July 2000}} In 1930 Arthur Strutt (1908–1977) married Patricia Kebbell (20 October 1911-July 2000),{{r|Telegraph}} daughter of a New Zealand sheep farmer, and granddaughter of John Cameron a Scottish cattle drover from Corrychoillie, [[Spean Bridge]] having been introduced by his sisters who were attending the same [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[Finishingfinishing school]].{{r|Indie July 2000}}{{r|Telegraph}} Arthur Strutt died on the estate in 1977 although his body was not found for five years. Mrs Strutt was a renowned [[Deer|stag]] hunter, having shot circa 2,000 between 1930 and her death, more than any other woman in [[Great Britain]].{{r|Indie July 2000}}{{r|Telegraph}}

The final solitary resident of Glensanda died around the 1950s.{{r|Indy}} By the 1980s Glensanda comprised the ruined tower of the 15th-century castle, a couple of derelict cottages, and a wrecked cattle shed. It was known as "the [[Larder]] of [[SlicedLorne, sausageScotland|Lorne]]" to poachers of [[Redred Deerdeer]] and [[salmon]].{{r|Indy}}

In 1976 the UK Government commissioned [[Verney family|Sir Ralph Verney]] to analyse the shortage of aggregates for building. The resulting "Verney report" led John Yeoman, Chairman of Foster Yeoman, to the idea of a super-quarry situated in a remote location from which stone could be exported by sea. To this end in 1982 he bought the 2,400 hectare ''Glensanda estate'' in Argyll{{r|Hub4}} from Mrs Patricia Strutt who also owned the [[Kingairloch]] estate which she also sold to Foster Yeoman in 1989.<ref name="Kingairloch">[http://www.kingairloch-holidays.co.uk/history Kingairloch History, A brief recent history of Kingairloch Estate]</ref> Glensanda went into operation in 1986 when the first shipload of granite left for [[Houston]], [[Texas]], USA. Granite is extracted by the "[[Gloryglory hole (mining)|Gloryglory Holehole]]" and conveyor belt method, a pioneering development in alternative quarrying technology.{{r|Indy}}

To minimise visual impact from the coast the quarry is sited a mile inland, and cut down into the mountain 1,600 feet above sea level. Each explosive blast dislodges about 70,000 tons of granite which is transported by dump truck to the primary crusher, which reduces it to lumps no bigger than nine inches in diameter.{{r|Indy}} It is then transferred by conveyor belt to a heap that covers the [[Glory"glory hole (mining)|Glory Hole]]", a 1,000&nbsp;ft vertical shaft 10&nbsp;ft in diameter, which is permanently full of rocks. At the base of the glory hole, deep inside the mountain, rocks are transferred to a horizontal conveyor and moved through a mile long tunnel to the second crusher on the shore where ocean going ships are loaded in the deep-water docks at the rate of 6,000 tons per hour.{{r|Indy}}

Approximately 160 employees either live on site or commute by boat from [[Barcaldine, Argyll and Bute|Barcaldine]], near [[Oban]]. Exports go to [[Amsterdam]], [[Hamburg]], [[Rostock]] and [[SwinoujscieŚwinoujście]], in [[Poland]], as well as the [[Isle of Grain]] in the [[Thames estuaryEstuary]].{{r|Indy}}

<ref name="CamUni">[http://google.com/search?q=cache:HdCUu92FPcMJ:www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/macinnes/imthesis8.pdf+%22loch+corry%22&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk Cambridge University, Manuscripts - MacLean Sinclair 1899: p282] Cambridge University</ref>

<ref name="EdiUni">[http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townhistory5507.html Kingairloch] University of Edinburgh, Gazetteer for Scotland, Kingairloch]</ref>

<ref name="EdiUni2">[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst4772.html Kingairloch House] University of Edinburgh, Gazetteer for Scotland, Kingairloch House]</ref>

<ref name="Falk">[http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=134 Carronvale House] Falkirk Local History Society, Carronvale House]</ref>

<ref name="Hub4">[http://www.hub-4.com/news/236/new-ship-loader-cabin-for-foster-yeoman-at-glensanda Hub-4, News, "New Ship Loader Cabin for Foster Yeoman at Glensanda"] Hub-4, News,</ref>

<ref name="Indy">[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/country-and-garden-secrets-of-a-mountain-of-wealth-1183308.html "Secrets of a mountain of wealth"] ''The Independent'', 7 November 1998, County and Garden, Duff Hart-Davis, Saturday, Secrets of a mountain of wealth]</ref>

<ref name="Indie July 2000">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-killer-lady-of-kingairloch-709490.html "The Independent,killer 5lady Julyof 2000,Kingairloch"] ''The killerIndependent'', lady5 ofJuly Kingairloch]2000</ref>

<ref name="Mac 1">[http://www.maclean.org/clan-maclean-history/maclean-clearances-1.php Clan Maclean, The Clearances, "Why MacLeans Live on Six Continents Instead of One Island"] Clan Maclean, The Clearances,, Mary McLean Hoff]</ref>

<ref name="OxfordCompanion1">''Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' p. 161 162, edited by Michael Lynch, Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-923482-0.</ref>

<ref name="RCAHMS">[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/23081/details/glensanda+castle/ Glensanda] Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - Glensanda]</ref>

<ref name="RCAHMS-King">[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/107176/details/kingairloch+house/ Kingairloch House] Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - Kingairloch House]</ref>

<ref name="MacHist">[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GZDRnxhDmUkC&pg=PA154&lpg=PA154&dq=kingerloch&source=bl&ots=vqQblULlS9&sig=S89r64BtX5KQxQVd5svyaKmHtlQ&hl=en&ei=YPabSsHhG9qhjAfQvuzbDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#v=snippet&q=1812&f=false ''A History of the Clan Maclean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period including a genealogical account of some of the principal Families together with their Heraldry, Legends, Superstitions etc".''] by [[John Patterson MacLean|J. P. MacLean]], 1889, p. 263.</ref>

<ref name="Rias">[http://www.rias.org.uk "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide"], by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press]</ref>

<ref name="Seax">[http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.asp?DocID=38895 Seax -] Essex Archives Online]</ref>

<ref name="Telegraph">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1346775/Patricia-Strutt.html Patricia Strutt] ''Daily Telegraph'', Obituaries, 6th6 July 2000, Patricia Strutt]</ref>

<ref name="Times">[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/construction_and_property/article677678.ece The Times: "Foster Yeoman founding family agrees £300m Swiss takeover"] ''The Times''</ref>