In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Inishail like this:
Inishail, a heathy islet and an ancient parish in Lorn district, Argyllshire. The island, with an utmost length and breadth of 3 and 1 ¾ furlongs, lies in the lower part of Loch Awe, 2 ¼ miles SSW of Loch Awe station and pier and 4 ½ furlongs WNW of Cladich pier. In 1857 the celebrated etcher, Mr Philip Gilbert Hamerton, encamped upon Inishail; and five years later he published two volumes entitled A Painter's Camp in the Highlands, and Thoughts about Art. Inishail had much celebrity in the Middle Ages as the site of a small Cistercian nunnery, which is said to have been distinguished by freedom from the evils that characterised many of the institutions of its class, and whose property was conveyed, at the Reformation, to Hay, the Protestant ex-abbot of Inchaffray. ...
It is still represented by some remains of its chapel. The parish church was in use from the Reformation till it was superseded by a new church (1773; 250 sittings) on the shore, 5 miles SW of Dalmally. Its burying-ground was specially used by the clan Macarthur, who formerly inhabited the shores of the lower part of Loch Awe, and contains numerous ancient carved tombstones, with insignia and devices of Crusaders, knights, warriors, ecclesiastics, and a peer. The parish, united to Glenorchy in 1618, occasions the present parish of Glenorchy to be formally designated Glenorchy and Inishail; embraces the islands, waters, and flanks of much of the lower part of Loch Awe; contains the mansions of Ardvrecknish, New Inverawe, and Inchdrynich; and shares with Glenorchy proper the alternate Sabbath services of the parish minister.—Ord. Sur., sh. 45, 1876.
Inishail through time
Inishail is now part of Argyll and Bute district. Click here for graphs and data of how Argyll and Bute has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Inishail itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Inishail in Argyll and Bute | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/21272
Date accessed: 05th November 2024
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