Well get the wine bottle out this is a long story. We have spent 3 days on Isle of Gigha lovely set out Island with a lot of History Archaeological remains show that people have occcupied Gigha for over 5000 years, there are standing stone, cists, duns and graves dating from the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to the Vikings. There are various interpretations as to the meaning of the name Gigha but many people believe that Gigha originates with the Norse Gudey meaning Good Island, due to the fertile land and mild climate, the Gulf Stream comes through this Island, there are beautiful Gardens with exotic plants from all over the world that would not grow in other parts of Scotland the gardens themselves are in the hands of the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust. Colonel Horlick (who of you have had a cup of Horlicks that was the gentleman) he moved to the Island to grow varieties of Rhododendrons & imported exotic plants. The Archamore House was the residence of the Lairds of Gigha, where it is said the famouse Charles Rennie worked as an apprentice. David Landale bought the Island from the Horlicks Estate i 1973 however was resold in 1989 to Malcolm Potiers Company Tanap Investments for 5.4 million pounds. On bankruptcy the Interallainz Bank of Zurich who put a foreclosure and almost wiped out the population sold it to Holt Leisure Group for 2.3 million pounds and Dereck Holtput the island up for sale once again in 2001, the islanders disillusioned with Lairds and worried about an ever uncertain future, formed the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust buying the Island for 4 million pounds So to wind up this lengthy historical story the money was raised by selling Achamore House, fundraising and through various grants and loans, including the Lottery and H.I.E., a trust was formed comprising of Islanders and a board was elected to manage the Island. The people of Gigha now have a say in their own destiny for the first time. Well you have to say congratulations to the Islanders for making what at one stage seemed an impossibility become a reality. Very popular wee island 6 1/2 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide has a lovely Golf Course and is three miles by ferry from Tayinloan Mainland Kintyre Peninsula. During 1939/45 war German submarines frequented these waters also lots of shipwrecks from early times up until about 1944. History in the making Islanders in the keeping. Wine finished no doubt Best wishes to my Facebook friends, take care xx
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:43:26 +0000
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