Barvas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barvas
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 Barabhas Uarach Upper Barvas |
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 Barvas
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| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NB360499 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF LEWIS |
| Postcode district | HS2 |
| Dialling code | 01851 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Barvas is a village on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Its name in Scottish Gaelic is Barabhas or Barbhas. It's a central spot where important roads meet. The A857 and A858 roads connect Barvas to other places.
From Barvas, you can travel north to Ness. Going west takes you to Carloway and the West Side. If you head south, you'll reach Stornoway. Barvas is also special because many people there speak Scottish Gaelic. In 2011, about 64% of people spoke Gaelic. This number changed to 55% in 2022.
Contents
Discovering Barvas's Past
People have been exploring the Barvas area since 1978. They have found many old sites. These sites show that people lived here from the Early Bronze Age to more recent times.
Ancient Burials and Buildings
- In 1986 and 1987, archaeologists found a small cemetery from the Bronze Age. This cemetery was built inside an even older Bronze Age building.
- In 1993, an expert named Richard Langhorne found an ancient burial. This burial was from the late Iron Age.
- Another burial was found in 1996 by GUARD Archaeology. This discovery was made at a place called Rudh a’Bhiogair.
Community Archaeology Projects
- Detailed surveys of the area were done in 1978 and 1999. These surveys helped map out old sites.
- From 2000 to 2001, local people helped with excavations. This was part of the Barabhas Machair project. They found special Iron Age structures. These included a long stone burial box called a cist.
- Between 2001 and 2013, Mark Elliott and his helpers walked around the area. They looked for more signs of ancient life.
Barvas Through the Years
Barvas has a history that includes its church and modern plans.
The Free Church Minister
Rev Allan MacArthur was a minister in the Free Church in Barvas. He served the community for many years. He was the minister from 1857 to 1887.
Windfarm Plans
In the early 2000s, there were plans for a very large windfarm near Barvas. It was going to be one of the biggest in Europe. However, the Scottish Government decided against the plans. They rejected the idea in early 2008.
Teampall Mhuire: The Buried Church
In Barvas, there are the ruins of an old church called Teampall Mhuire. This means St Mary's Church. It is currently buried under sand. It is next to an old graveyard called Cladh Mhuire.
Searching for the Church
No one knows the exact spot of the church today. It was last seen by a historical group in the 1920s. By the 1960s, mapmakers could not find it anymore.
How Old is Teampall Mhuire?
This church is very old. In the 1500s, it was one of only four parish churches on the Isle of Lewis. A letter from the Pope in 1403 mentioned the church. This means it is at least that old, if not older!
