Belnahua facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Beul na h-Uamha |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | The mouth of the cave |
 Belnahua from the south |
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| OS grid reference | NM713127 |
| Coordinates | 56°15′N 5°41′W / 56.25°N 5.69°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Slate Islands |
| Highest elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Belnahua is a small island in Scotland. It is one of the Slate Islands, located in the Firth of Lorn. The island is famous for its old, empty slate quarries.
People probably did not live on Belnahua before the quarries opened. In the 19th century, many people lived there. The Stevenson family ran the quarries. The island's population grew to over 150 people. But in 1914, the island was left empty again.
Life on this remote island was very hard for the quarry workers. Today, only ruined buildings and old machines remain. The quarries are now filled with water. Wildlife lives there instead of people. The sea around Belnahua has very strong tides. This makes it a dangerous place for ships. In 1936, a cargo ship called the Helēna Faulbaums sank here. Sadly, 15 people lost their lives.
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Island Location and Features
Belnahua is part of Argyll and Bute in Scotland. It lies about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west of Luing. It is also about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) east of Dùn Chonnuill. The island is quite small, about 6 hectares (15 acres) in size.
South of Belnahua is a tiny island called Fladda. Fladda has a lighthouse that helps ships find their way. The island of Belnahua has changed a lot because of quarrying. It looks like the quarrying "broke its back." There are deep, water-filled holes from the quarries. You can also see the ruined homes where the slate workers lived. An old pier on the east side of the island is now gone.
Belnahua is in an area with many islands and rocky spots. These waters are known to be very tricky for ships. The Gulf of Corryvreckan, a famous whirlpool, is about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south. Belnahua is part of a beautiful area called the Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area.
Island Rocks and Formation
The main rock on Belnahua is a type of slate. This slate formed a very long time ago. It is part of the Scarba Conglomerate Formation. You can also find similar slates on the east coasts of Scarba and Jura.
There are also some areas of marble on the island. A long, thin rock formation called a dyke cuts through the middle of Belnahua. This dyke is from the Mull Dyke Swarm. It formed when hot rock pushed up from deep inside the Earth. The flat surface of the island near the sea was shaped by old sea levels. The steep sides of the hill on the west were once sea cliffs.
Belnahua's Past
Early History
Around the 7th century, the Cenél Loairn people lived in this area. It was part of the kingdom of Dál Riata. Later, around the mid-9th century, Belnahua became part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles.
The first time Belnahua was written about was in 1549. This was in a book called Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. The writer, Donald Monro, called it "Belnachua" or "Belnachna." He wrote that it had "fair skailzie aneuche," which means "good sufficiency of slate." This shows that slate was important here even back then.
Slate Quarrying on Belnahua
Quarrying on Belnahua started in 1632. Before this, no one probably lived on the island. The island became part of the Breadalbane family's lands. They were a branch of Clan Campbell. In 1730, Colin Campbell was put in charge of their lands. His job was to use the natural resources, like slate.
The Easdale Slate Company was formed in 1745. This company wanted to make slate quarrying more commercial. Easdale was already producing a lot of slate. By 1800, the company was making 5 million slates each year.
In the 1790s, the Stevenson brothers leased Belnahua. They wanted to supply slate for the growing town of Oban. Homes were built for the workers on the island. There was also a school and a company shop. Almost everything, even drinking water, had to come from Luing. Rainwater was collected, but it was used for the steam engines.
By the early 1800s, the Stevenson family was shipping slate from Belnahua and Fladda. Later, the Shaw family took over the lease. They hired a quarry master who lived in a two-story house on the island. At its busiest, 30 quarry workers and their families lived there. The total population was over 150 people.
When World War I started in 1914, the quarry work stopped. The island was completely left empty. No one has lived there since. In the 1930s, the Breadalbane lands were sold. Today, the Carling family owns Belnahua.
Life for the Island Workers
Life on a remote island in the 19th century was very difficult. Quarry workers came from all over Scotland to find jobs. Many arrived with few friends or family nearby. Belnahua has no protection from the wind. It can be a very harsh and lonely place, especially in winter.
One writer said that Belnahua could cause "tension, fear, agitation and anxiety." This was because of the strong winds, rough seas, and the deep, dark slate quarries.
Paul Murton also described the tough lives of the islanders. He said they were "paid poorly." They had to rent their homes and buy all their supplies from the landlord. This often left them in debt and poverty. Their lives were very challenging.
Shipwrecks Near Belnahua
On August 15, 1900, a steamship called the Apollo hit rocks north of Belnahua. It was carrying granite stones from Aberdeen. The ship sank in a rocky gully about 10 metres (33 feet) deep.
Another major shipwreck happened on October 26, 1936. The Latvian ship Helēna Faulbaums was sailing to Blyth. A big storm hit, and the ship tried to find shelter in the Firth of Lorn. But the ship was empty, so its propeller could not work well in the high waves.
At 7 PM, the ship's steering broke. The captain tried to drop the anchors, but they could not hold the ship. The radio operator sent out SOS messages. But the storm made communications difficult. The local coastguards could not reach the lifeboat station.
Finally, the BBC broadcast a message, and the lifeboat was launched. At 10 PM, the Helēna Faulbaums hit a reef north of Belnahua. It sank in just ten minutes. Sadly, 15 people died, including two 18-year-old boys. Four sailors managed to get to shore. They were rescued the next day by the Islay lifeboat. The bodies of the other crew members washed ashore on Luing. Seven of them were buried in a ceremony in Cullipool cemetery. The ship's captain, Nikolajs Cughauss, was sent back to Latvia. A small monument marks the gravesite.
The wreck of the Helēna Faulbaums lies in 60 metres (200 feet) of water. The strong tides mean that diving there is only possible at certain times.
Wildlife on Belnahua
Otters and seals often visit the coast of Belnahua. Seals sometimes fish for ling, saithe, and cod. These fish can get trapped in the old, sea-filled quarries when the tide is low. The only land mammal living on the island is the field vole.
The soil on Belnahua is very poor. This means it is hard for plants to grow. The ruined buildings and old machines are surrounded by tall grasses. The Slate Islands Heritage Trust wants to record the island's history. But they also want to leave the island mostly untouched for nature.
