Eilean Rìgh facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Eilean Rìgh |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | King's Island |
| OS grid reference | NM801018 |
| Coordinates | 56°10′N 5°32′W / 56.16°N 5.54°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Islay |
| Area | 86 hectares (0.33 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 155= |
| Highest elevation | Dùn Righ 55 m |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2 |
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Eilean Rìgh is a small island located off the west coast of Scotland. It's part of the Inner Hebrides, a group of islands known for their beautiful scenery. The island sits in a sea loch called Loch Craignish, about 300 meters (less than a quarter mile) from the Argyll coastline. Its name, Eilean Rìgh, comes from the Scottish Gaelic language and means "King's Island." No one is quite sure which king it refers to!
Contents
A Look Back: Eilean Rìgh's History
Eilean Rìgh has a long and interesting past.
Ancient Times on the Island
Long, long ago, during the Iron Age, people lived on Eilean Rìgh. We know this because there are still remains of two old forts on the island. These forts were likely built for protection.
The Emperor's Tutor's Home
In the 1930s, Eilean Rìgh became home to a very special person: Reginald Johnston. He was the retired tutor to Puyi, who was the very last emperor of China.
Sir Reginald Johnston made many changes to the island. He updated the houses and even built a Buddhist temple there. He also created Chinese-style gardens and sometimes flew the flag of Manchukuo, a state that existed in Northeast Asia at the time. Chinese servants lived in the farmhouse on the island.
You might have heard of Sir Reginald Johnston from the famous movie The Last Emperor. In the film, he was played by the actor Peter O'Toole.
New Owners and Island Life
After Sir Reginald Johnston, a retired Indian army officer named Major Campbell bought the property. He lived there with his family until the Second World War began.
Later, in 1959, the island was bought by Wilfred Brown and his cousin Robert Banks Skinner. They thought the island would be a private getaway as the UK became more crowded. It was mostly used as a holiday home. In 1992, they sold it to James Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton.
The Current Residents
Today, Eilean Rìgh is owned by Christian Siva-Jothy, a former financier from Scotland. He bought the island in 1998 from Viscount Chewton.
Mr. Siva-Jothy has done a lot to improve the island. He installed electricity using an undersea power cable, dug a new fresh water well, and set up phone and internet connections using a microwave link.
The island was for sale for a while starting in 2013, but it was taken off the market in 2015. Mr. Siva-Jothy decided to move back to Eilean Rìgh permanently. He and his wife now live on the island full-time. Interestingly, his wife studied Mandarin, the Chinese language, at a university where Sir Reginald Johnston used to be the first professor of Chinese!
See also
In Spanish: Eilean Rìgh para niños
