Northbay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northbay
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 Fishing boats at Northbay |
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 Northbay
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| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NF702033 |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF BARRA |
| Postcode district | HS9 |
| Dialling code | 01871 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Northbay (in Scottish Gaelic: Am Bàgh a Tuath) is a small community. It is located in the north of Barra. Barra is an island in the Outer Hebrides. These islands are off the west coast of Scotland.
Contents
A Look at Northbay's Past
Northbay has a very long history. People have lived in this area for thousands of years. You can still see ancient standing stones at Borve. These stones were put there by people from the Neolithic period. This was a time before metal tools were common.
The MacNeil Clan's Influence
Later, the Celts arrived in Barra. They came from Ulster. For about 800 years, the island was controlled by the MacNeil clan. This clan was very powerful. They managed the land and people. Most people worked in farming and fishing. This was part of a system called feudal agriculture. In this system, people worked the land for a lord.
The MacNeil clan chief lived in Kisimul Castle. But in 1795, the castle was left empty. The chief then moved to Eoligarry House. The clan owned the island until 1838. That year, a person named Colonel Cluny bought the island from them.
Connecting North and South Barra
For a long time, it was hard to travel between Northbay and Castlebay. Castlebay is the main port in the south of Barra. People either walked or used boats to move goods. The island was small, but communication was difficult.
Building the Road to Northbay
In 1939, a new tarred road was finally built. This road connected Northbay with Castlebay. It made travel much easier. The road was built thanks to a campaign by Compton Mackenzie. He was a famous author. He wrote the book Whisky Galore!. Mackenzie was well-known and helped make the road happen.
