Isle of Seil

The quarry was started in 1745 and the introduction of steam pumps in 1842 meant they could quarry to a depth of 250 feet below sea level with only a narrow wall of rock holding back the sea, This wall was breached during a storm in 1881 and brought end to slate quarrying at Ellenabeich. Isle of Seil. Recommend a large view, For the Sight and Sound Group a song by the Quarrymen, www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4_LMMKq8Hw

Otherwise known as The Bridge Over The Atlantic and shown at low tide, Built in 1792, its graceful arch crosses the Sound of Seil and onto Seil Island. Going by the slight change in stone colour the walls that protect the road may have been raised at some time, On black please. www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_GkjymuQ9U is the link for Sight and Sound

Captured from the Isle of Seil the Clachan Bridge at the point it crosses the Clachan Sound it is also known as the bridge over the Atlantic because both ends of the sound connect to the Atlantic Ocean. In my opinion large is better

On the left the Isle of Seil which is one of the Slate Islands* and across the fast flowing narrows is the mainland at Clachan. The short pier and slipway in the image foreground was I assume for the ferry which ran before a bridge was built in the late 18th century, This is now known as the Bridge over the Atlantic. *The Slate Islands are an island group in the Inner Hebrides, lying immediately off the west coast of Scotland, north of Jura and southwest of Oban. The main islands are Seil, Easdale, Luing, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua. Slates quarried here were exported all over the world, HWW to one and all.

Ellenabeich is a small village on the isle of Seil – an island on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, It is a former slate-mining village and is where parts of Ring of Bright Water were filmed. Seil is one of the Slate Islands. It is also the departure point for the small Passenger ferry to nearby Easdale which is another of the Slate Islands, The Quarry referred to on the stone is the flooded slate quarry behind the wall. Shot in 16.9 so a large view may be better, HWW ! For anyone who has the time or the interest I have added a link to the Slate Islands, www.southernhebrides.com/slate-islands-roofed-the-world

Wall to a humped back bridge over the Clachan Sound, Isle of Seil, The bridge which was built between 1792 and 1793 has been colonised by fairy foxgloves (Erinus alpinus). Large view perhaps HWW to one and all

Former slate workers cottages at Ellenabeich a small village on the isle of Seil which is an island on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, The pip shows a part of these cottages from the rear and across one of the flooded slate quarries, This is also the departure point for the small passenger only ferry to the nearby Easedale Island This is one of a group of islands known collectively as the "Slate Islands" The underlying geology of the islands is Dalradian slate, which was quarried widely until the mid-20th century. Quarry working began in 1630 and at the turn of the 20th century, the quarries were yielding some eight million slates every year. Eilean-a-beithich located in Easdale Sound was once one of the Slate Islands. However, it was quarried for slate to a depth of 75 metres (250 feet) below sea level leaving only the outer rim of the island. Part of this rim was breached by the sea in 1881 flooding the quarry and little visible sign of the island now remains. HWW to all !

A colourful parapet wall to the Clachan Bridge, Also known as The Bridge over the Atlantic. (See Pip) This hump backed bridge links the Isle of Seil to the mainland and was built between 1792 and 1793. Some may also remember these Fairy Foxgloves from previous images. HWW and a large view please.

This tiny souvenir shop (Only open during tourist season) adjacent to the Clachan Bridge is owned by the Tig and Truish Inn (Cish an Cruish) which is opposite. The sign says, The old pub was used by islanders after the Jacobite uprising to change from trousers back into the forbidden kilt when returning to the Island. The electrical wiring on the right of the building looks past its best ;-) HWW!