Belnahua is one of the Slate Islands, in the Firth of Lorn in Scotland, known for its deserted slate quarries. The bedrock that underpins its human history is part of the Scarba Conglomerate Formation and its value has been on record since the 16th century.[5][6] Likely uninhabited before commercial quarrying commenced,[7] under the control of the Stevenson family during the 19th century[8] the population expanded to over 150[9] before the island was abandoned again in 1914.[10]
Living on a remote island in the 19th century came with significant hardships and the lives of the quarry workers have been described in unflattering terms by modern commentators, one describing them as in effect "slaves".[11] Today, the ruined buildings and abandoned machinery lie amidst the water filled quarries and are home only to wildlife.[12] There are very strong tidal streams in the area and this a potentially hazardous location for shipping. In 1936 the cargo vessel Helēna Faulbaums was wrecked on the island, with the loss of 15 lives.[13]
^2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
^Haswell-Smith (2004), p. 67.
^Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
^Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
^Cite error: The named reference Kilmartin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Monro (1549), 27.
^Withall (2013), p. 5.
^Pallister (2007), Slated.
^Withall (2018), Early Days in the Easdale Practice.
Belnahua is one of the Slate Islands, in the Firth of Lorn in Scotland, known for its deserted slate quarries. The bedrock that underpins its human history...
southwest of Oban. The main islands are Seil, Easdale, Luing, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua. Scarba and Kerrera, which lie nearby are not usually included. The underlying...
below. Am Fraoch Eilean An Dubh Sgeir An Stèidh Bach Island Balach Rocks Belnahua Bernera Island Brosdale Island Calve Island Canna Cara Island Carraig an...
48 metres (157 ft) in height and is the tallest in the United Kingdom. Belnahua supported a population of slate workers in its substantial and now flooded...
islands surrounding Seil are its companion Slate Islands of Easdale, Torsa, Belnahua and Shuna. Eilean Dubh Mòr is to the south-west with the Garvellachs beyond...
Fladda, Slate Islands (NM720123), an islet with a lighthouse south east of Belnahua in the Slate Islands. Fladda, Treshnish Isles (NM295435) in the Treshnish...
Atlantic Ocean (56°14′N 5°55′W / 56.233°N 5.917°W / 56.233; -5.917) at Belnahua reef near Oban, Scotland with the loss of fifteen of her nineteen crew...