Reviews
This is a superb book, with details about Islay’s past of which many will be unaware. The illustrations are every bit the equal of the narrative, ranging from loosely pained watercolours to architectural quality drawings
The Ileach
About the Book
Neolithic farmers, iron age settlers, clan dynasties and, in the 20th century, the infrastructure of war all left their mark on Islay, but the way the island looks and works today stems primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Starting with the Campbells of Shawfield, who bought much of Islay in 1726, the impact of Georgian and Victorian ambition was of exceptional significance. Their story, along with those of other landowners, is one of grand ideas, some realised, some thwarted. Other significant influences on island life during this time came from national and international developments. Changing attitudes to religion, education, agriculture and industry all left their imprint and contributed to a legacy that remains in both buildings and landscapes.
This book vividly records the island’s built heritage as well as the stunning physical beauty of its landscape, and is informed by history and local memory freely given by the islanders themselves.
The Author
Diana Leitch
Diana Leitch graduated as an architect with a thesis on the history of Islay’s distilleries, before first joining the practice of Ian Lindsay, a leading exponent in the restoration and revitalisation of Scottish architectural heritage. She then pursued an academic career at Newcastle University School of Architecture, where she served as Head between 1997 and 2002.
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Paperback | Pub: 23 May 2019£12.99
The story of Islay, Jura and Colonsay is one of the most fascinating amongst all the Hebrides. They have had substantial human occupation since earliest times and man has left many relics across the islands, from tools and artefacts of mesolithic...
