The Hanging Hill

Story:
On Tiree in the olden days it was the custom that the last man to pay his rent was hanged. It was once a kinsman of MacLean of Duart but Duart was still obliged to hang him. On the day of the hanging, Dowart attended accompanied by a neighbouring proprietor. The old man on his way to the gallows shouted out to Duart that the neighbouring proprietor was the man who had murdered his grandfather and he should be killing him not some harmless old man. Duart then pursued his guest to Scarinish where he caught and murdered him (and a ferryman). The old man was set free.

Source: LAC Tiree Tales

Once the last man to pay his rent was the miller’s son from Ballevullin who was arrested and condemned to be hung on Bac a’ Chrochaidh. The miller’s daughter heard of his arrest and rushed to plead for his life but arrived too late to save him. Remembered by a Tiree bard:

‘A mhic an fhir a Baile Mhuilinn                        ‘Son of the man from Ballevullin

Aig an robh an ath, an gran ‘s am muileann       Who possessed the kiln, the grain and the mill

Aig a’ Bhac cha d’ fhuair thu urram’                  At the Knoll you were dishonoured’

Anns a’ Ghàidhlig:

Gheibhear naidheachd eile bho linn nuair a bha an t-eilean fo smachd Chloinn GhillEathain. Tha e coltach gum b’ e an cleachdach borb a bh’ ann gun crochte an duine mu dheireadh a phàigheadh am màl. An turas seo b’ e an duine truagh sin mac a’ mhuilleir à Baile Mhuilinn. Chaidh a chur an grèim is chaidh a chrochadh air cnoc ris an abrar Bac a’ Chrochaidh. Nuair a chuala nighean a’ mhuilleir gun deach a bràthair a chuir an grèim, ruith i a thagradh airson a bheatha – ach bha i tuilleadh ’s a chòir anmoch airson a shàbhaladh. Rinn fear de bhàird an àite rann a chumail cuimhne air an deireadh bhrònach a bh’ aig mac a’ mhuilleir.

‘A mhic an fhir à Baile Mhuilinn                        

Aig an robh an àth, an gràn ’s am muileann       

Aig a’ Bhac cha d’ fhuair thu urram’

[Gaelic version from Mackinnon, Fiona E ‘Sgeulachdan a Tiriodh’ (1992)]

Sources: 
Mackinnon ‘Tiree Tales’; AP 9 Sep 1679. Huileboill. No.163. Letter from Lachlan McLaine to Earl of Argyll, detailing his efforts to extract the rents of 1678 from the tenants; asks if the story that Argyll is to forgive the bygone rents which were paid to others is true, 1209/471; An Iodhlann: 2000.192.28 The hanging knoll (baca chrochaidh) at Island House where, in the MacLean era prior to 1974, the last tenant to pay his rent would be hanged; School of Scottish Studies Collection of five booklets of ‘Tocher – Tales, Songs and Traditions’, 1978-1991, containing Tiree material: Gilleasbuig Laidir and the Factor, No. 32, pg 96

Cursing of Island House

Location: Island House

Story:
When Island House was being built, with a causeway linking the house with the shore, the Duke’s chamberlain ordered the crofters to assist with the building. One crofter worked hard and long but when his day’s work had been done, the chamberlain ordered him to continue. Fearing that he would be evicted if he did not agree, the crofter continued working but cursed the chamberlain, saying that he would never spend a night in island house. And he didn’t – as the house was finished the chamberlain fell ill. In defiance of the curse, the chamberlain ordered his men to carry him in, but he died before they carried him across the thresh-hold.

Anns a’ Ghàidhlig:

Nuair a bha an taigh a th’ ann a-nis ga thogail, le cabhsair eadar an taigh agus oir an locha, thug MacLabhrainn, seumarlan an Diùc, òrdugh do na croitearan cuideachadh a thoirt leis an obair. Bha aon chroitear sònraichte ag obair gu cruaidh airson uairean fada, ach nuair a bha obair-latha seachad, dh’òrdaich an seumarlan dha cumail a’ dol. Bha làn-fhios aige, nan diùltadh e, gum biodh e air fhuadach às a dhachaigh gun dàil, agus mar sin lean e air ag obair, ach thuirt e ri MacLabhrainn, ‘Cha chuir thu seachad oidhche gu bràth ann an Taigh an Eilein.’ Sin mar a thachair. Direach nuair a bha e gu bhith ullamh, dh’fhàs e tinn. An dòchas dùbhlan a thoirt do bhriathran a’ chroiteir, thug e air a shearbhantan a ghiùlan ann am plaide gu Taigh an Eilein, ach chaochail e mus d’fhuair e thairis air an stairsneach.

[Gaelic version from Mackinnon, Fiona E ‘Sgeulachdan a Tiriodh’ (1992)]

Sources: 
AP accounts of constructing the causeway; Dewar Manuscripts

General sources for Island House:

An Iodhlann 2013.33.2 Photograph of Island House ca 1900; AP 1209/1547: 1874. Plans and elevation showing alterations to Island House, Tiree; An Iodhlann: 2017.77.1 Rev Hector Cameron about the building of Island House and collecting peat from Coll (Cothrom 42); An Iodhlann: 2017.36.8 Black & white photograph of Island House, Heylipol, in the 1920s; An Iodhlann: 1998.32.1 Scots Magazine, Nov 1972 William Rankin writes about Island House and its gruagach or guardian fairy

The Lost Medieval Castle of Isleborgh: It is possible that Island House was built on the site of the ‘lost’ medieval castle of Isleborgh, which has been puzzling historians for years.  Isleborgh is mentioned in many Scottish medieval charters but its location has never been formerly identified. In 1903, Erskine Beveridge, linen manufacturer and antiquarian, suggested that it could be identified with the island fort which existed on Loch an Eilein before island house was built. Beveridge was translating Isleborgh as Old Norse for ‘island fort’. Alternatively the ‘isle’ may be from Old Norse ‘ìla’ meaning well, spring or lake. Sources: Archaeological report, An Iodhlann; 2017.14.2.pdf (aniodhlann.org.uk)

The MacLean castle which stood on the island was destroyed by the first cannon to be brought to Tiree by the 9th earl of Argyll in 1679. Source: AP 26 Dec 1678. Aros. No.179. Instructions for an expedition to Coll and Tirie [Tiree] by 50 men of the King’s Regiment of Guards and 150 men of the Earl of Caithness’s company. 1209/472; AP Diary of the 9th earl, 1209/472/180; Maclean Tiree Tales 55, 56, 57