In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Oransay like this:
Oransay, an island in Colonsay parish, Argyllshire, near the S end of Colonsay island, and 5½ miles N by W of the nearest point of Islay. It is separated from Colonsay by a channel only from 100 yards to 1 mile wide, and dry at low water; measures 2 2/3 miles from E to W, by 1 7/8 mile from N to S; and has an indented, irregular outline, with a rugged, hilly, but not high surface. ...
According to tradition, Columba and Oran, his colleague, the latter of whom gave name to the island, first landed here from Ireland in 563, when, finding he could see the Irish coast from Cairn-Cul-riErinn,its highest hill, he durst not tarry, but proceeded northward to Iona. Long after, in the 14th century, an Austin priory was founded here by one of the Lords of the Isles as a cell of Holyrood Abbey. This -priory has left remains more interesting than any in the Western Highlands and Islands, excepting those of Iona. Transitional Early English in style, its roofless church measures 772/3 feet in length and 18 in width, has a fine three-light Gothic E window, and adjoins a very peculiar cloister, forming a square of 40 feet without and 282/3 within. In Pennant's time (1772) one of the sides of the cloister had five small round arches; whilst two other sides, confronting each other, showed seven low triangular-headed arches, with plain square columns. A side chapel contains a sculptured tomb of an abbot of 1539, and a stone with figures of dogs, a stag, and a ship under sail; and in the churchyard is a finely sculptured cross of 1510, resting on a graduated pedestal, and bearing on its head a sculpture of the crucifixion. Other antiquities, such as cairns and tumuli, are numerous. Pop. (1871) 48, (1881) 10. See an article by W. Stevenson in Procs. Soc. Ants. Scotl. (1881).
Additional information about this locality is available for Colonsay
Oransay through time
Oransay is now part of Argyll and Bute district. Click here for graphs and data of how Argyll and Bute has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Oransay itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Oransay in Argyll and Bute | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/21894
Date accessed: 27th April 2024
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