A Family link to Easdale

Janet's paternal grandfather was born in number 1 Easdale Island in 1880. He was the youngest of ten children. his twin brother died at birth and his mother died the next day. At that time, families on the island were large. Easdale Island was a slate island and supplied slate for roofs to major cities in Britain - Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool, and to the Empire - Melbourne, Nova Scotia, Dunedin and Dublin.

In 1880 there were 500 islanders who worked in the 7 slate quarries. Some of these were as much as 75 metres below sea level. One of her grandfather's brothers, Alexander, started work in the quarry at the age of 11 and was paid a bag of meal for a month's labour.

The shot is of Number 1 Easdale Island, now looking much better than it did in 1880. It is owned by a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Mike Mackenzie, whose wife is distantly related to my wife. Janet's grandfather, Archie, and Lynn's Great Grandmother, Catherine, were brother and sister. Janet's dad owned the cottage until he sold it in 1984.