If there was any sort of problem the flannan isles lighthouse keepers could signal it to the mainland and receive help. Missing three flannan isles lighthouse keepers historic. One of the largest of these seven islands is a rocky cliffedged island known as eilean mor. Mar 17, 2017 the flannan isles swim will take place during the week of 12th to 19th august this year, when it is hoped to raise. The mystery of the eilean mor lighthouse keepers history press isbn 9780750953658. The island had been uninhabited for centuries, though it was home to a tiny ruined chapel, believed to be a shrine to st flannan. Aug 15, 2017 the genesis song the mystery of flannan isle lighthouse and an opera called the lighthouse by former master of the queens music, the late sir peter maxwell davies are also based on the incident. One which, hopefully, will have a much happier ending. Flannan isles lighthouse mystery real unexplained mysteries. Jul, 2018 curse of the flannan isles lighthouse on the science channels unexplained files. They may take their name from saint flannan, the seventhcentury.
Set in the flannan isles in the outer hebrides of scotland, it tells the tale of thomas marshall, james ducat and donald macarthur, who were all discovered missing in december 1900. In the western isles of scotland, 18 miles from the isle of lewis, sits a cluster of smaller islands known as the flannans. The disappearance of the flannan isles lighthouse keepers. This book explores this mysterious and chilling story in depth for the first time. Over the years, people have attempted to explain the events with theories ranging from murder schemes, ghost ship abductions, and sea monsters to saner but equally unlikely ones about the whole scenario being an elaborate escape. What really happened to the mysteriously vanished lighthouse keepers of the flannan islesa true story, evocative of the shining on december 26, 1900, the vessel hesperus arrived at eilean mor in the remote outer hebrides with relief lighthouse men and fresh provisions. Oct 21, 2015 eilean mor had long elicited a sort of fearful reverence in its visitors. Macleod and stuart baird are set to undertake a hugely dangerous relay swim from. The only other structure on the islands, apart from the lighthouse, is a tiny ruined chapel, dedicated to st flannan. The automation of the flannan isles lighthouse on 28 september 1971 also brought to an end the presence of personnel and families associated with the station on lewis. Theyre really just rocks, too small to be inhabited, save for the lighthouse atop eilean mor. The flannan isles are a group of rocky, uninhabited islands in scotland also known as the seven hunters. The mystery of the missing keepers at the flannan isles. The islands lie in the atlantic, 15 miles west of the isle of lewis.
The spooky unsolved mystery of the flannan lighthouse. Even today, many consider the flannan isle case one of the most enticing disappearance mysteries. Oct 22, 2014 the flannan isles lighthouse mystery on the mainland there was a large telescope fitted so that employees could keep an eye on the happenings at the lighthouse. Three lighthouse keepers mysteriously disappeared during a storm on the flannan isles. Situated off the northwest coast of mainland scotland, the islands have a remoteness that can give a feeling of isolation which helps the reader to appreciate the life of the people who have lived and worked here, leading hard and unrelenting lives.
Flannan built a chapel on the island that he and a circle of his followers inhabited and worshiped on, thus the namesake of the seven isles surrounding the lighthouse, the flannan isles. The disturbing history of queenslands bustard head lightstation the tragedy of smalls lighthouse by stephen liddell behold the hebrides, the isle of the pigmies. Apologies for the sound blip at the beginning of the video. A gift for a writer of crime and mystery books like myself. Its destination was the lighthouse at eilean mor, a remote island which apart from its lighthouse keepers was completely uninhabited. The flannan isles lighthouse itself is located on eilean mor, the largest of the flannan islands. But now a new adventure is set to bring the flannan isles back into public focus.
One of the uninhabited islands is known as eilean mor and it is made up of jagged cliff faces. The eilean mor island has an eerie history that stems back to the 7th century. Published october 1st 2014 by the history press first published july 1st 2014. Mar 29, 2019 on boxing day 1900, after weeks of the foulest weather in recorded history, the steamship hesperus stopped at the only lighthouse in the flannan isles, a desolate clutch of uninhabited islands in. Posts about flannan isle written by wildlifedetective. A brief note on the flannan isles was published by martin martin in 1703. This was based on the accounts of several of the natives of lewis, but likewise from two who had been in the flannan islands the preceding year c1694 1703, 1519. We pay tribute to these keepers, who served the northern lighthouse board so well over the years, and can only report what was recorded at that time. The untold true story of the dyatlov pass incident historical. Sep 20, 2018 so when three men working in a lighthouse on the flannan isles in the outer hebrides, off the west coast of scotland, suddenly disappeared, wild theories arose fueled by a lack of evidence.
Curse of the flannan isles lighthouse on the science channels unexplained files. Tourism fortunately still thrives in the outer hebrides, with the flannan isles serving as an attraction for day trips. In 1968, the rock band genesis wrote and recorded the mystery of flannan isle lighthouse while working on their first album, though it was not released until 1998. Designer paul allen researched the lighthouse sets from a book called lighthouses, lightships and buoys by e g jerrome. Flannan isles lighthouse is a lighthouse near the highest point on eilean mor, one of the flannan isles in the outer hebrides off the west coast of mainland scotland. Flannan isles lighthouse is the only habitable structure. Over time, a story has developed of the existence of unusual log book entries. Flannan isle by wilfrid wilson gibson famous poems, famous.
Three lighthouse keepers vanished from flannan isles. The flannan isles are a group of rocky, uninhabited islands in scotland. Dec 15, 2000 the mystery of the men of flannan isle is one of the most puzzling in scottish maritime history northern lighthouse board is due to pay tribute to the men on friday, in what is believed to be 100 years to the day since the men vanished. Before the establishment of the lighthouse on the flannan isles, which consists of seven rocky, uninhabited islands called the seven hunters, the island of eilean mor on which the lighthouse stands had two other dwellings. Jul 01, 2014 this book has the soul of the lighthouse keepers missing from the lighthouse not just an investigation of the mystery behind the disappearance of the keepers from the flannan isle lighthouse, but a window into a unique lifestyle that no longer exists. Also known as the seven hunters they stand just over 20 miles 32 kilometres from the isle of lewis leodhas. The most likely explanation is a big wave washing them out to sea. Flannan isles lighthouse is a lighthouse near the highest point on eilean mor, one of the flannan isles in the outer hebrides off the west coast of scotland. Jan 30, 2017 s01e01 the flannan isle lighthouse mystery in december 1900, three lighthouse keepers stationed on an isolated group of islands in the north atlantic vanished without trace. Na heileanan flannach is the scottish gaelic name of the small group of islands known in english as the flannan isles, located in scotlands outer hebrides na heileanan siar.
According to a history of scotlands western isles, written in. Staffed by three keepers, the lighthouse had been in operation for a year, but no light had been seen from. Na heileanan flannach or alternatively, the seven hunters are a small island group in the outer hebrides of scotland, approximately 32 kilometres 20 mi west of the isle of lewis. The flannan isles lighthouse mystery sjhstrangetales. The seven hunters are the flannan isles, among the smallest and westernmost of the hebrides, about 115 kilometers off the scottish mainland. So when three men working in a lighthouse on the flannan isles in the outer hebrides, off the west coast of scotland, suddenly disappeared, wild theories arose fueled by a lack of evidence. The flannan isles also known as the seven hunters are named after a 7th century irish priest called st flannan. Over the years, people have attempted to explain the events with theories ranging from murder schemes, ghost ship abductions, and sea monsters to saner but equally unlikely ones about the whole scenario being an elaborate. Flannan isle lighthouse outer hebrides, scotland atlas.
Sources for our segment on the flannan isles lighthouse. Ed, colin and stuart will swim, relaystyle, in 45minute bursts, supported by the crew of the mv cuma, and three kayakers. The mystery of flannan isle, northern lighthouse board, retrieved june 18, 2014. In december of 1900 the sixweek shift would be covered by thomas marshall, james ducat, and donald macarthur. Right at the top these cliff faces stands a grass covered hill where the lighthouse is. Jul 09, 2010 the flannan isles are a group of rocky, uninhabited islands in scotland. K and the world today as the three lighthouse keepers, thomas marshall, james ducat and donald mcarthur seem to. The mystery of flannan isle is the question of what happened to the three keepers of flannan isles lighthouse in december 1900. Eilean mor, the island of the dead, is a major island of flannan isles which is a group of 7 main islands with about 45 rocks and islets. Mystery of vanished flannan lighthouse keepers probed in new book. Although lewis and harris are always referred to as if they are two. Evidently they disappeared, but nobody knows how or why. Mike dash, the vanishing lighthousemen of eilean mor, fortean studies 4 1998.
May 20, 2017 three lighthouse keepers vanished from flannan isles lighthouse in 1900 may 20, 2017 ian harvey near the highest point of the uninhabited isle, eilean mor, in the remote outer hebrides isles off the western coast of scotland, there is a lighthouse that has gained notoriety over the years after three of its keepers mysteriously disappeared in 1900. Then along came an interfering poet, and suddenly the flannan isles lighthouse incident became a fullblown mystery of the gothic horror variety. Archie maceachern, who was himself a keeper, died in. Bbc doctor who classic episode guide horror of fang. For more information about the history of the outer hebrides and the isle of lewis, read the beyond the book for the blackhouse. It would soon experience its first tragedy and an enduring mystery. This statement seems painfully cryptic and either implies that nlb no. Lying west of the outer hebrides, 20 miles from the isle of lewis, the islands are also known as the seven hunters. December 26, 2019 a mystery uncovered, 119 years ago today.
It is december 26th, 1900 the hesperus cargo ship moored into flannan isles o. The flannan isles lighthouse, like many others in the outer hebrides, was tended to by three men, with a fourth rotating man for backup in the nearest coastal town. Angela j elliott wrote the 2005 novel some strange scent of death with the title drawn from a line from gibsons poem. Now a new book could help solve the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers on the flannan isles and it originates from beyond the grave. This was at the very dawn of the 20th century, and it sparked one of the most unsettling mysteries at the time. Flannan isle by wilfrid wilson gibson famous poems. They are a bird sanctuary and at times a place of beauty. The history and folklore of the outer hebrides is inextricably linked to the sea. Flannan, who preached in the hebrides in the 7 th century. See more ideas about lighthouse keeper, lighthouse and outer hebrides. This is not a ghost story or a supernatural tale, just observation and common sense. Not just an investigation of the mystery behind the disappearance of the keepers from the flannan isle lighthouse, but a window into a.
The loss of the three keepers from the flannan isles lighthouse in 1900 is a significant and very sad part of our history. The largest of the flannan islands, eilean mor big island in gaelic, is barely 39 acres in size, rising 288 feet above the stormy north atlantic ocean. Aug 11, 2015 even today, many consider the flannan isle case one of the most enticing disappearance mysteries. Apart from the 70 years when the lighthouse was manned, the windswept islands have always largely been uninhabited. The natural history of lighthouses by john a love what a fantastic book. Flannan isle lighthouse outer hebrides, scotland what happened to the three lighthouse keepers who vanished from this place remains a mystery over a century later. Vanished without a trace the ultimate mystery series book 8. Although uninhabited, the island has always sparked peoples interest. On the 15th of december 1900 three lighthouse keepers vanished without trace from the flannan isles lighthouse and to this day their disappearance remains a mystery. Flannan isles mystery swim team mate ed smith was a member of the st kilda swim team and again joined mr macleod and others, including stuart baird, in. Christopher nicholson, rock lighthouses of britain, 1983. Acclaimed crime novelist peter may is famous for a trilogy of novels set on the isle of lewis in the scottish hebrides, but in his latest outing, coffin road, he has moved his sights south, to the harder, rockier terrain of the isle of harris. Flannan isles, also known as the seven hunters, is a uninhabited archipelago located 15miles northwest of lewis hebrides island.
The flannan isles are a group of islands in the outer hebrides of scotland, lying several miles west of the isle of lewis. Eilean mor had long elicited a sort of fearful reverence in its visitors. They may take their name from saint flannan, the seventhcentury irish preacher and abbot the islands have been devoid of permanent residents since the automation of flannan. The flannan isles mystery is the subject here but the book is more about the lifestyle than the mystery itself and treats the disappearance in a very straightforward way. Our records relating to the flannan isles mystery are held with the national archives of scotland. The mystery of flannan isle lighthouse was first discovered when the steamer anchtor made note in its log that the light was not working in bad weather conditions. On the 26th december 1900, a small ship was making its way to the flannan islands in the remote outer hebrides. Three swimmers from the western isles ed smith, colin s. The poet was wilfrid wilson gibson 18781962 who was actually a serious poet and editor for most of his career but who in 1912 published a sensationalist account of the disappearance that struck a. It was only after 1912, when english poet wilfrid wilson gibson published his epic, flannan isle, that the story began to assume such an air of mystery, speculation, even intrigue. The flannan isles, also known as the seven hunters, are seven uninhabited islands on the westernmost edge of the chain.
It is best known for the mysterious disappearance of its keepers in 1900. The flannan isles mystery is the subject here but the book is more about the. There have been many books written about the flannans and in 2018, the film the vanishing was released to a. Very well worth reading if you are keen on the history of the british isles. Mystery of vanished flannan lighthouse keepers probed in. The mystery of the eilean mor lighthouse keepers ebook. The mysterious disappearance of the eilean mor lighthouse.