Lady's Rock is an uninhabited[3] skerry to the south west of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides. It is submerged at high tide and carries a navigation beacon.[4] Eilean Musdile is to the north east, next to Lismore.

Lady's Rock Lighthouse
Lady's Rock with Isle of Mull in the background.
Map
LocationLady's Rock
Argyll and Bute
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates56°26′55″N 5°37′02″W / 56.448515°N 5.617230°W / 56.448515; -5.617230
Tower
Constructed1907 (first)
Constructionlower stone tower and upper skeletal tower covered by aluminium panels with light on the top
Automated2001
Height12 m (39 ft)
Shapesquare frustum tower
Markingswhite tower, red aluminium panels on the top
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board[2]
Light
First lit2001 (current)
Focal height12 m (39 ft)
Range5 nmi (9 km)[1]
CharacteristicFl W 6 s

History

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In 1527, Lachlan Maclean of Duart decided to murder his wife, Lady Catherine Campbell, a sister of Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll. He rowed out to the rock one night at low tide and left his wife stranded on the rock to die.[5][6] Looking out the next day from Duart Castle he observed the rock was devoid of life, so he sent a message of condolence to the earl at Inveraray Castle, indicating that he intended to bring his wife's body there for burial. Maclean duly arrived at Inveraray with an entourage of men and the coffin. He was immediately taken to the dining hall of the castle for refreshment only to discover Lady Catherine waiting for him at the head of the table. She had been rescued during the night by boat from Tayvallich[7] (or possibly Lismore[5]) that had passed by the rock.

No word was said of the incident by Argyll or his sister during the meal and Maclean was allowed to make his escape. He was murdered in his bed in Edinburgh some time later by Sir John Campbell of Calder, another of Lady Catherine's brothers.[7]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Lady’s Rock Light Mull Historical & Archaeological Society. Retrieved 23 May 2016
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Argyll and Bute". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Lady's Rock". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. ^ Murray (1977) pp. 157-58
  5. ^ a b "The Lady's Rock - Lismore in Alba". Clan MacLea. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  6. ^ Murray (1977) p. 158 states the incident took place in 1523.
  7. ^ a b Murray (1977) p. 158

References

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  • Murray, W.H. (1977) The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London. Collins.
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