DANIELL, William (1769-1837)
Remains of the Chapel on Inch Kenneth

© National Library of Scotland.
William Daniell image supplied by the National Library of Scotland for use in the LEMA Project.

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[Plate 40]

Inchkenneth

"...Southward from Ulva, and distant about a mile from the coast of Mull, is the little verdant isle of Inchkenneth, which once held a seminary of ecclesiatics, probably subordinate to the monastery of I-columb-kill. In the view here given, entitled RUINS OF THE CHAPEL &C. ON INCHKENNETH, we see the remains of an ancient chapel, the cemetery of which is covered with tombstones of chieftains and other eminent personages, and still continues to be a place of sepulture. The ruined edifice to the left was once the rsidence of Sir Allan Maclean, who, with his two daughters,so hospitably entertained Dr. Johnson and his friends on their visit to this island...

Recurring to other objects delineated in the view, it may be necessary to explain that the mountain in the back-ground, whose verdant ascent terminates in a steep and rocky summit, is Gribune Head, in the isle of Mull. The volumes of smoke observable arise from the burning of kelp, which is found in great abundance on the shores of Inchkenneth. At the period of this visit the people were employed in gathering it...

"On the west side of Inchkenneth, looking southward on Iona, there are remains of a cross. Its date may be supposed to be coeval with that of the ecclesiastical establishment, whose demolition it has survived; but tradition offers no particulars to explain the occasion or purpose of its erection. The isle in its present state retains but little that would gratify the researches of the antiquary, and rather claims the notice of the agriculturist. It affords good pasturage, and is stocked with black cattle, sheep, and goats. Its extent is about a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth. To explore a space so limited did not require much time, or give rise to any remarkable variety of incident. The only circumstance worth noticing was that of a number of small whales, which were seen swimming in various directions about the coast."

Source: Extract from DANIELL, William. A Voyage Round Great Britain [1813-1823].

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