Easdale Island Folk Museum
Community museum on Easdale Island telling the story of the slate industry and island life.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Easdale Island Folk Museum was set up in 1980 by Chris Nicholson, then the owner of the island. Since 2008 the island has been in community ownership through the island charity Eilean Eisdeal.
The displays cover the slate industry that shaped the island, along with army volunteers, education, public health, geology, boats and entertainment. The museum also holds genealogical records, rent books, Masonic records and a map of the island dating from around 1881.
Easdale slate was first mentioned in writing in 1554. In 1745 the Marble and Slate Company of Netherlorn was founded, and pumping machinery later allowed quarrying below sea level, so that output reached about five million slates a year by 1800. A tidal flood in 1881 flooded the quarries, and the last slates taken from them on a commercial scale were shipped in 1911.
Highlights
- Displays on the island's slate industry
- Social, military and medical history of Easdale
- Genealogical records, rent books and an 1881 map of the island
- Reached by a short foot ferry from Ellenabeich
Permanent exhibitions
- Slate industry – The history of slate quarrying on Easdale, from the 16th century to the last commercial shipment in 1911.
- Island life – Displays on social, military and medical history, including army volunteers, education, public health, geology, boats and entertainment.
- Founded
- 1980
- Operated by
- Easdale Island community (island charity Eilean Eisdeal)
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The island is reached by the Ellenabeich to Easdale foot passenger ferry, run by Argyll and Bute Council as a turn-up-and-go service, although some sailings must be booked in advance. A West Coast Motors bus runs from Oban to Seil.
The ferry operator can be reached on 01852 300794, and tickets can be pre-bought online through the council's Easdale ferry site. The council publishes the current timetable.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The Puffer Bar and Restaurant is a separate venue in the island's community hall.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
