Port Ellen

Port Ellen
Scottish Gaelic: *Port Ìlein*
Port Ellen Scottish Gaelic: Port Ìlein;
	Port Ellen
	Port Ellen Location within Argyll and Bute
Population	810 (2022)
OS grid reference	NR365455
Council area	Argyll and Bute;
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute;
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF ISLAY
Postcode district	PA42
Dialling code	01496
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute;
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute;
	List of places UK Scotland 55°38′N 6°11′W / 55.63°N 6.18°W

Port Ellen (Scottish Gaelic: Port Ìlein) is a small town on the island of Islay, in Argyll, Scotland. The town is named after the wife of its founder, Walter Frederick Campbell.^[2] Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from Old Norse meaning "Leòd's Harbour".

Port Ellen is built around Leodamais Bay, Islay's main deep water harbour. It is the largest town on Islay, only slightly larger than Bowmore and provides the main ferry connection between Islay and the mainland, at Kennacraig. The Port Ellen Distillery was first established in the 1820s and ceased production of Scotch whisky in 1983, until reopening in 2024. The large malting continues to produce for the majority of the distilleries on Islay.^[3]^[4]

History

The area around Port Ellen has a variety of archaeological sites covering the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age periods. There are standing stones at Kilbride, a fort at Borraichill Mor, several chambered cairns, and a chapel at Cill Tobar Lasrach.^[3] Nearby lie the ruined remains of the 14th-century Dunyvaig Castle, once a fortress of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.^[5]

The current town was planned by Walter Frederick Campbell and founded in 1821 originally intended to support the herring industry.^[6] It was originally called Port Ellinor in honour of his wife, Lady Eleanor Charteris (d. 1832), daughter of Francis Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss.

Ferry service

Preceding station		Ferry		Following station
Terminus		Caledonian MacBrayne Islay Ferry		Kennacraig
Terminus		Kintyre Express April to October		Ballycastle

Notable people

George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, Labour politician and former Secretary General of NATO was born in Port Ellen^[7] on 12 April 1946.

References

^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^ The Oxford Companion to Scottish History. 2007. p. 546. ISBN 978-0-19-923482-0.
^ ^a ^b "Port Ellen". Isle of Islay. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
^ "Port Ellen Distillery". Islay Whisky. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
^ "Port Ellen". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
^ Walker, Frank Arneil (2005). The Buildings of Scotland. Argyll and Bute. Yale University Press. p. 552. ISBN 9780300096705.
^ "George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen". Biographicon.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

External links

Canmore - Islay, Port Ellen, General site record

This Argyll and Bute location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

[2] The Oxford Companion to Scottish History. 2007. p. 546. ISBN 978-0-19-923482-0.

[isle-3] "Port Ellen". Isle of Islay. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

[4] "Port Ellen Distillery". Islay Whisky. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

[gaz-5] "Port Ellen". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

[6] Walker, Frank Arneil (2005). The Buildings of Scotland. Argyll and Bute. Yale University Press. p. 552. ISBN 9780300096705.

[7] "George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen". Biographicon.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

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v t e Islay
Villages	Ardbeg Ardilistry Ardtalla Ballygrant Bowmore Bridgend Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Easter Ellister Kilchiaran Kilchoman Kilmeny Lagavulin Nerabus Port Askaig Port Charlotte Port Ellen Portnahaven
Geographical features	Ardnave Point Aros Bay Beinn Bheigeir Bowmore Sandstone Group Claggain Bay Colonsay Group Eilean Mhic Coinnich Gruinart Flats Lagavulin Bay Loch an t-Sailein Loch Gruinart Loch Indaal Machir Bay The Oa Rhinns complex Rinns of Islay River Laggan Sound of Islay
History and architecture	Battle of Benbigrie Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart Battle of Epiphany Cenél nÓengusa Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg Clark Cottage Dun Bhruichlinn Dun Guaidhre Dun Nosebridge Dunlossit House Dunyvaig Castle Finlaggan Islay Charter Islay House Islay LIMPET Islay Woollen Mill Kildalton Castle Kilarrow Parish Church RAF Kilchiaran Kildalton Cross Loch Gorm Castle Margadale Mulindry House Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen St John's Church, Port Ellen
Islay whisky	Ardbeg Ardnahoe Bowmore Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Caol Ila Kilchoman Lagavulin Laphroaig Port Charlotte Port Ellen
Other Islay related articles	Islay Airport Machrie golf course MV Finlaggan Sorex araneus grantii Westering Home Western Isles Open Championship

Port Ellen Scottish Gaelic: Port Ìlein
Port Ellen
Port Ellen Location within Argyll and Bute
Population	810 (2022)^[1]
OS grid reference	NR365455
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF ISLAY
Postcode district	PA42
Dialling code	01496

Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish

UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 55°38′N 6°11′W / 55.63°N 6.18°W / 55.63; -6.18