The Uig Chessmen

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The Outer Hebrides is famous for many things and one of them is the discovery of the Lewis or Uig Chessmen in 1831.  Islander Malcolm MacDonald discovered 78 walrus ivory chess pieces, and some other gaming pieces, near the village of Uig on the Isle of Lewis that are of Norse origin and are said to have been carved in the 12th Century.  

The Outer Hebrides were ruled by the King of Norway for 450 years and these chessmen date from that period.   

 Most of the collection is on display in the British Museum in London and 11 of the chessmen are in National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

 In 2006 sculpture Stephen Hayward was commissioned by Uig Community Council to carve this Oak statue, which stands in the sand dunes near to the site where the chessmen were discovered 180 years ago.

 CLICK HERE for more information on the Uig Chessmen







All images taken on the Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon XF35mm f1.4R
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