-- History --
Inchmarnock was home to St Marnoc who settled in the island and
built it's chapel. People used to come from far and wide to hear
him preach. Little remains of the chapel, St Marnoc's, that sat
at the site of Midpark in the centre of the island. Several stone
fragments of Celtic crosses have been uncovered near it and also
other sculptured stones, one commemorating the Viking, Gutlief.
These are now in Bute museum. The church remained in place till
the 18th century when farmer Alexander McDonald used the stone
to build Midpark farm.
A
bronze Age cairn was discovered at Northpark and held the remains
of what became known as "The Queen of the Inch", a 3500
year old woman decorated in a jet bead necklace and with a dagger.
After the 3500 year old skeleton was carbondated it was returned
to it's original tomb on Inchmarnock with a glass panel fitted
to allow it to be seen. Walking past the tomb by the light of
the stars requires a steady nerve said a previous owner. He was
quoted as saying..."It is dark, it is quiet, it is lonely
and the shadows in the skulls eye sockets follow every movement".
Once
home to 30 people most of Inchmarnock last residents were evacuated
during the second world war to allow a commando training area
to be created. A large amount of damage was done and many areas
are still covered by craters. Although the buildings at Northpark
are occasionally used by the owner of the island, the remainder
of the buildings lie empty or are derelict.
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