Islay Scenes : Portrait of an Island – Diana Leitch
From Neolithic settlement and Iron Age occupation to clan lordship and the strategic infrastructure of the twentieth century, successive generations have shaped Islay’s distinctive character. Yet the island’s architectural and landscape legacy, as it is experienced today, owes most to the transformative changes of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Beginning with the acquisition of much of Islay by the Campbells of Shawfield in 1726, Georgian and Victorian ambitions left an enduring mark on the island. Their vision, alongside that of other influential landowners, brought about significant changes to settlements, estate planning, agriculture, industry and infrastructure. Some schemes were realised in full, while others remained aspirational, but all contributed to the evolution of Islay’s built environment. Broader national and international developments, including changing attitudes to religion, education and land management, further shaped the island’s communities, buildings and landscapes.
Richly illustrated and deeply informed by both historical research and local memory, this book offers a compelling exploration of Islay’s architectural heritage. It documents not only the island’s remarkable buildings and designed landscapes, but also the wider cultural and environmental context that continues to define one of Scotland’s most distinctive island settings.
Author: Diana Leitch
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781839830938
Publication date: September 2025