Eilean Righ
Encyclopedia
Eilean Rìgh is an island in the Inner Hebrides
of the west coast of Scotland
. It lies in Loch Craignish
, about 300 m off the Argyll
coastline. The name is Gaelic for "King's Island", although which royal is not known.
The island has the remains of two Iron Age
forts.
In the 1930s, the island was home to Sir Reginald Johnston
, retired tutor to Puyi
, the last Chinese emperor. Johnston modernised the houses, built a Buddhist temple and even flew the Manchukuoan flag
in the Chinese-style gardens.
The property was purchased by a retired Indian army officer, Major Campbell, who lived in it with his family until the outbreak of World War II when they left for a house in Ardfern
. It was purchased by Lord Wilfred Brown
and his cousin Mr Robert Banks Skinner in 1959 as a holiday home. In 1992 it was sold to James Waldegrave
, then Viscount Chewton.
The current owner is a London
-based city trader, Christian Siva-Jothy, who purchased the island in 1999 and then substantially renovated the properties on the island. He is a former Partner of Goldman Sachs where he was in charge of Proprietary Trading. He retired from Goldman Sachs in 2005.
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
of the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It lies in Loch Craignish
Loch Craignish
Loch Craignish is a sea loch on the mid-Argyll coast.-Geography:Loch Craignish lies between Oban and the Crinan Canal. Its opens into the Sound of Jura and provides a safe anchorage for small craft....
, about 300 m off the Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
coastline. The name is Gaelic for "King's Island", although which royal is not known.
History
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
forts.
In the 1930s, the island was home to Sir Reginald Johnston
Reginald Johnston
Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston, KCMG, CBE, was a Scottish academic, diplomat and tutor to Puyi, the last emperor of China, and later appointed as the last Commissioner of Weihaiwei.-Early:...
, retired tutor to Puyi
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
, the last Chinese emperor. Johnston modernised the houses, built a Buddhist temple and even flew the Manchukuoan flag
Flag of Manchukuo
The flag of the now-defunct Empire of Manchukuo had a mustard yellow field with four horizontal stripes of different colors in the upper-left corner. The colors of the flag were based on the colors on the Five Races Under One Union flags used by the Peking-based Beiyang government and the Empire of...
in the Chinese-style gardens.
The property was purchased by a retired Indian army officer, Major Campbell, who lived in it with his family until the outbreak of World War II when they left for a house in Ardfern
Ardfern
Ardfern is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the south coast of the Craignish peninsula, facing Loch Craignish....
. It was purchased by Lord Wilfred Brown
Wilfred Banks Duncan Brown, Baron of Machrihanish
Wilfred Banks Duncan Brown, Baron Brown MBE was Chairman and Managing Director of Glacier Metal Company , author of several books and articles on management and labour issues, university administrator, and United Kingdom's Minister of State at the Board of Trade .Brown is perhaps best known for...
and his cousin Mr Robert Banks Skinner in 1959 as a holiday home. In 1992 it was sold to James Waldegrave
James Waldegrave, 13th Earl Waldegrave
James "Jamie" Sherbrooke Waldegrave, 13th Earl Waldegrave is a British peer and businessman.Waldegrave is the son of the 12th Earl Waldegrave and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1986, he married Mary Furness , a daughter of Sir Robert Furness...
, then Viscount Chewton.
The current owner is a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based city trader, Christian Siva-Jothy, who purchased the island in 1999 and then substantially renovated the properties on the island. He is a former Partner of Goldman Sachs where he was in charge of Proprietary Trading. He retired from Goldman Sachs in 2005.