Breasclete

Village in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Human settlement in Scotland

Breasclete

Location within the Outer Hebrides

LanguageScottish Gaelic
EnglishOS grid referenceNB217353Civil parish

Council area

Na h-Eileanan Siar

Lieutenancy area

Western Isles

CountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townISLE OF LEWISPostcode districtHS2Dialling code01851PoliceScotlandFire Scottish Ambulance Scottish UK Parliament

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Scottish Parliament

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Websitebreasclete.com

List of places: UK; Scotland

58°13′08″N 6°44′24″W / 58.219°N 6.740°W / 58.219; -6.740

Breasclete (Scottish Gaelic: Brèascleit) is a village and community on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Breasclete is within the parish of Uig,^[1] and is situated adjacent to the A858.^[2]

History

Breasclete has several stone circles,^[3]^[4]^[5] as well as various cairns.^[6]^[7] The Bronze Age-era Olcote kerbed cairn, south of the settlement, was excavated in 1995 during road works, by CFA Archaeology, and the site seems to form part of a wider ceremonial complex.^[8]^[9] The cairn contained a cist burial and the archaeologists believe there was a satellite cist burial on the outside of the cairn but due to the acidity of the soil no bones survived to confirm this.^[10] The local pier, situated west of the settlement, was built in the early 20th century, and has a quay of similar construction.^[11]

Community

One of the main services in the village is Breasclete Primary School, which has a current total of 27 children. There is a thriving community with the new Hall as the base for a number of community groups and organisations.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

The village also hosts the Equatec facility, a pharmaceutical facility dedicated to fatty acid research and production, which has now been taken over by German giant BASF in June 2012.^[12]

Other businesses located in the area include Scottish Fish Farm who have a number of sites in East Loch Roag,^[13] and Hebridean Soap who operate from their base in Breasclete.^[14]

Traditional industries like Harris Tweed also offer employment, and crofting is at the heart of the community.

References

^ "Details of Breasclete". Scottish Places. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "A858". Sabre. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Lewis, Breasclete". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Callanish, Breasclete Park (New Park)". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Breasclete, Cnoc Gearraidh Nighean Choinnich". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Lewis, Breasclete, Cnoc Na H-Inghinn A' Ruaidha". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Lewis, Breasclete". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports (SAIR)". Archaeology Data Service. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Lewis, Callanish, Olcote, Breasclete Park". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Vol 13 (2005): Excavation of a Bronze Age kerbed cairn at Olcote, Breasclete, Near Calanais, Isle of Lewis | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^ "Lewis, Breasclete, Pier". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "BASF Pharma (Callanish) Limited". www.basf.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^ "Producing Scottish salmon with pride and passion". The Scottish Salmon Company. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
^ "Welcome". Hebridean Soap Company. Retrieved 5 October 2011.