A Scottish not-for-profit company no. SC035178
The Feolin Ferry House on the
Sound of Islay at sunset in late
spring, 2004. The distant horizon shows the silohouette of the
Isle of Mull.
The FSC has to date been developed without recourse to public funding. All support has come via donations from private individuals, local estates, charitable trusts, clan historical groups and commercial corporations. Donations to help this necessary island project keep going would be most welcome. Please send these to The Directors, Feolin Study Centre, Feolin Ferry House, Isle of Jura, PA60 7XX, UK. For further information e-mail director@theisleofjura.co.uk.
Dr. Gary McKay was the chief resident researcher at Feolin who began the task of assembling the archive, collecting new material and managing information in 2003. Dr McKay (who is from America) was the geographer responsible for finding the "lost" roads at Finlaggan on the Isle of Islay in 1999 using NASA Space Shuttle RADAR imagery. A former researcher at the US Naval Research Laboratory, in 2003 he presented a paper at the Univ. of Glasgow's Archaeological Geoprospection Conference and appeared on the BBC Scotland programme entitled, "The Cross and Sword", which featured the Isle of Jura and its early Christian connections. He has published a book on the landscape of Jura in 2005 and has a forth-coming book on the Scottish connection with the American Civil War due out in 2007 with Birlinn Press.
The objective of the Feolin
Centre was to
advance the education of the public, including inhabitants and
visitors, about the
Isle of Jura. This was done by establishing a research
centre
that focuses exclusively on charitable
education, research, and cultural projects for the community of
Jura. THE FEOLIN
CENTRE
HOLDS THE LARGEST DATA BASE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISLAND OF JURA
IN EXISTENCE, IN THE WORLD. The research effort is now totally
digital in aspect. A commercial research entity, Float Research,
located in southern Britain has now been created out of research
originally begun at Feolin.
Based at Feolin Ferry House, the Feolin Centre is at the gateway to the Island of Jura, beside the historic terminal for the Island of Islay and the mainland ferry service. This was a central point when drovers walked cattle from the islands to mainland markets, hundreds of years ago. The house, built by Wilson and approved by Thomas Telford, is the first and only one for several miles on the main road. Attached to Feolin House is a modest steading which, with the addition of a conservatory, has been converted to a small hall and exhibition space that is normally open at all times. On permanent display are panels that are intended to give the visitor an outline understanding of the island, its people, its economy, its natural history and its past.
The Feolin Centre, now virtual, promotes and provides information on all aspects of the Island of Jura to visitors, locals, schools, academics and to others round the world that have an interest in the island via the Internet. This includes the promotion of products derived from the analysis of cultural, geographic, historical, scientific and natural history data. A long-term policy of data development, archiving and analysis are Jura's most viable avenues for use of its natural and manmade resources. One of our key research areas is the use of Jura as a model for climate change reserch and cultural adaptation to climate change. FSC aims to encourage visitors to the island during the out of season periods, in particular ‘clean tourism’, as well as implementing the ‘virtual’ Jura web site.
It should also be noted that the Feolin Ferry House is "green" and has been recognised by the Scottish Parliament in its report on "green" energy in Scotland as one of Scotland's oldest and longest running private "green" energy systems. Feolin's energy is supplied by a hydrodynamically driven turbine fed by waters from loch's beneath the Paps of Jura.
The directors have to thank the many persons and organisations who have assisted and come forward with information or photographs for the project and the website. The family of the late Gordon Wright, whose invaluable research we have contained at Feolin, Rev. Peter Youngson who has given all his diverse records, which were used for his book, "Jura: Island of Deer". Dr. Alistair Dawson, who has provided geological data. John W. Sheets PhD, Professor of Anthropology at Central Missouri State University, USA, has provided his papers on historical and demographic information about Jura. Dr. Scott Buie of America, who has gifted a copy of his book, "The People of the Parish of Jura 1506-1811" as well as Mr. Norman Tait and Mr. Kenneth Cameron (of Jura) who have supplied photographs. John Lithgow who has allowed us the use of his buildings. There are many others who have given assistance in different ways.
Organisations such as NASA, the US Geological Survey, the National Geographic Survey of America, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (USA), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) of the US, KODAK and Fuji, have all contributed data, time, technology and expertise to the project.
Based at Feolin Ferry House, the Feolin Centre is at the gateway to the Island of Jura, beside the historic terminal for the Island of Islay and the mainland ferry service. This was a central point when drovers walked cattle from the islands to mainland markets, hundreds of years ago. The house, built by Wilson and approved by Thomas Telford, is the first and only one for several miles on the main road. Attached to Feolin House is a modest steading which, with the addition of a conservatory, has been converted to a small hall and exhibition space that is normally open at all times. On permanent display are panels that are intended to give the visitor an outline understanding of the island, its people, its economy, its natural history and its past.
The Feolin Centre, now virtual, promotes and provides information on all aspects of the Island of Jura to visitors, locals, schools, academics and to others round the world that have an interest in the island via the Internet. This includes the promotion of products derived from the analysis of cultural, geographic, historical, scientific and natural history data. A long-term policy of data development, archiving and analysis are Jura's most viable avenues for use of its natural and manmade resources. One of our key research areas is the use of Jura as a model for climate change reserch and cultural adaptation to climate change. FSC aims to encourage visitors to the island during the out of season periods, in particular ‘clean tourism’, as well as implementing the ‘virtual’ Jura web site.
It should also be noted that the Feolin Ferry House is "green" and has been recognised by the Scottish Parliament in its report on "green" energy in Scotland as one of Scotland's oldest and longest running private "green" energy systems. Feolin's energy is supplied by a hydrodynamically driven turbine fed by waters from loch's beneath the Paps of Jura.
The directors have to thank the many persons and organisations who have assisted and come forward with information or photographs for the project and the website. The family of the late Gordon Wright, whose invaluable research we have contained at Feolin, Rev. Peter Youngson who has given all his diverse records, which were used for his book, "Jura: Island of Deer". Dr. Alistair Dawson, who has provided geological data. John W. Sheets PhD, Professor of Anthropology at Central Missouri State University, USA, has provided his papers on historical and demographic information about Jura. Dr. Scott Buie of America, who has gifted a copy of his book, "The People of the Parish of Jura 1506-1811" as well as Mr. Norman Tait and Mr. Kenneth Cameron (of Jura) who have supplied photographs. John Lithgow who has allowed us the use of his buildings. There are many others who have given assistance in different ways.
Organisations such as NASA, the US Geological Survey, the National Geographic Survey of America, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (USA), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) of the US, KODAK and Fuji, have all contributed data, time, technology and expertise to the project.
All
intellectual concepts expressed here are copyright of FSC - 2006.