STORNOWAY (Norse, Sljarna vagr, " Stjarna's

See also:

• BAY

Bay ")  , the chief and largest town in the western islands and also the principal town of the county of Ross and Cromarty . Pop . (1901), 3852 . It is situated on the east coast of Lewis, at the head of a capacious harbour with ample quays and wharves, accessible at all tides and available for steamers of 3000 tons burden . The harbour is protected by two headlands, on the more southerly of which—Amish Point—stands a lighthouse . From the end of this point there juts out a line of rocks on the extremity of which a beacon, 32 ft. high, has been erected, which is illuminated by means of a light thrown on to a prism in the lantern from the light in the lighthouse . Stornoway was made a burgh of barony by James VI., and is also a police burgh . It is the centre of the Outer Hebrides fishery district, and during the herring season the population is trebled . Among the public buildings are Lewis Hospital, Mossend Hospital, the Court House, the Drill Hall, the Masonic Hall, a commodious structure in which the public library is housed, and the fish mart . Stornoway Castle, overlooking the town from a height on the west side, is a handsome castellated mansion in the Tudor style, built as the residence of Sir James Matheson .