Scotland: Six Lewis Chessmen Returned

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

‘some of the Chessmen are ‘home’, but the Chronicles continue to moulder in the British Library ignored by a Manx government to craven to demand their return!’

Six pieces from Lewis chess set have been returned to Scotland to go on permanent display at a new museum near Stornoway.

Of the 93 artefacts that comprise the Lewis hoard which was found at Uig bay on the Isle of Lewis in 1831 82 are held in the British Museum and 11 in the National Museum of Scotland

The pieces from the world’s most famous chess set are being returned to the Outer Hebrides, where they were discovered in the 19th century.

The chessmen which are dated as 12th century will go on display permanently as part of a loan agreement between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the British Museum.

The chessmen will be centre stage at the new Museum of the Western Isles and will go on display in time for its grand opening later this year. The Museum at Lews Castle has been restored at a cost of £8.5 million over the past two years.

The Celtic League has long campaigned for artefacts such as the Chessmen and Manuscripts and The Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles together with other items to be returned to their respective countries.

Displaying the Chessmen in the new museum will give a great boost to the venture when it is launched and it is unfortunate all the Chessmen were not returned.

Similarly the return of the Chronicles permanently to Mann would enable them to be displayed in a meaningful and useful context not simply as part of a vast collection of material in the South East of England which is often hidden from the public.

So some of the Chessmen are ‘home’, but the Chronicles continue to moulder in the British Library ignored by a Manx government to craven to demand their return!

Celtic League website on stolen Celtic Treasures here:

http://celticartefacts.yolasite.com/

Related links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_chessmen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronicles_of_Mann

BERNARD MOFFATT

Issued by: The Celtic News

11/09/15

THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues

http://celticleague.net