Map Reference: Greenhill b
Name Type: house
Meaning: The big house at Greenhill
Other Forms: Taigh Mòr Ghrianail - AS
Greenhill House - ONB p189, "a farm dwelling house with steading attached, stone and slated."
Related Places:
Information:Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean, Townships and Echoes by Niall M Brownlie, Argyll Publishing, 1995, p 58:
The next tacksman was Lachlan MacLean, who held the lease until he died in 1885. It is said that MacLean was a strange man and that he dabbled in black magic. Oral tradition says that black pigs frequently came ashore on Greenhill beach and could be seen running around on the machair just a short distance below the farmhouse.
Another story is told of a man from the neighbouring village of Sandaig who went to visit MacLean of a winter's evening. Seemingly he overstayed his welcome. When there were no signs of him leaving for home, the lamp on the table beside him took off and floated around the room. As if this was not enough, MacLean's boots started to walk around the room. It is little wonder that the visitor took off home in a hurry!
They used to put lights in the windows of the house to lure ships onto the rocks - Alasdair MacDonald, Druimasadh, Balevullin, 11/1993.
See An Iodhlann in Greenhill - Before 1886 there was a tairbh sligeach (a shell-covered bull), a bull with a warty eruption on its skin, in the township. All his offspring had the same complaint and they were put down and buried at An Iodhlann Mhòr. They could still hear the lowing of the calves for their mothers from underground. It was put down to sgoil dhubh (witchcraft) - Alasdair Sinclair, Greenhill, 6/1995.
This house is still said to haunted. People who have stayed in it have seen the lid of the geirneal lift - JH.
Local Form:
Languages : GaelicInformants: Alasdair Sinclair, Greenhill, 5/1994
Informant 2: OS
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