The Pencil

The second half of my week's escape from work was spent across in Largs at my folks where the first thing I discovered was that my notepad was completely unsuitable as a mobile blipper, something which I am going to have to rectify before my next venture away from the EH7 postcode area!

As a result I have back-blipped the last few days visits to Bothwell, Caerlaverock and Dunure castles, with apologies.

Today's offering of course has a little historical significance also. The Pencil was built in 1912 as a memorial to the Battle of Largs in 1263 which represented the most significant engagement of the Norwegian-Scottish War. The tower is representative of those created as lookout posts for offshore attacks.

Since 1100 the Inner and Outer Hebrides and Kintyre were controlled by the Norwegians and firstly Alexander II and then Alexander III had unsuccessfully being trying to buy them back. A raid on the Isle of Skye by Scottish forces in 1262 and reports that a mass attack on all the islands was expected lead to the formation of a fleet by King Håkon which left Bergen in July 1263.

Shortly thereafter the Norwegian fleet anchored at Arran where Scottish envoys met them. Talks were unsuccessful and before long the fleet moved closer to the Scottish mainland between Cumbrae and Largs. While anchored there the fleet was surprised by stormy weather at which point a number of ships were driven ashore.

The next day a small force of Norwegians landed to bolster numbers and some 200 men took control of a hill overlooking the beach and together with the other 600 men took on a Scottish army lead by King Alexander III. While retreating, several boats sank due to overcrowding however the Norwegians reorganised and made a stand on the beach and a long-range missile battle ensued. A single ship managed to land reinforcements in the storm at which point the Scottish forces withdrew allowing the Norwegians to board what ship remained and return to the fleet.

Short of supplies and with a large Scottish force intact on land the Norwegian's withdrew completely. Before he could return the following spring Håkon died from illness and following an invasion of the Hebrides by Alexander ultimately in 1265 negotiations lead to the return of lands to Scotland for a lump sum payment of 4000 marks and 100 marks annually thereafter.