They are among the most fabled sculptures in Scottish history.
And now, six of the iconic Lewis Chessmen will return to the island of their discovery when a multi-million-pound museum opens in the Western Isles next month.
The huge attraction of the chess characters in their home setting is forecast to be a major summer crowd-puller, providing a tourism boost with visitor numbers estimated at about 50,000 per year.
As part of the Lews Castle restoration project, the modern museum in Stornoway, will be fully open on July 14, according to Western Isles Council.
It is costing £19million to transform the crumbling castle into a plush hotel and museum.
Half-a-dozen pieces from the Viking treasure hoard will take centre stage in the museum galleries, forming part of a “permanent” long-term loan deal between Western Isles Council and the British Museum.
The pieces which are making a return to the Hebrides are expected to comprise a King, Queen, bishop, knight, warder and pawn.
Special security measures to protect the 12thcentury chess pieces caused a delay to the opening.
Building on the footfall of 23,000 people who visited a summer chessmen exhibition in 2011, the local authority dug deep into its coffers to ensure the Lews restoration project went ahead.
A spokesman for the council said: “The museum and archive will host a range of fascinating artefacts, including the Lewis Chessmen, which we are confident will be of massive interest to local people and visitors to the islands.”
Hidden on the west coast of Lewis for centuries, the walrus ivory chessmen were discovered among stone bothies in a small glen by the stunning sandy beach at Ardroil by crofter Calum Macleod of nearby Pennydonald.
They are believed to have been made in Norway during the Viking period and imported on one of the Norse expeditions to the Hebrides.
As the largest and best group of early chessmen to survive, they are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries made in Scotland.
Redevelopment of the derelict castle into tourism accommodation and museum is in its final stages.
Funding issues with the castle works delayed plans to publicly open the new museum and restored ground floors of the castle last year.
But full opening of the museum is imminent, while the hotel is expected to be in operation around Christmas.
