Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

ARGYLLSHIRE
SLATER'S
ISLAND OP ISLAY,
INCLUDING BOWMORE, BRIDGE-END, BRUICHLADDICH, PORT-ASKAIG, PORT -CHARLOTTE, PORT-ELLEN, ARDBEG
PORTNAHAVEN, BALLYGRANT AND THEIR VICINITIES.
hundred volumes. An assembly room ia on tbo same floor as tho
library. There is also a large and excellent public school with a
bouse for the master. A sheriff's court is held here twice a year.
ISLAY is a large island, and the most southerly of those called the
Hebrides. In length from north to south it ia about thirty
miles, its extreme land breadth about eighteen, and its contents
about 154,000 acres. Port Askaig, the most northern port on the
island, is distant from Edinburgh (byway of Tarbert) 179 miles,
from Inverardy 76, and from Tarbert 40. It lies in a westerly direc-
tion from the peninsula of Cantire, distant from it about twenty
miles, and is separated on the north, from the Island of Jura, by a
narrow channel. It comprises three parochial divisions, namely,
Bowmore (or Kilarrow), Kilchoman and Kildalton. The mountains
to the east of the island rise to an altitude of fifteen hundred feet,
and are the resort of eagles, falcons and other birds; and great
numbers of seals are to be found along the coast. The shore is
very rugged, but in some parts has fine flat beaches and sandy bays,
and the face of the country is finely varied by hill and dale. Many
parts are well planted, and the island contains several beautiful
lakes, well-stocked witli most delicious trout; there are also two
rivers, the Sorn aod the Laggan ; the former empties itself into Loch
Iudaal, and the latter into Laggan Bay. The Laggan water is not
surpassed in the West Highlands as a salmon stream. In boistcroas
weather many vessels come into Loch Indaal for shelter. Near the
centre of the island is Loch Finlaggan, about three miles in circum-
ference, with an islet of the same name in the middle. It was
here the Macdonalds (Lords of the Isles), resided in all the
pomp of royalty, and tho ruins of their castle can yet be seen.
Near the Island of Finlaggan is another little isle, called Eilan-na-
corlle — the island of council — where a body of judges constantly sat
to decide differences between the subjects of tho Macdonalds. On
the first island were buried the wives and tbe children of tho Lords
of the Isles, but their own persons were deposited in the more
Bacred ground of Iona. Before Islay became the seat of government
for the Lords of the Isles, it appears to have been under the
dominion of the Danes and Norwegians, as there are many duns and
castles, evidently of Danish origin, besides many places which have
Danish names. The land is tolerably cultivated, but it is still sus-
ceptible of great improvement. Upwards of three thousand head of
black cattle, and several hundred horses of the Clydesdale breed,
are annually exported, besides sheep. An immense quantity of
whisky, tho produce of the distilleries in the island, is also exported
to Glasgow, England and America. Lead and iron are said to
abouud in this island, and a company was formed, called the Islay
Mining Company, for extracting some of those minerals, which is
still carried on with favourable results. There is regular daily
communication by steamer, from Port-Ellen, and on Tuesdays and
Fridays from Port-Askaig, with Glasgow and West Tarbert on the
main land. There are many ruinous remains of ancient castles,
churches, &c, scattered over the island; but, perhaps, the most
remarkable natural curiosity in this part of the empire is Sloc-
Mhaol-Doraidh, a largo basin formed in the rock by the action of
the sea, on the south-west point of Laggan Bay, about nine miles
from Bowiuoro, into which the turbulent waters of the western
ocean rush, by two channels in the rock, covered with natural
arches; the grandeur of the scene presented during the flowing of
the tide is inconceivable ; this cave is scarcely inferior to the famed
one of Fingal, in Staffa, and can only be entered by a boat in fine
weather. At the eutrance stands a perpendicular rock, fifty feet
high, with a belt round it, and is designated the " soldier," from
appearing to guard the approach to it. The interior is dome-roofed
and spacious, with a beautiful lake of fresh water, "icy cold and
chrystal clear." There are several other interesting perforations in
different parts of the island. The scenery in this locality, as
well as Beveral other points is highly interesting, and oc-
casionally approaches the sublime. It was ou this coast that on
the 27th of April. 1847, the Exmouth was wrecked, when two hundred
and forty-eight of the crew and passengers perished. Population of
Islay in 1871, 8,143, and in 1881, 7,526.
Bowmore is the principal place on the island. It was founded in
1768, and is situated on the east side of Loch Indaal, three miles
soutb of Islay House, 11 s.s.w. from Port-Askaig, and the same from
Port-Ellen and Port-Charlotte. The village, which consists of two
principal streets and several smaller ones diverging, possesses a
good quay and a comfortable inn. It is a place of some business,
several trading vessels belonging to it. The public structures are
the parish church, a circular edifice, with a peculiarly formed spire ;
a neat Free church, a Baptist chapel, a union workhouse, and a
building originally intended for a gaol, but now appropiated to the
more beneficial uses of a public library, containing about eighteen
There is a distillery worked by Messrs. W. & J. Mutter. The Bowmore
Hotel is the principal one in the village. Population in 1881, 834.
Bruichladdich is a small village in tho parish of Kilchoman, 8
miles from Bowmore, on the road to Port-Charlotte. Hero are a
large distillery, a temperance hotel, and post office ; there ia also a
quay at which vessels of considerable burden can unload in fine
weather.
At Bridge-end, three miles north of Bowmore, and eight miles
south of Port-Askaig, is a branch of the National Bank of Scotland,
Limited, which greatly facilitates the commercial transactions of
the island. A court is held monthly for the recovery of small debts,
and sessions for the trial of petty offences. A short distance to tho
west stands Islay House, surrounded with fine gardens and well
planted grounds ; it is situated at the head of Loch Indaal, of which
it commands a fine view, as well as of the adjacent country.
Port-Askaig is a small creek or harbour, on the north-east side
of the island, opposite Feolioe in Jura, from which it is separated
by the sound of Islay, about a mile broad ; the port is eleven miles
north-east of Bowmore, and has a quay where vessels of consider*
able burden can load and unload at low water. Hero lobsters are
found in great abundance.
About four miles from Bridge-end, on the road to Port-Askaig, is
the village of Bally grant, where there is a lead mine, which gives
employment to a number of hands. The lead is of first-rate quality,
and contains a small quantity of silver.
Port-Charlotte is a small village, in the parish of Kilchoman
on the west side of Loch Indaal, nearly opposite to Bowmore ; it is
16 miles s.w. of Port-Askaig, and contains a good inn, a distillery,
and an excellent school, erected by Charlea Morrison, Esq. Popula-
tion in 1881, 502.
Port-Ellen is a seaport and village, in the parish of Kildalton,
on the east side of the Island; 11 miles s.e. of Bowmore, and 22 s.
of Port-Askaig. In 1824 there stood only one house here, though in
1836 there were above one hundred and fifty ; and the population
and habitations have greatly increased since. The bay is considered
safe, and is nearly a mile wide. The quay is commodious, and is
formed on a rocky promontory near the middle of the harbour ; the
quay was erected in 1826, and enlarged and improved in 1832, by
Campbell of Islay, who also erected a lighthouse, and was again
further enlarged and improved in 1881, by John Ramsay, Esq., m.p.,
of Kildalton. Mr. Ramsay became proprietor of the parish of Kil-
dalton (which includes the quoad sacra parish of Oa), in 1863, and
during his proprietorship he has expended more than half the
rental of the parish in agriculture improvements, including stone
walls and farm steadings of uncommon stability. A branch of the
Royal Bank of Scotland is established here. The village is sub-
stantially built, and contains two inns. The inhabitants are prin-
cipally employed in agriculture and fishing, and the prosperity of
the village may bo said to have been increasing for several years.
Population in 1881, 989 ; of Kildalton and Oa, 2,252.
About four miles east from Port-Ellen are the villages of Lagavu-
lin and Ardbeg. At the latter place is one of the largest dis-
tilleries in the island ; and there is a commodious harbour, with a
quay, at which vessels of 12 feet draught of water can lie and
discharge at ebb tide.
Portnahaven is a small village and seaport, 24 miles s.w. of Port-
Askaig, and 16 s.w. of Bridge-end. It is at the southern extremity
of the island, having a quay formed by the rocks on the shore ; and
near the port is an elegant lighthouse, erected in 1824-5. Here are
also a parliamentary church, a Free church, and a public school. A
considerable business is done in the season of fishing, the shores on
this part of the island abounding with the finny treasures. Popula-
tion in 1881, 861.
The fairs held in the island of Islay are as follows :— For cattle,
last Wednesday in April, last Tuesday in June, July, August and
September. At Bowmore, February, Tuesday, if 12th, or first Tues-
day after ; August 12th, if Friday, or first Friday after, for horses ;
last Tuesdav in August for cattle, November for horses ; Friday, if
12th, or first Friday after; for cattle, Tuesday before. At Bridge-
end, for cattle and horses, Tuesday before second last Wednesday
in October. At Bailygrant, for horses, Tuesday in February, after
that at Bowmore. At Bridge-end, for cattle, second last Wednes-
day in May. At Port-Ellen, for horses and cattle, in November, day
before that at Bowmore.
POST OFFICE, Bowmore, Donald M'Fadyen, Post Master.— Letters arrive daily at G 30 p.m., and are despatched at 6 a.m., and on
Tuesday at 12 30 noon. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Bridge-end, John M'lndeor, Post Master.— Letters arrive daily at 6 30 p.m., and are despatched at 5 30 a.m., and on
Tuesday at 12 noon. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Port-Askaig, Malcolm Bell, Post Mas te r.— Letters arrive on Monday at 5 D.tn. and on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m., and are despatched on Tuesday at 8 39 a.m., and on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 3 15
P-m. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Port-Ellen, Alexander Campbell, Post Master.— Letters arrive on Monday at 8 30 p.m., on Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m., and on Tuesday and Friday at 2 a.m. ; and are despatched on Monday at 8 30 a.m. and 10 30
p.m., on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at S 30 a.m., and on Tuesday and Friday at 6 p.m. Money Order and Telegraph
Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Bruichladdich, Dugald M'Taggart, Post Master.— Letters arrive at 9 30 p.m., and are despatched at 3 30 p.m.
Money Order Office and Savings Bank. The nearest Telegraph Office is at Bridge-end.
Post Receiving House, Ballygrant, Isabella M'Dougall, Post Mistress.— Letters arrive on Monday at 5 30 p.m., and on Tnesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 30 p.m.,. and are despatched on Tuesday at 7 15 a.m., and on Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday at 4 15 p.m. The nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office is at Port-Askaig.
Post Receiving House, Port-Charlotte, Archibald Clark, Post Master.— Letters arrive daily at 10 p.m. and are despatched at 3
p.m. The nearest Money Order Office is at Bruichladdich.
Post Receiving House, Portnahaven, James M'Auley, Post Master.— Letters arrive daily at 12 p.m., and are despatcbed at 11 SO a.m.
The nearest Money Order Office is at Bruichladdich.
Post Receiving House, Gruniard, James Bvowa, Post Master.— Letters arrive and are despatched daily* The nearest Money
Order Office is at BRIDGE-END.
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