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

DIRECTORY
ARGYLLSHIRE
LOCHGILPHEAD,
ARDRISHAIG, BELLANACH, KILMARTIN, KILMICHAEL, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
LOCHGILPHEAD is a thriving burgh, pleasantly situated at the
northern extremity or head of Loch Gilp, from which the name
is derived. It is 125 miles w. of Edinburgh, 51 n. of Campbeltowu,
24% s.w. of Inveraray, 13% n. of Tarbert, and 8 s. of Kilmartin. The
town is of comparatively modern erection, and its site contained
only two or three fishermen's huts at the commencement of the
present century; it now consists of several well-formed streets, the
footpaths of which are well paved, and the inhabitants are plen-
teously supplied with water from a reservoir constructed by the
burgh commissioners. The streets are lighted by gas supplied by a
joint stock company, whose pipes extend from the Asylum, at
Lochgilphead to beyond Ardrishaig — a distance of four miles. Loch-
gilphead was constituted a burgh under the Act 25 and 26 Victoria,
cap. 101, and is governed by nine commissioners of police, including
one senior and two junior magistrates appointed under the pro-
visions of the said Act. The inhabitants are principally employed
an agriculture and fishing, others being engaged in woollen cloth
manufactories and dye works established here some time. Meetings
of the Argyll police and lunacy boards are held at stated periods,
aiso monthly meetings of the South Argyll district road trustees
and of the local justices, and a sheriff's BmalJ debt court is held
quarterly. Lochgilphead is rapidly improving ; in front of the main
street a part of the loch has been embanked, and a piece of ground
made for the convenience of the largo cattle fairs or markets. The
town is connected by numerous excellent roads with all parts of tho
oounty, and a line of telegraph also connects it with Campbeltown,
Inveraray, Oban, the Islands of Mull and Islay, &c, and Glasgow.
On the Kilmory side is a quay for the accommodation of tho small
â– craft engaged in the herring fishery and coal vessels.
Besides the parliamentary church, which was built at the head of
Argyll street, in 1827-8, there is a Baptist chapel in the same street,
a Reformed Presbyterian church, now Martyrs' Free church, in
Union street, a Free church in Loshncll street, and there was
erected in 1852, on the north side of the town, a handsome Scotch
Episcopal cathedral church; tho latter is a neat building in the
decorated Gothic style of architecture, and consists of a nave and
â– chancel; tho windows of the chancel are of stained glass, with a
.figure of our Saviour and the arms of Argyll and the Isles. There
is also a residence for the Bishop of Argyll and the Islos. There
Are also Board schools here. The site commands an extensive view
â– of Loch Fyne to Arran and the varied and beautiful scenery around.
A commodious court-house and a gaol have been built. The Argyll
.and Bute District Asylnm, winch has been considerably enlarged,
And is now capable of containing 31)^ persons, is situated on the hill
overlooking the town, and a combination poor-houso has also been
erected there. The Criuan canal passes a few hundred yards to the
west of the town, and separates it from Auchendarroch, the
residence of Alexander Campbell, Esq., on whose property the
greater part of the town is built. A mile to the south-east
is Kilmory House, the seat of Sir John Powlett Orde, Bart;
the house, surrounded with its well-wooded grounds, forms a
eoBSpicuous and interesting feature in the landscape from all parts
of the loch, especially from Ardrishaig, which is nearly opposite.
Ten miles north-west is Dnntroou Castle, the property of John
Malcolm, Esq. of Poltallooh, who possesses extensive demesnes in
this part of the country, and on whose estate above two thousand
acres of soft peat moss, at the head of Loch Crinan, have been con-
verted into excellent corn and grazing land ; the farm is appro-
priately called " Experiment." Calton Mor, the elegant residence of
.this gentleman, erected at a cost of about £20,000, overlooks the
fertile plain which has been hus reclaimed. Fairs are held on the
third Thursday in March for horses, on the second Wednesday
after the last Wednesday in May, and tho second Wednesday after
the last Wednesday in October for black cattle, and on the "second
Thursday after the fourth Thursday in November for horses. Popu-
lation in 1881, 1,489.
Ardrishaig is two miles south, its inhabitants being chiefly en-
gaged in fishing and curing herrings, and in the transit trade which
connects the Western Highlands with Glasgow and the other ports
on the Clyde. This place may be said to he the port of Lochgilp-
head, with which it is now nearly joined. In addition to a protec-
tive pier of 400 yards in length, with a small lighthouse at its ex-
tremity, a commodious low water pier and slip within the harbour,
with a depth of seven feet, were erected in 1837 by the Government
commissioners of tho Crinan canal. This canal extends from Ard-
rishaig to Criuan, a distance of ten miles, and affords the means of
obviating a boisterous passage of forty leagues round the Mull of
Cantire. Steam packets pass through tho canal on their way from
Glasgow to all parts of the western coast, and by the Caledonian
canal to Inverness. Here is an Established church, also a Free
church, and an Episcopal and Board school. The Ardrishaig Hotel
is tho principal one in the neighbourhood. Many excellent sites aro
along the coast ; several have already been bnilt on, and sumo villas
are let furnished as summer quarters, the increased communicatiou
with the south malting it a favourite coast residence. Population
in 1881, 1,224.
B^llanach is a small village, about five miles w. of Lochgilp-
head, situated in a glen on the southern bank of the Crinan canal,
which here forms a fine triangular sheet of water, and terminates
at Crinan, about a mile further west. The village contains a sub-
post office and a Board school.
Kilmartin, a Bmall village eight miles north of Lochgilphead,
contains a comfortable inn, a Board school, a parish church and a
Free church. About two miles to the east is the mansion of Calton
Mor, the residence of John Malcolm, Esq., of Poltalloch ; about a
quarter of a mile more distant, standing on a prominent rock
facing Loch Criuan, is Duntioon Castle, and within four miles of
the last named are the beautiful ruins of Carnazarie Castle, for-
merly the residence of the bishops of Argyll. Eleven miles west of
Kilmartin, by a circuitous road, is Craignish Castle, the residence
of Charles F. T. Gascoygne, Esq., of Craignish. At Barbreck is
the handsome mansion and demesne of Vice-Admiral Colin Yorke
Campbell. Fairs are held at Kilmartin on the first Thursday in
March, for horses, and the fourth Thursday in November, for horses
and hiring servants. A prize show, in connection with the Poltal-
loch Farming Society, is held here for cattle, sheep and horses, in
September.
Kilhichael-Gl assart, at one time a burgh of considerable
repute, now ;a small hamlet, is a parish situated about midway
between Lochgilphead and Kilmartin, The parish church and
manso of Glassary are here. A Board school, a market stance, and
a good inn are at Bridgend, on the river Add, half a mile west of
Kilmichael. Between Kilmichael and Kilmartin there are numerous
Druidical remains. Two large and much frequented fairs are held
here annually, at which from seven to eight thousand head of black
cattle are generally exposed for sale— namely, on the last Wednes-
day in May, which is also for horses and sheep, and the last Tuesday
before the last Wednesday in October— at both of which fairs the
hiring of servants takes place. Population of the parish in 1881,
4,348.
POST OFFICE, Union Street, Lochgilphead, Mary Miller, Post Mistress,— Letters arrive from Edinburgh, Glasgow, England, and
â– all {parts at 9 30 a.m. (by Mail Cart via Inveraray), and from Greenock, Campbeltown, England, and all parts at 2 30 p.m. (per steamer via
<Greeaock), from Kilmartin, Ford, Kilmelforfc, Ardfem, Kilmichael, &c. at 11 45 a.m., and from Crinan, Tayvallich, Bellanach, Cairnbaan
Ac. at 11 20 a.m., and are despatched to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inveraray at 6 10 p.m. ; to Campbeltown, Tarbert, &c. at 7 10 a.m. ;
ito Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, England, Ireland, and all parts at 12 noon ; to Kilmartin, Kilmichael, Kilmelfort, &c. at 1 50 p.m. ;
to Crinan, Tayvallich, Bellanach, Cairnbaan, &c. at 2 p.m. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Ardrishaig, Ann H. Scott, Post Mistress.— Letters arrive from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and all parts (by Mail Cart) at
9 50 a.m., and (by Steamer) at 1 p.m., and are despatched at 12 20 noon, and 5 50 p.m. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings
Bank,
Post Offdje, Bellanach, Catherine Brodie, Post Mistress.-
Order Office and Savings Bank.
-Letters arrive, at 3 p.m., and are despatched at 10 20 a.m. Money
Post Office, Ford, Peter M'Killop, Post Master.— Letters arrive at 4 30 p.m., and are despatched at 9 a.m. Telegraph Office,
The nearest Money Order Office is at Kilmartin.
Post Office, Ardfern, Archibald Johnson, Post Master.-
Money Order Office is at Kilmartin.
-Letters arrive at 5 20 p.m., and are despatched at 8 i
a.m. The nearest
â– Money
Post Office, Kilmartin, Catherine M'Caakill, Post Mistress.— Letters arrive atS 10 p.m., and are despatched at 10 25 a.m
and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office, Kilmichael, Neil M'Lachlan, Post Mas ier.— Letters arrive at 2 25 p.m., and are despatched at 11 10 a.m.
Post Office, Cairnbaan, Neil Smith, Post Master.— Letters arrive at 2 30 p.m., and are despatched at 10 50 a.m. The neareBt
Money Order Office is at Lochgilphead.
Post Office, Crinan Pier, Catherine Morrison, Post Mistress.— Letters arrive at 3 60 'p.m., and are despatched at 9 a.m
Telegraph Office. The nearest Money Order Office is at Lochgilphead.
Post Office, Tayvallich, Colin Campbell, Post Master.— 'Letters arrive at 4 20 p.m., and are despatched at 8 55 a.m. The nearest
Money Order Office is at Lochgilphead.
Post Office, Keills, Catherine M'Nab, Post Mistress.— Letters arrive at 6 10 p.m., and are despatched at 6 40 p.m. The nearest
Money Order Office is at Kilmartin.
Post Office, Kilmelfort, J, May, Post Master,— Letters arrive at 2 25 p.m., and are despatched at 8 a.m.— Money Order Office
ond Savings Bank,
11^— a-r
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