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
BUTESHIRE
ROTHESAY,
KAMESBURGH (OR PORT BANNATYNE), ASCOG, KILCHATTAN, KINGARTH, KERRYUROY AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
ROTHESAY is a royal burgh, a town of groat antiquity, and the
capital of its pirish, 06 miles w. from Edinburgh (by Mid-
Calder), 40 s.w. from Glasgow, 18 from Greenock, 22 from Lamlash,
in the Isle of Arran, 12 from Cumbray, and 9 from Largs ; rinely,
situated at the head of a bay, called Rothesay, on the east side of
the island of Bute, of which it is the capital, as well as of the shire.
The origin of Hothesay was its castle, whose ruins yet exist, aud
the following are considered as some of the most remarkable par-
ticulars respecting it. The first mention of it in history is in 1228,
when it was beseiged by Husbac, the Norwegian, in conjunction
with Olave, King of Man, and taken after a stout resistance. Having
been recovered from the northern iuvaders.it was again taken by
them about the year 1253, and retaken by the Scots shortly after the
battle of Largs. It was seized by the English during the reign of
John Baliol, but in 1311 it surrendered to Robert Bruce. In 1331,
Edward Baliol retook the castle, and fortified it; it soon afterwards,
however, submitted to Bruce, the steward of Scotland. King
Robert II. visited this castle in 1376, in 1331, and in 1392,
aud subsequently created bis eldest sou, Prince David, Duke of
Rothesay, which has ever sinco been the principal Scottish title of
the heir apparent. Additional facts are given in Mr. W. A. Wilson's
admirable " Guide to Rothesay," to which we refer our readers.
The herring fishery, which has long been active here, caused a
great revival in Rothesay, and stimulated the restoratiou of decayed
buildings, and the erection of new ones ; fish curing ia still carried
on, but not to the same extent as formerly. There are two mills or
factories, where cotton spinning and the manufacture of muslin is
curried on. Three branch banks and one for savings, and several
comfortable hotels are in the town. The Bute Hotel, at the head of
the pier, the Queen's Hotel, in Argyle street, and the Victoria, in
Victoria street, being the principal; they are all conducted in a
manDer satisfactory to their numerous visitants. The lodging
bouses are very numerous, and upon every scale. Three news-
papers are published here, - the Butcsman, the Rothesay Chronicle, and
the Visitors' List, the latter being issued during the season only.
About a mile to the east of the town was a salutary mineral spring,
now closed ; near this is tilenburn House Hydropathic Establish-
ment. The bay is very spacious, and the anchorage ground
excellent. A pier, erected in 1882, has since been enlarged, and the
harbour much improved and deepened, at a very considerable
expense. The Norman Stewart Institute was opened on 4th July,
1885, by Provost Sharp. The Working Men's Club, Bute "Women's
Temperance Prayer Union, Rothesay Young Women's Christian
Association, ami othcrsimilar organizations have the most sumptu-
ous accommodation provided for them in this noble institute, which
has been erected iu Montague street, at a cost of £10,000, partly by
fuuds bequeathed by the late Mr. Norman Stewart of Richmond,
Virginia, but mainly by his nephews, Messrs. John, Daniel, and
Bryce Stewart of America, natives of Rothesay. There is a large
and handsome refreshment room on the ground fli>or, and on the
other floors there are amply supplied reading and waiting rooms,
billiard room, and recreation and smoking rooms.
The site of a battery which was erected early in the present cen-
tury, when Napoleon threatened to invade Britain, on a point ad-
joining Mount Stuart road, on the shore of the easi bay, is now
occupied by the Rothesay Royal Aquarium. In front of the east pier,
an elegant fountain has been erected, a3 a memorial of the late
Prince Consort, and another neat fountain is erected in Guildford
square. The Town Hall and County Buildings were rebuilt at an ex-
pense of upwards of £9,000, raised by assessments on the county and
burgh, and by subscriptions ; they form a handsome pile, and are
ornamented with an elegant castellated tower, containing a boll
and beautiful clock, having four transparent dials, which at night
are illuminated ; the clock was the gift of the- late Marquis of Bute.
The edifice comprises a spacious court room, in which the sheriff,
burgh, and justice of peace courts are held, and the town and
sheriff clerk's and procurator fiscal's offices, with other requisite
apartments. At the east end of the handsome court house is 'a
painting of the late Lord Bute, by Mr. Graham Gilbert. Beneath
the court room is the prison, which was enlarged in 1870,
but is now closed. The new public halls are a handsome pile of
buildings facing Prince's pier, and are used for concerts, lectures,
public meetings, &c. seating upwards of 1,350 persons. There are
several goDd schools and academies in the town, amongst the latter
is the Rothesay Academy and the Thomson Institute, which was
erected and partially endowed by the trustees of the late Duncan
Thomson, Esq. Ardbeg, Bute. It provides a course of classical
and general education, suited to the demand of the present time.
Tho building is a noble pile in the Gothic style of architecture, and
occupies a commanding sito on tho rising ground of the west bay
iu the middle of a park kindly presented by tho present Marquis of
Bute. The Academy has been transferred to the School Board of
the burgh. Rothesay was erected into a royal burgh by Robert III.,
under charter dated 12th .January, 1400; and its privileges were
confirmed and extended by James VI. iu 1584. The government of
the town is vested in a provost, three bailies, a dean of guild, the
town treasurer, and twelve councillors. The sheriff and commissary
courts are held, every Tuesday and Thursday; a justice of peaco
court for the recovery of small debts sits on tho first Monday in
every mouth. Tho quarter sessions are held on the first Tuesdays
in the mouths of March, May, and August, and the last Tuesday in
October, and all criminal cases for tho circuit court justiciary are
tried at Inverary. The list of places of worship will be found at the
end of the Directory of the town, and the educational establish-
ments at the commencement.
In the neighbourhood of this respectable town are many mansions
of the nobility and gentry. About five miles south-east is Mount
Stuart, the beautiful and romantic seat of the Marquis of Bute.
About two miles south-west, and at the end of the Chapelton road, is
Woodend, or (as it is more generally denominated) " Kean's Cottage,"
from having been built by that eminent tragedian ; the house stands
in a sweet retired spot, a tittle above the western shore of Loch Fad,
whose waters are usefully employed in propelling the machinery of
various mills. The climate *<t Bute being very salutary, from its
mildness, to those afflicted with pulmonary complaints, the faculty
recommend numerous patients to tho balmy influence of Rothesay.
Four miles to the north-east, on tho opposite shore of the bay, in
Argyleshire, is Castle Toward, a massive modern edifice, erected
by tho late Kirltman Finlay, Esq. aud now the residence of
his son ; the grounds contain the ruins of the ancient castle.
The parish of Rothesay extends over an area of 6,083 statute acres,
and in 1881 contained a population of 8,538, of which 8,291 belonged
to the burgh.
Kamgsburgh or Port Bannatyne (the latter being better known),
is situated 2^ miles north from Rothesay, ami is a fish-curing sta-
tion. This branch of industry is, however, not prosecuted exten-
sively at the present time. The port possesses a small quay, and
there are several well-furnished houses, the latter occupied prin-
cipally by the families who make this pleasant village a summer
retreat. Half a mile distant is the ancieut Castle of Karnes, tho
property of the Marquis of Bute. Nearly a mile to the west is the
new church of North Bute, erected in 1836. at an expeuse of .£1,000,
defrayed by the late Marquis of Bute; and in the village is the Free
church, erected in 1843. Population of North Bute parish iu 1881
1,218.
Ascog, about three miles s.e. from Rothesay, is situated on a
lovely bay. There are many elegant mansionsand villas here, aud
on a point of rock jutting out into the water is a neat Free church,
in the grounds of which, to the east, rest the remains of the
famous painter, Montague Stauley. At the extremo south end of
the island, above Duunagoil Bay, there stands an extensive vitrified
fort, and on the summit of a gentle eminence, called Chapel hill,
rising above Argyle street, were the remains of the ancient chapel
of St. Bride, removed when improving the hill. The Bute Farmers*
Society has done much for the agriculture and farm stock of tho
island, premiums and prizes for which are awarded at the annual
show, which is held in Rothesay, in May. A nominal weekly market
is held on Wednesday, and fairs on the first Wednesday in May,
thirl Wednesday and the following Thursday in July, the last
Wednesday in October, and Tuesday before KilbaicLan December
fair— all chiefly for cattle.
Four miles from Rothesay is Kerrycroy hamlet, pleasantly
situated on Scoulag Bay, the village forming a crescent round tho
strand. The entrance to Mount Stuart policies commences here,
and between the village aud Ascog is a Board school.
Kilchattan village, about eight miles s. of Rothesay, is beauti-
fully situated on a hay of the same name. Within a short distance
is the parish church of Kingarth, an elegant modern edifice, and
in the village are a Freo church and school. Half a mile from the
east shore are the remains of a DrUidical circle, and towards the
west shore, and also near the north-east shore of tho bay, are
several other interesting Druidical remains. In the neighbourhood
of Kilchattan is the curious promontory of Garrochhead; about a
mile to the south of this, in a quiet romantic dell, stand the remains
of the church or chapel of St. Blane, and about a mile south-west
from St. Blaoe's chapel is the vitrified fort of Dunnagoil. Tho
area of the parish of Kingarth is 8,995 statute acres, and in 1881 its
population numbered 1,260.
POST OFFICE, 21 Victoria Street, Rothesay, John Mackinlay, Post Master.— Letters from all parts arrive (Sundays excepted) at
about 11 15 a.m. and 6 p.m., and are despatched thereto at 6 30 a.m. and 2 20 and 4 20 p.m. KS" Money Order and Telegraph Office and
Savings Bank.
Post Office, Port Bannatyne, Mary M'Cumm, Post Mislr ess. —Letters arrive (from Rothesay) at 1 and 8 p.m., and are despatched
thereto at 1 25, 3 25, and 8 25 p.m.
Post Office, Asgog, John M'Callum, Post Master.— Letters arrive (from Rothesay at 1 10 p.m., and are despatched at 8 p.m.
Post Office, Kingarth, John Macfie, Post Master,— Letters arrive (from Rothesay) at 2 p.m., and are despatched at 8 a.m.
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