Oban, Argyll and Bute One Place Study
Location: Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies Scotland
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Oban One Place Study
Name
Oban; Scottish Gaelic: An t-Òban (which means The Little Bay)
Geography
- Continent: Europe
- Sovereign State: United Kingdom
- Country: Scotland
- Lieutenancy: Argyll and Bute
- GPS Coordinates: 56.412, -5.472
- Elevation: 8.0 m or 26.2 feet, rising to approximately 100 m or 330 feet
- Area: Approximately 2 square miles
Overview
Known as 'The Gateway to the Isles' the picturesque tourist town of Oban is nestled in the horseshoe shaped Bay of Oban, on the 'Sound of Kerrera'.
Geology
Oban comprising mainly of flat and semi-flat terrain of red sandstone, rises up to about 300 feet elevation.
Population
8,140 (mid-2020 est.)
Government
Argyll and Bute Council
Argyll and Bute is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and is headquartered at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate.
History
Oban has been around since the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, as well as the Iron and Bronze Age's.
The town of Oban started out as a typical fisherman's village and today it has the distinction of being called the 'Seafood Capital of Scotland'. it attained a royal charter and became a burgh of barony in 1811. The town was made further a Parliamentary Burgh in 1833.
During World II Oban was a hub of marine and aviation activity. Royal navy ships as well as Merchant vessels made a base here in the 'Battle of the Atlantic'.
The first Transatlantic Telephone Cable (TAT-1) came ashore (1956) at Gallanach Bay which carried lines of communication between the U.S. and USSR.
Oban has two 'sister cities' those being Laurinburg, North Carolina, USA, and Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland.
Oban Landmarks
Congregational Church c.1880
Location: 17 Tweedale Street and Argyll Street
The oldest church in Oban but has been rebuilt over the years.
Dunollie Castle c.1100's (aka Dounoldy’ on Blaeu’s map of Lorn); Castle Ruins
Location: Ganavan Road at Dunollie Point
Sitting on a strategic location overlooking the entrance to Oban Bay, this site has been occupied since the Bronze Age, giving some indication of the importance of the area.
Dunollie was inhabited over 8000 years ago, and the castle itself was once the base of the early medieval Dalriadic Kingdom of Lorn.
In addition to exploring the castle ruins, the 1745 House nearby is a museum which houses a collection of artifacts and displays relating to the MacDougall clan.
Glencruitten House c.1897
Location: 1.3 Miles from town center.
Thirteen bedroom Scottish-style castle, or Scots Baronial house built for James Gemmel Boutein on 17 acres of view property just 1.3 miles from Oban. The architect was Robert Lorimer.
Woodwork and paneling believed to be by Clow Bros, with stained glass windows by Louis Davis.
Note: This is a private residence. DO NOT DISTURB.
McCaig's Folly c.1897 (aka 'The Tower') (aka 'Stuart McCaig Tower')
Location: Battery Hill, Duncraggan Road, Oban
This circular venue sits at an elevation of 76 meters (250 feet) above the town and was built of Bonawe granite from Bonawe quarry on Loch Etive.
It has a circumference of some 200 metres (656 feet), and was designed by John McCaig himself who was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome. Its walls were erected first and the plan was to house a museum and art gallery inside but McCaig died suddenly and the work was never completed. He was 72 when the project started. Today the interior is a splendid garden for all to enjoy with terrific views of the bay and neighboring isles.
Oban Distillery c.1794
Location: Stafford Street just off George Street
Now owned by Diageo, It has only two pot stills, making it one of the smallest in Scotland, producing a whisky that has been described as having a "West Highland" flavour that falls between the dry, smoky style of the Scottish islands and the lighter, sweeter malts of the Highlands.
Open for tours and tastings.
The Oban Inn c.1790
Location: George Street across from the Columba Hotel
Food and drink establishment served the maritime sailors of old, and is still serving today but for the tourist crowd.
Oban Lighthouse (aka Dunollie Lighthouse) c.1892
Location: Ganavan Road just North of the Oban War Memorial
Perhaps the smallest lighthouse ever built but it's cute non the less. It was designed and built by Charles and David A. Stevenson as a guiding light to ships entering Oban Bay from the Firth of Lorn. It sits on a rock base and topped with a gallery and lantern. It is still a functioning light today.
Oban’s War and Peace Museum c.1995
Location: Corran Esplanade at John Street on the ground floor of the Oban Times Building near the North Pier.
A fine local museum which reflects the history of Oban as well as the military personnel that service Scotland in numerous conflicts.
Oban War Cenotaph/Memorial c.1923 (WW I, and added to after WW II, and the Falklands Conflict.
Location: Corran Esplanade at Garavan Road
Created by: Alexander Carric
A tribute to the fallen local WW1 (1914-1918) (173 names), WW2 (1939-1945) (72 names) , and the Falklands Conflict (1982) (1 name) Air, Sea, and Ground service members from Oban who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Bronze plaques are attached to a granite cairn topped with a stone statue showing two Highlanders carrying a wounded friend.
St. Columba'a Cathedral, c.1932-1958
Location: Corran Esplanade, Oban
In 1886 the church was referred to as the "tin cathedral". This was a surprisingly elaborate prefabricated corrugated iron building constructed as a temporary pro-cathedral using funds provided by the 3rd Marquess of Bute.
In 1878 the Catholic Church appointed its first Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Bishop MacDonald.
While it took 26 years to actually get a completed church, today's more modern structure is the principle church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. This Neo-Gothic Revival style was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and made of pink granite transported from Aberdeenshire.
St. John's Cathedral c.1863
Location: George Street ant William Street
Original Architects were Charles Wilson & David Thomson (1862-1863); Enlarged by Architects Thomson & Trunbull (1882).
Part of the Scottish Episcopal Church it is one of the two cathedrals of the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles, and one of the sees of the Bishop of Argyll and The Isles.
The MacDougalls of Dunollie and Campbells of Dunstaffnage began the project to build this church.
Notable People
Andrew Aldcorn (1792-1877) Australian medical practitioner and politician
Born: Oban, Argyll, Scotland
Died: Bell's Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Bio Summary: Andrew had a thriving medical practice in Oban
Member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland but in 1843 joined the breakaway group who formed the new Free Church.
Emigrated to Australia in 1853 where he established a successful medical practice in the Shoalhaven district from around 1854.
He served as a nominated member of the Victorian Legislative Council from August to November 1853. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term between 1858 and 1859.
Parents: John Aldcorn (XXXX-XXXX) and Margaret Marshall (XXXX-XXXX)
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Children: Unknown
Marie Pauline Rose Stuart (or Stewart) (aka) Baroness Rose Blaze de Bury (aka) Marie Pauline Rose Blaze de Bury (1813-1894) Scottish Writer, Salonniere, Jouranist, Novelist
Born: Oban, Argyll, Scotland (Thought to be illegitimate child of a British aristocrat)
Died: Paris, France
Bio Summary: Moved to Paris France and educated there, and became fluent in French, English, and German.
Her writings were under her nom-de-plume of Hamilton Murray, F. Dickberry, Maurice Flassan, and/or Arthur Dudley.
Writings included: Mildred Vernon (1849), Memories of the Princess Palantine (1853), Voyage en Autriche en Hongrie pendant les evenements de 1848-1849 (1851), All for Greed (1878), Germania (1851), Love the Avenger (1869). She wrote 312 works in all.
Parents: William Stuart (Stewart) (XXXX-XXXX) and Unknown Woman
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Henri Blaze de Bury (1813-1888) ; Married 1844
Children: Anne Emilie Rose Yetta Blaze de Bury (XXXX-XXXX), One other (Name Unknown)
Alexander Gordon Cameron (1876-1944) British trade unionist and Labour Party politician
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: London, England
Bio Summary: Starting out as a joiner in Glasgow he eventually moved to London.
1912 - Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. (Union Shipping Delegate)
1914 - Labour Party (Executive)
1915 - Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Assistant General Secretary)
1917 - Coalition Government (elected to be one of the Scottish members of the Commission on Industrial Unrest.
1919 - Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (General Secretary)
1920 - Labour Party (Chairman)
1921 - Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (First General Secretary)
1929 - MP for Widnes, Lancashire, England
Parents: Donald Cameron (XXXX-XXXX) and Name Unknown
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Children: Unknown
Charles MacAlester Copland (1910-2009) Anglican priest.
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: Whitehills Hospital, Forfar, Angus, Scotland
Bio Summary: Educated at Denstone College, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and Ripon College Cuddesdon
1934 - Ordained
1959 - Provost of St John's Cathedral, Oban
He died four months short of his hundredth year and was the oldest priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. He had Canonries in three dioceses: at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nagpur; St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee; and St John’s Cathedral, Oban
He was an amateur wine maker which he made from a variety of flower and vegetable sources. Some of the vintages were said to be 100 per cent proof.
Parents: Canon Alexander Copland (1868-1941) and Violet Somerville Wilhemina McAlester (1872-1961)
Siblings: Violet Williamena Harriet Copland (1904-1994), Mary Barbara Copland (1906-XXXX), Janet Alexandra Copland (1908-XXXX)
Spouse: Gwendoline Lorimer Williamson (aka Wendy) (1910-2001) Married 1945
Children: Francis Copland (XXXX-XXXX), Jane Copland (XXXX-XXXX)
Frederick John Cokayne Frith (1858-1879) Scottish Lieutenant, British Army, 17th Lancers Cavalry Regiment
Born: Oban, Scotland; But went to live in Rugby, Warwickshire, England at an early age.
Died: Zungeni Mountain, KwaZulu-Natal, Zuzuland, South Africa;
Resting Place: Buried in a corn field at Fort Newdigate, Zuzuland, South Africa.
Bio Summary: He served as adjutant to Colonel Drury Drury-Lowe of the 17th Lancers Cavalry Regiment during the Anglo-Zulu War.
Educated at Haileybury College, and Royal Military College, Sandhurst
He was shot in the heart during the Zungeni Mountain Skirmish. Ironically the fatal bullet came from a British made Martini-Henry rifle which was captured by the Zulus from British troops in an earlier engagement.
A memorial was established for him (Reference WMO/219189) Buckland Church, St. Andrews Church, Crabbie Meadows, Dover, England
Parents: Major Cokayne-Frith (1819-1900) and Amelia Margaret Macdonald (1826-1907)
Siblings: Colin Cokayne Frith (1856-1898), Lt.-Col. Reginald Cokayne Frith (1863-1900)
Spouse: Not Married
Children: None
For more information see WikiTree Profile Frith-878
Kenneth Norman MacKenzie (1897-1951) Merchant Marine Officer, Polar Explorer
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: London, England
Bio Summary: At age seven his parents divorced and his mother took her young family to live in Tiree, Scotland where the children were educated.
When World War I broke out Kenneth enlisted at age 16 in the Army. He did not see action until age 18 when he was assigned to the 2/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders until captured and tortured. He was honorably discharged.
He then joined the Merchant Navy as a radio operator and eventually became Chief Radio Operator. He changed shipping lines several times and finally was employed on the ship 'Discovery' as 1st Offcer on its first voyage of Antarctic research and exploration called the 'BANZARE' expedition (British, Australian & New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition). Having completed this voyage the ship sailed to Melbourne Australia where Kenneth was promoted to Captain.
On the second 'BANZARE' Antartic voyage (1930-1931) the crew discovered several new areas as well as a sea that was named 'MacKenzie's Sea' (near the Amery Ice Shelf) after the Captain. The ship was then returned to London. Subsequently MacKenzie was awarded the 'Polar Medal', inscribed 'Antarctica 1929–1931', by King George V at Buckingham Palace, London.
He then became Master of the new research ship 'Mabahiss and was to conduct voyages of oceanographic research of the north western Indian Ocean between 1933-1934.
Parents: Duncan MacKenzie (XXXX-XXXX) and Catherine MacFarlane (XXXX-XXXX) Married 1892; Divorced 1904
Siblings: Wiiliam MacKenzie (1893-1915), Hamish MacKenzie (1895-1949), Douglas MacKenzie (1903-1969).
Spouse: Lillian Irene Litchfield (XXXX-XXXX)
Children: Sanna Aline MacKenzie (1935-XXXX), Kenneth Malcolm MacKenzie (1938-XXXX), Moyra Lorne MacKenzie (1942-XXXX)
For more information see WikiTree Profile MacKenzie-6343
Jessie Niven MacLachlan (1866-1916) Scottish Gaelic soprano.
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: Glasgow, Scotland
Resting Place: Cathcart Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland
Bio Summary: The Queen of Gaelic song, she performed and recorded music for worldwide audiences.
1892 - Performed for Queen Victoria, at Balmoral Castle
1899 - First commercial gramophone recording of a Gaelic song
1900 - Queen's Hall, London, England
1901 - North America Tour
1902 - Scottish Concert of the London Inverness-shire Association
1905 - Burns Monument Fund benefit concert in Boston
1905 and 1907 - New Zealand Concert
1914 - Amsterdam Opera House in New York
Parents: Alexander MacLachlan (XXXX-XXXX) and Margaret Campbell Niven (1846-XXXX)
Siblings: Jessie MacLachlan (1867-XXXX), Margaret Maclachlan (1870-XXXX)
Spouse: Robert Buchanan (XXXX-XXXX) Married 1887
Children: One son, Name Unknown
John Stuart McCaig (1823-1902) Banker, Art Critic, Philosophical Essayist
Born: Clachan, Isle of Lismore, Scotland
Died: Oban, Scotland
Resting Place: Pennymuir Cemetery, Oban, Scotland
Bio Summary: John was a successful local banker with the North of Scotland Bank who wanted to provide work for local stonemasons during the Winter months, as well as a monument to his own family so he named it McCaigs Folly (see landmarks heading above).
Parents: Malcolm McCaig (XXXX-XXXX) and Margaret Stewart (1796-1865); Married 1821
Siblings: Duncan McCaig (1822-1902), Dugald McCaig (1824-1885), Donald McCaig (1825-1886), Jane McCaig (1827-1876), Catherine McCaig (1829-1913), Peggy McCaig (1830-1887), Ann McCaig (1832-1902), Peter McCaig (1833-XXXX) (Died in Infancy).
Spouse: Not Married
Children: None
For more information see WikiTree Profile McCaig-284
Allan McLean (1840-1911) Australian politician
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: Albert Park, Victoria, Australia
Bio Summary: At two years old his family emigrated to Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
1880 -1901 Victoria Legislative Assembly
1899 - 1900 Premier and Chief Secretary of Victoria
1901 - 1906 Member of Australian House of representatives
1904 - Deputy Prime Minister for Trade and Customs
Parents: Charles McLean (XXXX-XXXX) Mother Unnamed
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse Number 1: Margaret Bridget Shinnock (1847-1884) Married 1886
Children: William Joseph McLean (XXXX-1938) 4 other sons, 2 daughters
Spouse Number 2: Emily MacArthur Linton (XXXX-XXXX)
David Dick Petrie (1946-2011) Scottish Conservative Party Politician
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland
Bio Summary: Educated at the University of Edinburgh (BS in Civil Engineering) he worked as such for Scottish Water Corp. before becoming a member of Scottish Parliament 2006-2007 representing the Highlands and Islands. After leaving the Scottish Parliament, David taught as a part-time mathematics teacher at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh.
Parents: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Grace Ann Munro (1945-XXXX) Married 1974
Children: Gillian Louise Petrie (1979-XXXX)
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian
Born: Edinburgh Old Town, Scotland
Died: Abbott House, Melrose, Scotland
Resting Place: Dryburgh Abbey, Dryburgh, St Boswells, Melrose, Scotland
Bio Summary: Sir Walter was not born nor lived in Oban but he visited Oban in 1814, the same year he published his poem ' The Lord of The Isles'. It is set in the early 1300's with the main focus character being Robert The Bruce.
Scott was educated firstly by his Aunt Jenny, then later he attended the Royal High School of Edinburgh, then the University of Edinburgh.
Parents: Walter Scott (1729-1799) and Ann Rutherford (1733-1819)
Siblings: Thomas Scott (1773-1823), Six others (Names Unknown) died in infancy.
Spouse: Marguerite Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier 1770-1826); Married 1797
Children: Charlotte Sophia Scott (1799-1837), Walter Scott 1803-1873), anf three others (Names Unknown)
For more information see WikiTree Profile Scott-3476
Frances Ruth Roche Spencer (aka Frances Shand Kydd) (1936-2004)
Born: Sandringham, Norfolk, England
Died: Isle of Seil, Scotland
Resting Place: Pennyfuir Cemetery, Oban
Bio Summary: While Francis was neither born nor lived in Oban, she was buried there. She lived a life of status by marrying John Spencer which ended after thirteen years. Her claim to fame is that she was the mother of Princess Diana who married Prince Charles of England.
After her first marriage she married Australian Peter Shand Kydd and they lived just North of Oban on the Isle of Seil. Peter left her for another woman in 1988. She was thrust into the spotlight by her connection to Diana but they were not on speaking terms at the time of Diana's death.
Later in life she became a Catholic and worked various charities for the church.
Parents: Edmund Maurice Burke Roche (1885-1955 ) 4th Baron of Fermoy, and Ruth Sylvia Gill (1908-1993)
Siblings: Mary Roche (1936-Still Living), Edmund Roche (1939-1984)
Spouse Number 1: Edward John Spencer (1924-1992) Viscount Althorp, 8th Earl of Spencer, Married 1954, Divorced 1967
Children: Sarah Spencer (1955-Still Living), Jane Spencer (1957-Still Living), John Spencer (1960-1960) (Only lived 10 hours), Diana Frances Spencer (1961-1997) (aka Princess Diana), Charles Spencer (1964-Still Living)
Spouse Number 2: Peter Shand Kydd (1925-2006) Married 1969, Divorced 1988
Children: None
For more information see WikiTree Profile Roche-27
Colonel Sir Edward Willis Duncan Ward, 1st Baronet CB GBE KCB KCVO (1853-1928)
Born: Oban, Scotland
Died: Paris, France
Resting Place: Brompton Cemetery, London, England
Bio Summary: Distinguished British Army officer and military administrator, serving as Permanent Secretary of the War Office prior to retirement.
1873 - Sub-Lieutenant in the 2nd Royal Lanarkshire Militia
1874 - 2nd West India Regiment
1874 - Sub-Assistant Commissary the Control Department
1875-1876 - Assistant Commissary of the Commissariat and Transport Department
1880 - Deputy Assistant Commissary-General of the
1885 - Captain of the Commissariat and Transport Staff
1885 - Assistant Commissary-General and Major
1886 - Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
1890 - Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Service Corp
1895 - Ashanti Expedition in West Africa
1898 - Brevet Colonel
1900 - Director of Supplies to the South African Field Force
1900 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
1901 - Permanent Under-secretary at the War Office
1907 - Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order KCVO)
1915 - Baronetage as the 1st Baronet of Wilbraham Place
1919 - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Parents: Lieutenant John Ward, Royal Navy (XXXX-XXXX) and Mary Hope Bowie ((XXXX-1890)
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Florence Caroline Simons (1858–1934) Married 1880, Camberwell, Surrey, England
Children: Captain Edward Simons Ward (1882–1930), Melvill Willis Ward (1885–1973)
For more information see WikiTree Profile Ward-31919'
Industry
Tourism, Distillery
Sources
- ↑ Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org
- ↑ Goggle Maps (Visual Street References); https://www.google.com/maps"
- ↑ The Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland; http//www.rias.org.uk
- ↑ Undiscovered Scotland; https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk
- ↑ Scottish Field; https://www.scottishfield.co.uk
- ↑ Imagine Alba; https://www.imaginealba.com
- ↑ Oban Distillery; https://www.obanwhisky.com/whiskies/distillers
- ↑ The Oban Inn; https://obaninn.co.uk
- ↑ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom: Argyll and Bute, Scotland; https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/sctw.htm
- ↑ Echos of the Past; https://blosslynspage.wordpress.com/2017/08/03/dunollie-lighthouse-oban-scotland/
- ↑ War and Peace Museum; https://www.obanmuseum.org.uk/
- ↑ Undiscovered Scotland; Undiscovered Scotland https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/oban/warandpeacemuseum/index.html
- ↑ War Memorials Register; https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5983
- ↑ Scotland's Churches Trust; https://scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/st-columbas-cathedral-oban/
- ↑ St. John's Cathedral; https://www.stjohnsoban.org.uk/
- ↑ WikiMIli; https://wikimili.com/en/Andrew_Aldcorn
- ↑ Library Thing; https://www.librarything.com/author/burymarieblazede
- ↑ Family Search; Alexander Gordon Cameron - https://www.familysearch.org
- ↑ Church Times - Charles McAlester Copland; https://www.churchtimes.co.uk
- ↑ Ancestry - CharlesMcAlester Copland Family; https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records
- ↑ Obituary ; Charles M. Copland; Church Times, a publication of the Scottish Episcopal Church, issue 7661 (15 January, 2010).
- ↑ Geni; https://www.geni.com/people/Lt-Frederick-Frith
- ↑ All About Heaven; https://allaboutheaven.org/sources/mackenzie-kenneth
- ↑ Family Search (Death Certificate of Kenneth MacKenzie); https://www.familysearch.org
- ↑ Ancestry - Mother of jessie MacLachlan; https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/margaret-niven
- ↑ Rare Tunes (Notice of 1900 Concert; https://raretunes.org/jessie-niven-maclachlan
- ↑ John Stuart McCaig's Family, Legal Issues, and Will; https://scotslaw.fandom.com/wiki/McCaig's_Tower"
- ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography; https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mclean-allan-7413
- ↑ Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Petrie
- ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Scott
- ↑ The Famous People; https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/frances-shand-kydd-10992.php
- ↑ Royal Central; https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/who-was-frances-shand-kydd-mother-to-diana-princess-of-wales-150282/
- ↑ Fandom; https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Sir_Edward_Ward,_1st_Baronet,_of_Wilbraham_Place
- ↑ WikiMill; https://wikimili.com/en/Sir_Edward_Ward%2C_1st_Baronet%2C_of_Wilbraham_Place
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