Argyll Books

The Argyll Book Argyll, Dalriada or Earra-ghaidheal, 'the Coastland' or 'Boundary of the Gael', is one of the most beautiful and historically significant parts of Scotland. Before the local government reorganization of 1975, Argyll was also one of Scotland's biggest counties. Bounded by Inverness-shire to the north and stretching as far south as the Mull of Kintyre, it had a coastline measuring a staggering 2220 miles and took in ninety islands, including Mull, Iona Tiree, Lismore, Jura, Islay, Gigha and Colonsay. The story of Argyll is a staggering roll of great names, deeds and institutions, of places such as Dunadd, Iona and Islay, which played key roles in the political and religious development of the nation, as well as the of a Gaelic culture whose influence stretched throughout Scotland and beyond. This book consists of over twenty chapters by recognized experts, covering a huge range of topics, from geology and prehistory to stately homes, folklore and literature, which provide a lively and informed introduction to this fascinating part of Scotland.

Lost Argyll In "Lost Argyll", Marian Pallister looks not only at the lost architectural heritage of Argyll but also at its lost industries, ferries, roads, bridges, and archaeological monuments. Poltalloch House, for example, built in the 1840s as a monument to commerce and investment, lies ruinous, its owners having stripped it of its roof to avoid paying crippling rates; Campbeltown once bristled with distilleries until a cocktail of economic factors left it with only two whilst others have been subsumed into the modern townscape; little remains of even the jetties at Loch Awe and West Loch Tarbert, two of the busiest waterways in times past. This largely rural county has seen its fair share of forts, castles and mansions rise and fall. Some were destroyed in battle; others simply lost the financial battle to remain standing in the face of increasing taxation. Vernacular architecture has also disappeared: the houses of the fishermen and those in agricultural settlements crumbled in the wake of depredations, clearances, afforestation and government demands on landlords to house tenants in fitting conditions.

Argyll Curiosities The great travellers of the 17th century - Martin, Penant, Johnson et al - used the word 'curiosity' to mean many different things. They labelled as 'curiosities' people, plants, legends, historical facts and geological certainties. This book follows their example in a 21st century journey around Argyll and its islands. It is difficult to find an area of Argyll which is not curious in some way: archaeology, geography, geology and genealogy have all served to mark out this western fringe of Scotland as unique. Discarding those curiosities which it is all too easy to find on any journey through the county, Marian Pallister has looked extensively into places, people and events which are curiously layered, and has created a book that is overflowing with enchanting 'curiosities' and local histories.

The Archaeology of Argyll From Neolithic monuments to the high-status of Dunadd, the region of Argyll has a rich and varied archaeological history. In this, the first account of Argyll's archaeology written for a general audience, a team of specialists traces the history of the area through its monuments. The scene is set in environmental terms for the arrival of people first as hunters and foragers, and later as farmers. Mesolithic Argyll, the Neolithic period, Bronze Age rituals and the impact of the Scots are examined with descriptions of relevant monuments and recent finds. The book ends with a detailed look at early Christian activity and the arrival of the Norse in Argyll. Fully illustrated with a complementary range of photographs and drawings and written with the non-specialist in mind, this is a much-needed guide to a remarkable area.

Kintyre Pevensy Guide The essential guide for the discerning tourist and island devotee, "Kintyre" describes everything the visitor needs to know about the islands' heritage, landscape, climate, flora and fauna. It contains fascinating information about all the key places of interest, from the tiny town of Campbletown, to the stunning castles and ruins steeped in history. It is illustrated with over 100 superb colour photographs showing every aspect of the island and its people. First sentence: Approaching Kintyre from the north, the main road from Glasgow heads south at Lochgilphead, running through Ardrishaig at the southern end of the Crinan Canal, then twisting round the eastern shores of Knapdale, past the former Campbell home at Stonefield, now an exclusive hotel, until suddenly reaching the little village of Tarbert, which guards the narrow isthmus and keeps the peninsula of Kintyre from being a true island.

The Distilleries of Campbeltown: The Rise and Fall of the Whisky Capital of the World Campbeltown was once the whisky capital of the world with 29 distilleries operating simultaneously in 1835. How had this remote fishing port and royal burgh become the epicentre of Scotland's greatest export? David Stirk reveals all in this engaging and well illustrated insight into the people who were the movers and shakers behind this huge industry. The origins lie in illicit distilling which was prevalent all over Kintyre in the late 18th century. Many women were involved in this business which made many ordinary folk very wealthy and out of these origins, the legal trade was established in 1817 with Campbeltown Distillery being the first of many. Over the course of the next two decades every street and corner in the burgh had a distillery or brewery built on it. The names were redolent of Kintyre history and placenames: Kinloch, Caledonian, Dalaruan, Lochhead, Longrow, Meadowburn, Burnside, Kintyre, Rieclachan, Union, Argyll, Glenramskill, Highland, Springbank and Albyn, to name only some. It is no idle boast that Campbeltown was the Victorian whisky capital of the world and just as great schemes rise, so do they fall. Ultimately the town's prosperity waned with the Great War, the depression, prohibition in the USA and the failure of local coal seams. Now only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glen Gyle remain in production, solitary reminders of the once great whisky days of this Royal Burgh.