DOWN MEMORY LANE
A woman with strong family links to Kintyre has helped shine a spotlight on Campbeltown’s historic and iconic buildings.
Efric McNeil, a chartered accountant who was brought up and schooled in Campbeltown, wrote a piece about the area for the Architectural Society of Scotland’s autumn magazine.
She began by talking about Campbeltown’s history, from an early settlement to a former royal burgh.
Efric said: ‘The Town
House, now the Town Hall, was erected in 1758-60 to replace the old Tolbooth. During the 18th century, the English-speaking worshippers built the Castlehill Church on the site of the castle, which had been demolished at the end of the 17th century. The church was in use until 1971 when it was converted into flats.
‘The area to southwest of the church is still known today as Castleacres and has some of the earliest social housing designed by architect H E Clifford in the early part of the 20th century.
‘Elizabeth Tollemache, Duchess of Argyll, was instrumental in the proposal for the development of the quays to create a seaport in the sheltered waters of the loch.
‘The project was finally achieved in the latter half of the 18th century. The old court house and jail dates from this time, and is, sadly, on the Buildings at Risk Register.’
Efric explained that Campbeltown developed with several good tenements, including number 4 to 14 Main Street, built in 1820, where, from 1901, her family ran a bookshop for more 100 years.
‘Fishing and agriculture were the mainstays of the economic growth but the boom came with the legalisation of the whisky distilling in the early 19th century,’ she said. ‘The economic success of the town can be seen in the quality of civic buildings and residencies.
‘On the north side of the loch, several fine villas were built, including Springfield
House (1815) and A-listed Bellgrove (1810). Others include Sandbank, Springbank, Fairview, Rockbank and Rosemount.
‘On the south side stand Ailsa House, Stronvaar, North Park, South Park and East Cliff, later remodelled by H E Clifford.
‘Around 1880, the lowtide shore of the loch was reclaimed with the Kinloch Park being created, thus setting out the form of the modern town.
‘The latter part of the 19th century saw further investment; John Burnet designed the imposing Longrow Church in 1865 and Hazelbank House in 1870. His son JJ Burnet followed with The Cottage Hospital in 1894, Creagdhu Mansions in 1897, Rothmar (A-listed) and, a jewel for the town, the public library and museum in 1897. In the early 20th century, Thomas Lennox Watson designed Barochan Place and Longrow South.
‘H E Clifford, who had married the daughter of a doctor in Campbeltown, had a busy practice with many commissions for villas and commercial work. He built in a variety of styles, in keeping with the eclectic times.
‘An early commission was Craigard in 1882, Auchenlea in 1885, both with hints of Alexander “Greek” Thomson. Clifford brought arts and crafts to Campbeltown. His many domestic commissions include Bellview (1884), Knockbay (1893), Redholme, (A-listed, 1896), Redcliff (1897), Rockwood, and Norwood (1898).
‘In 1895, he designed the perfect club house, The Club, known locally as “the gentlemen’s club”, and still in operation today.’
Efric explained the development of tourism in the area, which gave the impetus for the formation of a company to build a cinema on the sea-front, designed by AV Gardiner in 1913.
She added: ‘There are over 200 listed buildings in Campbeltown, including five A-listed and around 49 B-listed buildings. Seventeen are included in the Buildings at Risk Register. They reflect the cultural heritage of the town, remarkable in the quality and variety of typologies, a microcosm of society through three centuries.
‘The town’s most valuable asset is its physical presence within an outstanding natural environment.
‘The Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme is improving the town’s built heritage. Campbeltown has a rich architectural stock, but it needs protection for future generations.’