Argyll Papers launches to worldwide audience
THE launch of the Argyll Papers on September 30 will be a rich resource for both a national and international audience.
The Argyll Papers are the family and estate archive of the Campbell family, earls and dukes of Argyll. The family rose to prominence in the 14th century and enjoyed close relations with the Scottish royal family and other noble families.
As a result, they acquired positions of power and responsibility and grants of land – the family became the major landowner in Argyll, owning the lands of Inveraray, Rosneath, Kintyre, Tiree, Mull, Iona, Morvern, Lismore and Scammadale as well as other parts of Appin, and lands and houses elsewhere, including Castle Campbell (Clackmannanshire), Stirling, Edinburgh and London.
The papers reflect family members’ political, military and business interests as well as their personal lives. The estate papers tell the story of what they owned and how they managed it, and include lots of information about the people, places and rural industries of Argyll.
The records themselves have an interesting past. They were initially kept by the earls of Argyll at Inveraray or at Carrick Castle on Loch Goil but, during the 17th century, they were removed for safety. Correspondence detailed in the Atholl Chronicles follows ‘the privat convoyance of the peapers belonging to the Late Earle of Argyll’ by Robert Campbell in Uig from Inveraray to Ardkinglas, to Uig and then to Holy Loch.
Local tradition then tells that the pre- cious documents were concealed in what is still known as the Paper Cave near the shore of Loch Eck, but in late September eight barrels or puncheons of ' wholle papers and evidents' were found in 'a mean tennant’s house' and then taken to Edinburgh by a Glasgow carrier for storage in the Exchequer House.
After the restoration of the family fortunes, the papers found their way home to Inveraray and, despite being held temporarily in highly unsuitable conditions, the collection from those years has survived. They were then stored in the attics and vaults of Inveraray Castle until, following the death of the 12th duke in 2001, the decision was made to bring the archive together in one place where it could be stored appropriately and made available to researchers.
Since 2004, a new home has been created for the archives in the Argyll Estates office at Cherry Park, a professional archivist has been appointed and the collection is being promoted, conserved, catalogued and made freely available.
The Argyll Papers are a rich resource for Scottish and British history from the 13th to the 21st centuries.
They attract visitors from all over Argyll and Bute, the UK and the world, researching a wide range of subjects, including family and local history, Gaelic studies, place names, military, political, economic and social history, agriculture and industry, architecture and so much more.
The Friends of the Argyll Papers has been established to support the development of the collection and to promote its use and enjoyment by a wide audience, and membership is open to anyone, near or far.
The Friends’ launch event will be held at Inveraray Castle on Friday September 30 at 5pm, and the organisers would like to invite anyone interested to join in.
The event will include a tour of the castle, refreshments and an opportunity to hear more about the papers ‘from the Union of the Crowns in 1603 up to the succession of the 4th duke in 1761’ given by Professor Allan Macinnes, one of the leading experts on the history of the Highlands and Argyll.
Tickets cost £15 for friends and £20 for all others. They are available from Eventbrite https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ friends-of- the- argyll- papers- launchtickets-27151296258 or from the archives on 01499 302698. Email archives@ inveraray- castle.com. Tickets must be purchased before September 23.