Parish of Kilbrandon and Kilchattan

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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1791-99: Kilbrandon and Kilchattan
1834-45: Kilbrandon and Kilchattan

Kilbrandon and Kilchattan, a united parish in Nether Lorn district, Argyllshire, comprising the four preReformation parishes of Kilbrandon, Kilchattan, Kilbride, and Kilchoan. It comprehends a section of the mainland, with the inhabited islands of Seil, Luing, Easdale, Shuna, Torsay, and Inis Capel; contains the villages of Toberonichy, Ellanabriech, and Easdale, the last with a post and telegraph office under Oban; and enjoys communication by means of the Clyde and Oban steamers. It is bounded N by the Sound of Lorn, NE by the Sound of Clachan, E by Kilninver parish, S by the northern outlet of the Sound of Jura, and W by the Atlantic Ocean. Its length, from N to S, inclusive of intersecting sea-belts, is 10 miles; its breadth is 6 miles; and its area is 14, 457 acres, of which 996 ½ are foreshore and 746/7 water. The inhabited islands are all separately noticed. The mainland section, comprising 5052 ½ acres, is connected with Seil island by a bridge, and chiefly consists of hill pasture. No ground either in it or in the isles rises higher than from 600 to 800 feet above sea-level. The rocks of the mainland section are interesting chiefly for a marble which was at one time worked near Ardmaddy; those of the islands are remarkable for extensive slate quarries, and for ores of silver, copper, lead, zinc, and iron. Much waste land has been reclaimed, and agriculture has been greatly improved. The ruins of several old fortalices are the only antiquities. Ardmaddy Castle and Ardincaple House have separate articles and the Earl of Breadalbane is much the largest proprietor, 1 other holding an annual value of more, and 3 of less, than £100. Kilbrandon is in the presbytery of Lorn and synod of Argyll; the living is worth £240. The old parish church, built about 1743 on the S end of Seil island, near Cuan ferry, is now abandoned, a new and handsome edifice, with stained-glass windows, having been erected in a more central part of the island. There is also a Free church; and three public schools - Ardincaple, Easdale, and Luing - with respective accommodation for 40, 240, and 100 children, had (1881) an average attendance of 14, 161, and 37, and grants of £22, 3s. 1d., £157, 6s. 6d., and £22, 16s. 4d. Valuation (1860) £8064, (1883) £6521. Pop. (1801) 2278, (1831) 2833, (1861) 1859, (1871) 1930, (1881) 1767, of whom 1621 were Gaelic-speaking, and 93 belonged to the mainland.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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