Machrihanish Online

Campbeltown – The Wee Toon

Campbeltown (in Gaelic: “Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain”) is a town and royal burgh in Argyll, Scotland, located by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula.

Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran (in English: The head of the loch by the kirk of St. Kieran – this form is still used in Gaelic).

It was renamed in the 17th century as ‘Campbell’s town’, by Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, having been granted the site in 1667 for the erection of a burgh of barony.
Campbeltown became an important centre for shipbuilding and Whisky, and was once a very busy fishing port.

 

 

You can find lots more information on Campbeltown at the DMOZ Open Directory Project

Sir William MacKinnon
A statue of Sir William Mackinnon has been erected in Kinloch Park thanks to the local Rotary Club and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund
The statue has been brought from Keil School in Dumbarton which was closing down.

Sir William Mackinnon was obviously a man of great vision, his company objectives included: …the elimination of the slave trade, the prohibition of trade monopoly, and the equal treatment of all nations…
Brief Biography: Sir William Mackinnon of Balinakill
(1823-1893) Ship owner and colonial developer

Born at Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Mackinnon trained as a grocer, but went out to India where he eventually founded the British India Steam Navigation Company which developed a vast trade round the coasts of the Indian Ocean. This extended to the east coast of Africa, between Aden and Zanzibar, where Mackinnon established what was chartered in 1888 as the Imperial British East Africa Company; its objectives included the elimination of the slave trade, the prohibition of trade monopoly, and the equal treatment of all nations. Mackinnon promoted H. M. Stanley’s expedition for the relief of Emin Pasha, and in 1891 founded the Free Church of Scotland East African Scottish Mission.
He also founded the independent Keil School in Dumbarton. He was created a baronet in 1889. On his death (without issue) he was buried at Clachan, Argyllshire near his beloved house Balinakill

Folks of note: Jill McGown, British writer of mystery novels Sir William Mackinnon, 1st Baronet, Scottish ship-owner and businessman James C. Russell, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Norman MacLeod, Scottish clergyman and author Paul McCartney, musician and singer leader of Wings and member of the Beatles owned a farm near the town Duncan McNab McEachran, Canadian veterinarian and academic Hugh Henry Brackenridge, American writer, lawyer, judge, and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court[7] Rodney Pattisson, sailor, Olympic gold medalist at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and 1972 Munich Olympics along with a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics

Some Campbeltown numbers that may be useful to visitors. Campbeltown Health Centre +44 (0) 1586 552105 Hospital +44 (0) 1586 552224 Fire Station +44 (0) 1586 552222 Police Station +44 (0) 1586 862200 Harbour Master +44 (0) 1586 552552 Campbeltown – Marine VHF Radio Channels 12, 13, 16 Argyll FM +44 (0) 1586 551800 Tourist Information Centre +44 (0) 1586 552056/ Fax 553291 Campbeltown Library +44 (0) 1586 552366 Argyll & Bute District Council +44 (0) 1586 553313 Campbeltown Post Office +44 (0) 1586 554721 Campbeltown Courier +44 (0) 1586 554646

Sailors: Tide Predictions for Campbeltown