Bowmore

Bowmore

Bowmore main street
Bowmore
Bowmore shown within Argyll and Bute
Population

862 [2] (2001 census)

est. 860[3] (2006)
OS grid reference NR310598
Civil parish
  • Killarow and Kilmeny
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF ISLAY
Postcode district PA43
Dialling code 01496
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Bowmore (Scottish Gaelic: Bogh Mòr, 'The Big Bend'[4]) is a small town on the Scottish island of Islay and serves as administrative capital of the island. It gives its name to the noted Bowmore distillery producing Bowmore Single Malt, a single malt scotch whisky.

History

Bowmore Round Church

Bowmore is a planned village with wide streets on a grid-iron pattern. It has its origins in an earlier settlement, Kilarrow, which until c. 1770 occupied the site of the present grounds of Islay House near Bridgend.[5]

In May 1685 Kilarrow had been the scene of the first stages of Argyll's Rising, when rebels under the Earl of Argyll arrived following a voyage from the Netherlands.

As part of his plans for improvements at Islay House,[5] Daniel Campbell the Younger initiated the construction of the new village in 1770, just after the completion of the new Kilarrow Parish Church, which was built in a unique circular shape. The old village of Kilarrow and its church, dedicated to St Maelrhuba was then demolished, and its residents were relocated to Bowmore. Kilarrow Old Churchyard still exists close to the site of the former village.[6]

The Bowmore distillery came in operation at some time before 1816 and is situated on the shores of Loch Indaal and next to an old warehouse which is converted to a swimming pool, known locally as the MacTaggart Centre. The waste heat from the distillery is partially used to heat the water of the swimming pool.

Bowmore in WWII

There was a RAF seaplane base at Bowmore during WWII. Short Sunderland and PBY Catalina flying boats operated from Loch Indaal. Some of the wartime film Coastal Command was filmed in Bowmore and it features a shot of a Sunderland flying low over the main street of Bowmore and over Kilarrow Parish Church.

Facilities

Bowmore has several hotels, restaurants, shops, a hospital, a high school and is home to the Ìleach newspaper, community newspaper of the year 2006. Bowmore is also host to Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (the Columba Centre), a cultural centre and college founded with the aim of promoting Gaelic language and heritage on the Island.

Noted residents

The Rev Donald Caskie, noted as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for his wartime exploits in France, is one of Bowmore's most noted sons. He was responsible for the safe passage of numerous exiles through the Scots Kirk in Paris during World War II, risking both life and limb. In more recent times, Glenn Campbell can be seen regularly on BBC Scotland as their political correspondent.

References

  1. ↑ "Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland database". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Comparative Population Profile: Bowmore Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  3. ↑ "Table 1: Mid-2006 Population Estimates – Settlements in alphabetical order". General Register Office for Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  4. ↑ "Bowmore". www.ainmean-aite.scot. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  5. 1 2 The ruined monastery of Kilarrow on Islay, British Library
  6. ↑ Islay, Kilarrow, Canmore
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