Old Photographs Oban Scotland

Old photograph of a pier in Oban, Scotland. Oban occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera is Mull. To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour. Oban is also known as " The Gateway to the Isles ". The town of Oban is by Dunollie, a sixth-century Dalriadan stronghold and later seat of the MacDougall clan. Despite the long human history of its surroundings, Oban is a comparatively recent foundation. Planned town building in Scotland can be divided into two major periods, the first from the twelfth to the fourteenth century, the second covering the eighteenth century, and Oban belongs firmly in the second period. The first known house on the site was built around 1715, and by 1767 it had a post office and a customs house, although poor roads frustrated early attempts to improve Oban as a fishing station. The Duke of Argyll assisted the development of Oban, funding a new school and building a mansion house near the town, but more instrumental were the Stevenson family, who built a distillery and other significant buildings at the very heart of Oban. By 1800 the town was a registered port and a fast growing urban settlement, by 1811 a burgh of barony, and after 1833, it was a parliamentary burgh. From 586 people in 1791, the population of Oban had grown to 1,940 in 1861.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of George Street, Oban, Scotland.


Old photograph of Oban and Oban Distillery, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of the Woolleen Mill Oban, Scotland.

Old photograph of Oban, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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