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and
some History
In 1472, a Royal Charter was granted to Colin
Campbell and the rent of the castle was one red rose, which was to be presented to the
reigning monarch whenever he or she stayed at the castle. In July 1563, Mary Queen of
Scots visited the area for two days and was duly presented with a red rose ( luckily her
visit was in July when it would be reasonably easy to pay the rent ! ).
In the 17th century the Campbell's gradually gave up Cowal with the Marquis of Argyll
making Inveraray Castle his home, and Dunoon Castle was left to ruin. Cowal gradually sank
into decline after this until, in 1822, a Mr James Ewing of Glasgow built a mansion on the
Castle Hill. Other wealthy merchants followed suit, and, with new buildings going up more
people began to sail to Dunoon to spend the summer. This necessitated the construction of
a wooden pier in 1835. In 1868, Dunoon became a Parliamentary Burgh and many people in the
area saw a bright future for the town under its motto " Forward ". In the
following years Dunoon prospered, with many new houses being erected and thousands of
people travelling from Glasgow, many just for the day, for a trip " Doon the Watter
".
During the Second World War, Cowal became an evacuation centre especially for people
who were left homeless as a result of the Clydeside Blitz in March 1941. There were also
two naval bases in the Cowal area so that we were " bursting at the seams "
during the war years. After the war, Cowal became a popular place for holidaymakers, with
steamers lining up in the Clyde to drop off passengers at Dunoon pier. In August 1958 the
Queen visited Dunoon to unveil a commemorative plaque at the new Pavilion and was duly
presented with one red rose in token of rent.
An event, which changed Cowal for thirty years, was the arrival of a US Naval Base on
the Holy Loch in 1960. The population of the area swelled with the arrival of American
families and many local people forged links with their American friends, which have
survived the withdrawal of the base in recent years. Cowal has had a chequered history
over the centuries but the community has gone from strength to strength. The local people
continue to have a welcome in their hearts for all and a determination to live up to the
town motto, " Forward ", as we approach the 21st century.
Since the departure of the American Navy a lot has change in and around
Dunoon. All the houses have been snapped up by people moving into the area from all over
the West Coast of Scotland.
The main changes are the Hunters Quay Holiday Village with around 1,000 caravans and
chalets and a complex with swimming pool, this was built within Hafton estate, the site is
secluded from sight and is set well back from the road in well kept grounds.
Argyll Street has gone through some changes to with new pavements and fancy metal railing
on both sides of the street, it is now only a signal lane for traffic, with disabled
parking only and at the junction of Argyll and John street there are a set of traffic
lights just at the old post office and were the local paper use to be before it was burnt
down, when they were first introduced they caused hell of a confusion with the older
members of the community and of course the two mini round-abouts, you took your life in
your hands when out in the car in Dunoon in those days and still do.
The Bird Garden a place where myself and the family enjoy visiting from time to time
during the year, they have done well in setting it up it can be found on the high road to
Sandbank at the back entrance to Hafton. A very enjoyable walk along the paths and if you
wish you can take along a picnic and sit at one of the many benches amongst all the wild
and tame birds, peacocks, ducks of all kinds, my youngest son was taken by the two pigs he
said to his mum that they sound like dad when they are sleeping !!
Did You Know
A number of Robert Burns' poems and songs were inspired by Mary Campbell
- Highland Mary who was born and brought up in Cowal. A bronze statue of her was erected
in 1896 on Dunoon's Castle Hill and her gaze follows the river Clyde to the Ayrshire coast
and Burns' home.
The Holy Loch, to the East of Dunoon, where the American Nuclear
Submarines were based until 1992 gets its name from the fact that a ship loaded with
timber to build churches, sank there during a storm.
Gold has been discovered in the Scottish Highlands and a mine will be
opened shortly in Tyndrum, north of Dunoon.
Robert Campbell, the baddie in most of Charlie Chaplin's silent movies
was born and grew up in Dunoon before emigrating to America.
Dunoon has had a school for over 350 years and the late John Smith,
former leader of the Labour Party, who was born in Ardrishaig, Argyll was educated at
Dunoon Grammar School.
The MOD will be held in Dunoon in the year 2000
To find out more about Dunoon go
to Link's and go to Argyll Online there are more pictures and things to
see, or Dunoon Observer and Cowal-Dunoon.
Old pictures of Dunoon
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