Strachur and District Local History Society

Strachur and District Local History Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Strachur and District Local History Society, Nonprofit Organization, Strachur.

Established in March 2007 to gather, record, preserve and share material relating to the history of the Parish of Strachur and Strathlachlan in Argyll, Scotland.

05/09/2026

More on our Ploughing men -
On the cup -
1950 Ian Blue
1951 D. McAlpine
1952 D. McAlpine
1953 Neil Beaton
1954 D. Sinclair
1955 R. Whyte

Below lot of interesting reading from old newpapers on the Ploughing Matches. Couldn't find newpaper report for 1952 and 1953 unfortunately. Nice to read lots of names we know.

1949 Estate Home Farm 12 ploughs
Society Cup and Royal Highland Agricultural Society Medal - Archibald Blue
2nd MacLachlan Cup - Roderick MacDiarmid, Invernoaden
3rd Malcolm Morrison, Succoth
4th Duncan macAlpine, Balameanach
5th Alastair hall, Inveraray
6th Duncan Sinclair, Glensluain
7th Dan McGregor, Glensluain
Best Crown - 1st Malcom Morrison, 2nd Archd. Blue, 3rd Duncan MacAlpine
Best Finish - 1st Dan Macgregor, 2nd Donald McSporran, 3rd Archd. McIntyre
Straightest Ploughing - Archibald Blue
Outs and Ins - Robert Whyte
First Finished - Robert Whyte
Best working plough - Archibald Blue
Best Gelding - 1 and 2 Alastair hall
Best Mare - Dan McGregor, 2nd Donald McSporran, 3rd Duncan Sinclair
Best Working Pair - Donald McSporran
Best kept Harness being used every day - Dan McGregor
Decorations - Alastair Hall, 2nd Duncan MacAlpine, 3rd Roderick McDiarmid
Grooming - Robert Whyte
Best Matched Pair - Alastair Hall

1950 - Balliemeanach, 11 ploughs
Society Cup and Medal - Ian Blue, Castle Parks
2nd MacLachlan Cup - Roderick MacDiarmid, Invernoaden
3rd Dan MacGregor, Glensluain
4th Duncan MacAlpine, balliemeanach
5th Robert Whylte, Estate
6th Malcolm Morrison, Succoth
7th Neil Beaton, Leathers
Best Crown - 1st Dan macGregor, 2nd M. Morrison, erd Duncan MacAlpine
Best Finish - 1st Roderick MacDiarmid, 2nd Malcolm Morrison 3rd Donald MacLaren
Straightes Ploughing - Roderick MacDiarmid
Best Working Plough - Ian Blue
Geldings - 1st B. Werner, Ballimore, 2nd R. Whyte, 3rd Dan Macgregor
Mares - 1st Dan MacGregor, 2nd B. Werner, 3rd D. Sinclair
Best Working Pair - B. Werner
Best Kept harness in every day use - Robert Whyte
Grooming - Robert Whyte

1951 - Glensluain 10 ploughs
Society Cup and Medal - Duncan MacAlpine, Balameanach
2nd Maclachlan Cup - Ian Blue, Castleparks
3rd B. Werner, Balliemore
4th Robert Whyte, Estate Home Farm
5th Duncan Sinclair, Glensluain
6th Dan MacGregor, Invernoaden
7th Malcolm Morrison, Succoth
Crown - Duncan MacAlpine, 2nd B. Werner, 3rd Duncan Sinclair
Finish - Duncan macAlpine, 2nd Duncan Sinclair, 3rd Dan MacGregor
Straightest - Duncan MacAlpine
Outs and Ins - Roderick McDiarmid
First Finished - Walter McPherson
Geldings - B. Werner, 2nd Robert Whyte, 3rd Duncan MacAlpine
Mares - B. Werner, 2nd Duncan MacAlpine, 3rd Dan MacGregor
Best Working Pair - Walter MacPherson
Best kept harness - Dan MacGregor
Decorations - Duncan Sinclair, 2nd B. Werner, 3rd Duncan MacAlpine
Grooming - B. Werner
Best matched pair - Walter MacPherson

1954 - Balliemore 10 ploughs
Society Cup and Medal - Duncan Sinclair, Glensluain
2nd MacLachlan Cup - Donald MacNicol, Balliemore
3rd Robert Whyte, Home Farm
4th Malcolm Morrison, Inverglen
5th Neil Beaton, Strone, Strathlachlan
Crown - Neil Beaton, 2nd Duncan Sinclair, 3rd A. Shaw
Best Finish - Duncan Sinclair, 2nd Rob Whyte, 3rd Malcolm Morrison
Straightest - Duncan Sinclair,
Outs and Ins - Robert Whyte
Best working plough - D. MacNicol
Gelding - Robert Whyte, 2nd B. Werner, 3rd A. Shaw
Mare - D. MacNicol, 2nd B. Werner, 3rd D. Sinclair
Best working pair - D. MacNicol
Best matched pair - Malcolm Morrison
Decorations - D. MacNicol

1955 Strachurmore 11 ploughs
Society Cup and Medal - Robert Whyte, Estate Home Farm
2nd Duncan MacAlpine, balliemeanach
3rd James Kelly, Lephinmore
4th malcolm Morrison, Inverglen
5th Ian Blue, Castle Lachlan
6th Duncan Sinclair, Glensluain
Crown - Robert Whyte, 2nd Duncan MacAlpine, 3rd James Kelly
Best Finish Duncan MacAlpine, 2nd Ian Blue, 3rd Arthur Keith
Straightest - James Kelly
Outs and ins Berner Werner
Gelding - James Kelly, 2nd Robert Whyte, 3rd James Kelly
Mares - Berner Werner, 2nd A. Shaw, 3rd D. MacAlpine
Best working pair A. Keith
Best matched pair - Malcolm Morrison
Decorations - James Kelly, 2nd Duncan MacAlpine, 3rd Robert Whyte

FRIDAY FEATURE - Some of the lovely photos we have of the farm horses.1841 is the first recorded date of holding Ploughi...
04/09/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE - Some of the lovely photos we have of the farm horses.
1841 is the first recorded date of holding Ploughing Matches. At some point Strachur and District Ploughing Society was set up with matching taking place in different years at Strachurmore, Balliemeanoch, Glensluain and Balliemore.
In 1955 it was reported "In these days when horses are getting fewer on the farms, it was a fine sight to see so many pairs dressed with their decoration"
Competitions must have ended around 1956/57 with Duncan MacAlpine being the last winner and retaining the cup.

FRIDAY FEATURE - past times 'Hunting, Shooting and Fishing'
28/08/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE -
past times 'Hunting, Shooting and Fishing'

FRIDAY FEATURE - Kilbride Chapel, StrathlachlanFrom Bella Douglas’s BookOn the side of the Loch, directly opposite Crara...
21/08/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE - Kilbride Chapel, Strathlachlan
From Bella Douglas’s Book

On the side of the Loch, directly opposite Crarae Quarry, are ruins of various ages. There is a huge cashel 325ft in circumference.
To the North the cashel is continued in a strangely formed annexe within which are two massive stones, thought to be a Neolithic megalithic chambered cairn. There are cup markings on these stones. Within the main cashel are the ruins of a rectangular church. Excavations carried out many years ago unearthed a slightly tapered stone slab without markings, 4ft 11in long by 2ft 5in broad and 3in thick. A beehive dwelling was also discovered at this time, and an ancient well. Inside the chapel an iron box coated in bronze was found.
This settlement is known as Kilbride, and here can be found “The Well of healing”.
Tradition has it that in 571 St. Molna and other monks from Iona settled there when Strathlachlan (by whatever name it was called then) was under the influence of the Druids. Along the hills were mountain dwellings and the monks had to fight against paganism. These distant sun worshippers found the power of the Cross too much for them, and little by little paganism was stamped out. Later an Order of Ludovician Monks carried on when St. Molna and his helpers had departed. This Order was in Strathlachlan until 1112.

From Chronicles of Cowal by Angus McLean - Chappell Ferry
operated between Brainport Point near Minard and the small bay below Kilbride Chapel. It is not possible to be sure when this Ferry first began its operation but its association with an early Christian wayside Chapel at Kilbride points to its having been in use before Medieval times. On both sides of the Loch the Ferry was approached by ancient pack-horse routes.

Thanks to Eric Nicol for many of the photos. Through time the walls and ruins are less noticeable if anyone has earlier photos of the site it would be great to see them!

This week instead of FRIDAY FEATURE we have a THURSDAY THINKER - Do you know other Registration numbers and owners to ad...
13/08/2026

This week instead of FRIDAY FEATURE we have a THURSDAY THINKER - Do you know other Registration numbers and owners to add to this list?

FRIDAY FEATURE - St Catherines Pier/FerryIn the 17th century The St Catheries - Inveraray Ferry was run by Inveraray Tow...
07/08/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE - St Catherines Pier/Ferry
In the 17th century The St Catheries - Inveraray Ferry was run by Inveraray Town Council actioning two vessels and the ferryman's cottage to the highest bidder. When the 5th Duke built the New Town of Inveraray this changed and The Ferryman was now employed by the town council.

1703 William McGibbon
1710 Donald Clark
1721 John Campbell
1725 Alex McDougald
1744 William McGibbon and Donald McNicoll
1828 Robert Napier
1864 Martin Munro
1892 Archie McVicar, Captain and John Gillies, Engineer
1898 Duncan Bell, Captain, Thomas Scott, Engineer
1908 John Dewar
1913 Angus Munro
1913 September, Robert Greig
1917 David and Andrew Smith
1919 until 1935 James Douglas from Newton. He had 3 boats, 'Mayflower', 'Dayspring' and 'Endeavour'. Donald Campbell, Mate and Engineer.
1935 John MacArthur
1947 until 1950 Alastair Johnston
1951 Hope MacArthur, brother of John, had 2 boats 'Jean' and 'Happy Return'

‘Moonlight’ and ‘Spartan, two motor vessels successors to the Puffers, were used in 1967/68 By Archd Fergussons, Ltd, Strachur, to ship a prefabricated house to Islay and a hotel extension to Tiree.
They were loaded at St Catherines jetty.

FRIDAY FEATURE - St Catherines Hotel with thanks to Alan Munro for many of the photos.It is reputed that there has been ...
31/07/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE - St Catherines Hotel with thanks to Alan Munro for many of the photos.

It is reputed that there has been a hosterlry on this site since 1460.

To the SE of the hotel there are fragmentary remains of a ruined chapel, founded in the mid 15th century by Duncan Campbell of Loch awe. Groome's Gazetteer records that next to the chapel was a holy well, which was frequented by pilgrims.

With both buildings established during the mid 15th century the inn would have been built to provide shelter and accommodation for the pilgrims and travellers.

The rebuilding of the Hotel in 1756 ties in with the opening of a nearby quarry to the S of the inn. From 1751, stone quarried at St Catherines was the main source of ashlar for Inveraray Castle with its distinctive light green hue. With up to fifty quarriers being employed, the inn would have been at the hub of all this activity. After this flurry of activity in the latter half of the 18th century the quarry was occasionally worked in the 19th century with no new workings after 1849.

To add to our FRIDAY FEATURE - we are always delighted to receive more photos.Lovely ones received just now of Kishorn, ...
24/07/2026

To add to our FRIDAY FEATURE - we are always delighted to receive more photos.
Lovely ones received just now of Kishorn, Strachur Haymakers!

FRIDAY FEATURE - Did you -'make hay while the sun shines?' Past times certainly did!1. Humphrey Plowden, Strachurbeg2....
24/07/2026

FRIDAY FEATURE - Did you -'make hay while the sun shines?' Past times certainly did!
1. Humphrey Plowden, Strachurbeg
2. Clachan Hay
3. Names please?
4. Davie Bell between unknown ladies, Inverglen
5. Alex McVicar, Inverglen, smallest child Seon Billows
6. Garrel
7. Strachurbeg, Unknown boys, Ishbel, Margaret, Duncan and Gerty Campbell, Jimmy Wilson
8. Peter MacKellar and Willie Montgomery, Clachan Crofts

Gerry saves the Day!Local heritage flashback coincidence to the rescue!
21/07/2026

Gerry saves the Day!

Local heritage flashback coincidence to the rescue!

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