KILBRANDON-with-KILCHATTAN, a parish, in
the district of Lorn, county of Argyll, 14 miles
(S. by W.) from Oban; containing 2602 inhabitants.
In ancient times there were four churches or chapels
within the boundaries of this parish, dedicated respectively
to St. Brenan or Brandon, St. Cattan, St. Bride
or Bridget, and St. Coan. The two first names have
been retained, and are now, with the common prefix
Kil, the proper designation of the parish, though the
natives usually adopt the term Cuan, on account of the
proximity of the church to the sound of Cuan. The
parish is situated in that part of the country styled
Nether Lorn, and consists of a portion of the main land,
and of a group of islands, of which those of Seil, Luing,
Easdale, Torsaj', and Shuna are inhabited. The whole
measures between ten and eleven miles in length, from
north to south; and the extreme breadth, from east to
west, is six miles, including the sound of Kilbrandon.
The mainland portion is four miles long and two broad,
and is washed on its south-eastern boundary by Loch
Melfort, and on the west by the sound of Kilbrandon,
at the northern extremity of which is the spacious bay
of Ardmaddy, formed by the receding of the shore. The
island of Seil, also four miles long and two broad, is
separated from the parish of Kilninver and Kilmelfort,
on the north-east, by the sound of Clachan, a shallow
and very narrow channel, in some places nearly dry at
low water, and over which a bridge was built towards
the end of the last century. Southward of the island of
Seil, and divided from it only by the sound of Cuan, is
the island of Lidng, extending six miles from north to
south, and two from east to west; and on the east of
Luing is the island of Shuna, measuring two miles and
a half by one mile and a half, and separated by a narrow
strait of its own name. Each of the other islands is less
than a square mile in extent: Torsaij, almost wholly arable,
hes on the east of the northern division of Luing, and
Easdale, celebrated for its fine slate-quarries, a little to
the west of Seil. The sound of Jura runs on the south
and south-west of the parish, and the sound of Mull on
the north-west, exposing it to the impetuosity of the
Atlantic. The coast on the east side of the islands of
Seil and Luing, which constitute the chief portion of the
parish is low, and marked by numerous bays, affording
a secure retreat and good anchorage in stormy weather:
the bays of Blackmill and Toberonchy in Luing, and
Balvicar in Seil, are the most considerable. On the
west, however, are bold and lofty rocks, especially about
Easdale; they form a striking feature, and supply an
important barrier against the fury of the ocean.
The surface of the main land is chiefly hilly, and
covered with pasture; some of the ridges rise from 600
to 800 feet above the level of the sea. In Luing the
surface is mostly level; but Seil consists to a great extent
of a series of undulations, interspersed with fertde
slopes, rich dells, and pleasant valleys. In both the isles
the soil is tolerably good, and suited to all kinds of
crops; but the crops are frequently spoiled through the
moisture and variableness of the chmate. The agricultural
character of the parish has been much improved
within the last few years, by draining, the reclaiming of
waste land, and the introduction of a superior method
of cultivation. The rotation system is in operation;
the six-shift course is preferred for the larger farms, a
five-shift for farms of moderate extent, and a four-shift
for crofts. The Marquess of Breadalbane, to whom about
three-fourths of the parish belong, has adopted regulations
for the protection, comfort, and independence of
the cottars, and affords his patronage to an agricultural
society established on his property about the year 1838.
Premiums are awarded for the best black-cattle and
sheep, to the rearing of which considerable attention is
paid; the former are of the West Highland breed, and
in general of an excellent description, and the latter the
native black-faced, but not so fine as the cattle. Prizes
are also given to the most expert ploughmen, and for
the best-kept horses and harness, as well as to those
cottars who manage their gardens in a superior manner;
and the cultivation of turnips, especially, has been much
improved under the same auspices. The strata of the
parish are chiefly of the schistose formation; and the
fine durable slate quarried here for nearly two centuries,
has conferred great and well deserved celebrity on the
district. Though this material is procured at Balvicar
in Seil, and at two places in Luing, yet the principal seat
of operations is Easdale, where one of the quarries is
1 20 feet below the level of the sea; the number of men
employed at the different works averages 200, and they
raise between four and five millions of slates yearly. Indications
of lead-ore and zinc have been observed in
Lning and Seil; and there is a marble-quarry near Ardmaddy,
which was formerly worked. The annual value
of real property in the parish is £49'2S.
Ardmaddy Castle, the property and occasional residence
of the Marquees of Breadalbane, is situated on the
main land, at the head of tlie bay of the same name, and
commands extensive prospects both of sea and land. It
is an ancient structure, and was once the residence of a
branch of the Mc Dougalls. In the reign of Charles II.,
and of his successor James, it was occupied by Lord
Niel CainpljcU, brother of the Earl of Argyll, who made
additions to the edifice, and whose initials, with those of
hi.s lady, may be seen, cut in stone, with the date 16*6.
The only other mansion, situated at Ardincaplc, was
built at the close of the last century. In the parish arc
five villagex, namely, Easdale, on the sound of Easdale,
which is the largest village; Balvicar, in Seil; and
Tubcronchy, Millbay, and Colipool, in Luing; all built
in the neighbourhood of slate-quarries. The village of
Easdale, including that portion of it which is situated
on the Seil side of the sound, and called Eilean-na-beithe,
" isle of birch", contains several hundred persons; most
of the houses are neatly constructed, one story high,
and covered with slate. A few persons in the parish
are engaged in the herring-fishery: in May and June
considerable number of herrings are caught with the fly,
and they usually fetch a high price. Attempts have been
made, under the patronage of the principal proprietor,
to introduce cod and ling fishing. Easdale contains a
post-office, which communicates daily with Oban. The
steam-vessels plying between Glasgow and the ports in
the north pass along the sound of Easdale, and touch at
its harbour; and the coal used by the quarry-men is
obtained from Glasgow: the farmers mostly burn peat.
The means of communication with the interior are also
easy, on account of the number of ferries and roads;
the road from Oban enters the parish from the northeast,
at Clachan bridge, and passes through the centre of
Seil and Luing.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of
Lorn, synod of Argyll, and in the alternate patronage of
the Duke of Argyll and the Marquess of Breadalbane.
The stipend is the minimum, £14 of which are annually
paid out of the exchequer; there is a manse, with a
glebe valued at £15 per annum. The church, which is
more than a hundred years old, was repaired and enlarged
in 1816, and accommodates about 600 persons; it is
situated at the south end of the island of Seil, and it is
necessary for all the parishioners who attend, except those
dwelling in the island, to cross one or more ferries on
their journey. The members of the Free Church and
the Reformed Presbyterians have places of worship. A
parochial school is established in Kilbrandon, and
another at Luing; the ordinary branches of education
are taught, with Latin, mathematics, and navigation, if
required. The master of the Kilbrandon school, who
resides at Seil, has the maximum salary, with a house
and garden, and £'26 fees; and the other master, £'25
per annum, with the same amount in fees, and a garden.
A school is supported at Easdale by the Society for
Propagating Christian Knowledge, the master receiving
a salary of £15. There are several schools partially
supported by the proprietors of estates in the respective
localities, and others entirely dependent on fees. The
scholars of all are eligible to join in a public competition,
at which prizes are awarded by the liberality of the Marquess
of Breadalbane: the competition has not been
held invariably every year, but it is hoped that in future
it will be annually observed.