OBAN, a sea-port-town and burgh of barony and quoad
sacra parish (for a time), in the parish of Kilmork-and-Kilbride, district of Lorn,
county of Argyll, 32 miles (W. N. W.) from Inverary, and 136 (W. by N.) from
Edinburgh; containing 1554 inhabitants, of whom 1398 are in the burgh. This place
is situated on the western coast of Mid Lorn, at the
head of a fine bay formed by the island of Kerrera on
the west, and having facilities of entrance on the north
and south. Oban owes its origin to the establishment
of a storehouse in 1713, by a company of merchants
from Renfrew, attracted by the convenience of its position
for trade, and the safe and extensive accommodations
of its bay. It was much increased in importance
in 17/8 by Messrs. Stevenson, who, settling here, introduced
several branches of traffic, which added greatly to
the number of buildings; and during the same century,
Oban was constituted a custom-house port. The town
is beautifully seated on the banks of a small river which
divides it into two parts. As approached either by sea
or by land, it has a strikingly picturesque and interesting
aspect. It consists of various well-formed streets of
neat and substantial houses; and in the main street is
a commodious hotel, for the reception of the visiters and
families who resort hither during the season for seabathing,
and for whose accommodation there are also
comfortable lodging-houses. In Her Majesty's visit to
Scotland in 1847, the royal squadron stayed for a short
time in the bay here, and a royal salute was fired from
a battery formed on one of the hills behind Oban.
The manufacture of silk and straw hats is carried on
to a con.<iderable extent; and there are two large distilleries
in the town. The trade of the port consists
chiefly in the exportation of wool, kelp, pig-iron, fish,
whisky, and slates from the quarries of the surrounding
district; and in the importation of merchandise from
Glasgow and Liverpool. The number of vessels registered
as belonging to the port is thirteen, of the aggregate
burthen of 360 tons. Oban bay, which is sheltered
from all winds by lofty mountains, has from twelve to
twenty-four fathoms' depth, and is sufliciently capacious
to contain more than 500 sail of trading-vessels. There
are two spacious quays, of which that on the north was
enlarged and improved in 1836; and since the opening
of the great Caledonian canal, steamers from Greenock,
Glasgow, Inverness, Mull, lona, StafFa, and Skye, have
touched at the port. In 1846 an act was passed for the
construction of a railway from Oban to Crianlarich, in
the county of Perth, with a branch to Loch Lomond.
The custom-house, erected in 1763, occupies a commanding
site overlooking the bay. The post-ollice has a good
delivery. A branch of the National Bank of Scotland,
a savings' bank, four insurance agencies, and an exciseoffice,
have been established. Markets are annually
held in May and October for black-cattle, and in March
and November for horses.
The town was first erected into a burgh of barony by
charter granted to the Duke of Argyll in 1811, and
subsequently by a new charter granted to the duke, and
also to Mr. Campbell, in 1820. There were a provost,
two bailies, and four councillors annually chosen by the
burgesses; but since the passing of the Municipal Reform
act, six councillors have been elected by the £10
householders, of whom two are bailies; and the office of
provost has been set aside. The authority of the magistrates
is co-extensive with the territory of the burgh,
but, except in cases of petty delinquency, they exercise
no criminal jurisdiction; and since the establishment of
the sherifF's-court for small debts, which is held quarterly,
few civil actions have been tried before them. This
burgh is associated with Ayr, Campbelltown, Inverary,
and Irvine, in returning a member to the imperial parliament;
the number of qualified voters is about sixty.
The late parish, which for ecclesiastical purposes was
separated from Kilmore and Kilbride under act of the
General Assembly in 1834, included the town of Oban
and adjacent district, comprising an area nearly six
square miles in extent. The church, built as a chapel
of ease in 1821, at an expense of £1142, is a neat structure
containing .530 sittings. The minister had a stipend
of £100, derived from the seat-rents and an annual
donation of £20 by the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge. There are places of worship for members
of the Free Church, the United Presbyterian Church,
and Independents; and a congregation of about forty
Baptists assemble in a private room.