Scottish

Towns

Inveraray Town & Castle

Inveraray was created a royal burgh in 1648, the old fishing village have been burned to the ground four years earlier by the James Graham (the Marquis of Montrose). It was early in the 18th century that the 3rd Duke of Argyll decided to rebuild the castle and in doing so the remains of the old Inveraray village were swept away to facilitate it. The parish church of Inveraray (built about 1800) had a very unusual feature - a dividing wall so that services in both Gaelic and English could take place at the same time. (The Gaelic section was finally used as a church hall). The Episcopalian church tower was erected in the 1920's. The 10th Duke of Argyll took a great interest in this tower and the bells were sounded for the Campbells who fell during the 1st World War. Invararay Castle is the most striking feature of the town and one of the most stunning examples of neo-Gothic architecture in all Britain. The rebuilding of the castle in the early 18th century involved demolishing what was left of the old village of Inveraray, but the 3rd Duke of Argyll took care to rebuild a 'new' village. He enlisted the talents and skills of both William Morris and Robert Milne as his Clerk of Works. The present castle (completed in 1770) is the seat of the Dukes of Argyll. © The Perfect Solution Last updated January 2000