Undiscovered Scotland

 

Oban stands unchallenged as the capital of the western seaboard of Scotland. It is a thriving focal point for a large part of Argyll and beyond; and as well as enjoying a wonderful setting that attracts large number of visitors in its own right, it serves as a port for ferries to the inner and outer Hebrides.

If you've ever visited Oban and wondered how it came to be what it is today, then you need wonder no longer. "An t-Òban: The People and the Place" by Mhairi E. Livingstone is a beautifully researched and well written book that tells you everything you need to know about the town and its history. Mhairi E. Livingstone grew up in Oban and has a family line in the town dating back to 1834. She also taught in the town and raised her family there. If anyone is well placed to write this history, it is her.

The book takes a chronological approach, beginning with the formation of Oban Bay and the surrounding area. Then we move on to the arrival of the first human visitors, to the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages, to early settlement and the age of the Lords of the Isles, and on, eventually, to the present. The depth of the research shines through at every stage. I was fascinated by the map showing landholdings around Oban in 1751, with a considerable number of landowners coming from branches of Clan Campbell, plus a few MacDougalls thrown in and just a couple of others. It's worth saying that the book is illustrated throughout with monochrome maps, drawings and photographs that help bring the accompanying words to life. Part of the joy of a book like this comes from the surprises it throws up. Appendix A tells the story of the Red Wedding. No, not the one you're thinking of. This was the real Red Wedding, which took place in December 1463 at Dunstaffnage Castle, massacre and all.

The publisher's description gives an excellent sense of the coverage of the book: "This long-overdue new history of Oban (An t-Òban, meaning ‘the little bay’ in Gaelic) tells its story from the arrival of the first settlers in 10,000 BC to the development of the vibrant town it is today. It traces the impact of early Celts, Scots and Vikings, the formation of the Lordship of the Isles and the subsequent dominance of Clan MacDougall and then the Campbells. Through disasters, wars, famine and clearance, the people of Oban showed a spirit of recovery, entrepreneurship and resilience. Why did early inhabitants choose Oban as a desirable place to settle? What made the character of the people living here so resilient and adaptable? How much power did local clan chiefs and landowners wield and how did their actions influence the development of the town? Who were the ‘ordinary’ folk and what were their lives like? In this story of Oban’s evolution, these questions are answered, painting a picture of life over the centuries, not just in Oban but throughout the wider West Highlands. The book will be of interest not only to those who are lucky enough to call Oban home but to the many thousands of visitors who sample its atmosphere, hospitality and natural beauty.".