Bowmore, Islay, looking to Round Church

ID: PC_JMSTRACHAN_331 DESCRIPTION: Bowmore is a planned village and was founded in 1768 by Daniel Campbell of Shawfield and Islay. It was built as part of a resettlement scheme to move people from the old village of Killarrow, which was located near Islay House. When the village was first constructed, sufficient space was kept between the rows of houses to allow families to grow their own food and keep a milking cow. One of the dominant architectural features of Bowmore is Killarrow Parish Church, one of only two round churches in Scotland. It was commissioned by the laird Daniel Campbell of Shawfield and built by the Spalding family between 1767 and 1769. The church was styled after a design in Rome. The roof is held up by a central pillar which is believed to be a ship's mast. The round design of the church is said to prevent the Devil from hiding in its corners. Islay is closely associated with whisky production and is home to eight working distilleries. The distillery at Bowmore was built in 1779 and is the oldest distillery on Islay and the second oldest distillery in Scotland. PLACENAME: Bowmore DISTRICT: Islay OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ARGYLL: Killarrow and Kilmeny CREATOR (AV): JM Strachan PERIOD: 1970s SOURCE: J I R Martin Asset ID: 29129 KEYWORDS:

• Inner Hebrides