In prehistoric times the sea level was near Millknowe. Raised beaches were discovered when the site of the Calton housing scheme was being excavated.

There are a number of Bronze Age sites around Campbeltown Loch. Our forebears ate great quantities of limpets. A huge mound of limpet shells was found at a site in Kilkerran.

There are a number of Bronze Age sites around Campbeltown Loch. Our forebears ate great quantities of limpets. A huge mound of limpet shells was found at a site in Kilkerran.

The Vikings dominated Kintyre for 400 years. Many Norse place-names still exist, e.g. Skipness - Ship Point, and Smerby - Butter Farm.

The first monks at Saddell were of the Cistercian order. The Abbey was colonised from Mellifont in Dublin. The monks have been mentioned in the old sagas, sometimes referred to as "The White Monks", as they wore habits of natural homespun wool. Saddell may be a corruption of "Sand Dale".

The original name of Campbeltown was Kilkerran - the Church of Kiaran, whose cell was St. Kiaran's Cave on the shore near Kildalloig. The town's name was changed in the 18th century.

The Main Street consisted of small thatched houses. Most people had a cow and at least one pig. The Town Herd collected the cows each morning and took them to the common grazing ground at Gallowhill, for a fee of fourpence per year. The Herd's Horn can be seen in the Museum. The pigs were a nuisance and there is a mention of their roaming into gardens, in an old Minute of the Town Council.

The Town Clock was considered a great extravagance as it cost £50, the reason being that it's hands were of copper, and not the more usual wooden ones. The striking bell, now silent, alas, was cast in Bristol, a famous place for bell casting.

The Wide Close ran from Main Street to Union Street, a narrow alley, in which were many dwelling houses. A story is told of someone who had a pig on an upper floor, and when asked why it was kept there, the answer was, "I canna get it doon!"

The Town Well in Main Street was the only public well in Campbeltown. Some years ago, when Main Street roadway was being resurfaced, the original circular well was found to be covered only by a few planks of wood. Older natives of the town will remember the old iron drinking pump which stood in front of the Cross, with it's heavy iron cup.

Fishing boats were, at one time, drawn up at Shore Street. When the foundations of the present Woolworth building were being excavated, a flight of three shallow steps, about 10 feet long, was seen on the left hand side of Shore Street, leading to what was, obviously, the shore.

Campbeltown ships were employed in whaling. The blubber was boiled and stored in casks at Trench Point.

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Page 2: Emigration to America
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