McCaig's Tower is a landmark in Oban, Scotland. It is an unfinished ornamental building modeled on the Colosseum in Rome, approximately 200 meters in diameter. Wealthy banker John Stuart McCaig commissioned the building in 1895 at the age of 72.
McCaig's Tower is a prominent tower on Battery Hill overlooking the town of Oban in Argyll, Scotland. It is built of Bonawe granite taken from the Quarries across Airds Bay, on Loch Etive, from Muckairn, with a circumference of about 200 meters with two-tiers of 94 lancet arches (44 on the bottom and 50 on top).
The structure was commissioned, at a cost of £ 5,000 sterling (£ 500,000 at 2006 prices using GDP deflator), by the Wealthy, Philanthropic Banker (North of Scotland Bank), John Stuart McCaig.
John Stuart McCaig was his architect. The tower was erected between 1897 and his death, aged 78 from cardiac arrest, on June 29, 1902 at John Square House, Oban, Argyll.
McCaig's intention to provide a lasting monument to his family, and provide work for the local stonemason during the winter months. McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture, and was planned for an elaborate structure based on the Colosseum in Rome. His plans are for a museum and art gallery. Inside the central tower he is looking to commission statues of himself, his siblings and their parents. His death brought to an end with only the outer walls completed.
McCaig's Tower is a striking tower on Battery Hill overlooking the city of Oban in Argyll, Scotland. It consists of granite from Bonawe, which was obtained in the quarries over the Airderbucht at the Loch Etive of Muckairn with a circumference of about 200 meters and two-stage 94 lancet arches (44 on the bottom and 50 on the top).
The structure was commissioned by wealthy philanthropic banker John Stuart McCaig for £ 5,000 sterling (£ 500,000 at 2006 prices using the GDP deflator).
John Stuart McCaig was his own architect. The tower was built between 1897 and his death, 78 years after cardiac arrest, on June 29, 1902 at John Square House, Oban, Argyll.
McCaig's intention was to give his family a lasting memorial and to work for the local stonemasons during the winter months. McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture and had planned a lavish structure based on the Coliseum in Rome. His plans envisaged the construction of a museum and an art gallery with a central tower. Inside the central tower, he planned to commission statues of himself, his siblings, and their parents. His death ended building with only the outer walls.
McCaig's Tower is a prominent tower on Battery Hill overlooking the town of Oban in Argyll, Scotland. It is built of Bonawe granite taken from the quarries across Airds Bay, on Loch Etive, from Muckairn, with a circumference of about 200 metres with two-tiers of 94 lancet arches (44 on the bottom and 50 on top).
The structure was commissioned, at a cost of £5,000 sterling (£500,000 at 2006 prices using GDP deflator), by the wealthy, philanthropic banker (North of Scotland Bank), John Stuart McCaig.
John Stuart McCaig was his own architect.The tower was erected between 1897 and his death, aged 78 from cardiac arrest, on 29 June 1902 at John Square House, Oban, Argyll.
McCaig's intention was to provide a lasting monument to his family, and provide work for the local stonemasons during the winter months. McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture, and had planned for an elaborate structure, based on the Colosseum in Rome. His plans allowed for a museum and art gallery with a central tower to be incorporated. Inside the central tower he planned to commission statues of himself, his siblings and their parents. His death brought an end to construction with only the outer walls completed.
Cityscape-defining monumental structure on the heights of Battery Hill. From here you have a great view of the city through the many arches. There is beautiful greenery in and around the tower - a stroll to McCaig's Tower is a must when visiting the city.
Oban - Main town here, main ferry port for the Inner and Outer Hebrides since the late 19th century, home of one of the oldest whiskey distilleries and then there's the Coliseum. What came first? If you read a bit here and there, then there was mainly the distillery. Of course, Oban was a fishing village, but people also drank. Or above all. The distillery was founded in 1794. "The small port town of the same name grew up around the distillery, in the heart of which it lies today." Doesn't that read as if the fishermen were looking for the vicinity of the brewery? However. So close did the fishermen get to the distillery that the surrounding houses built over the years became and still are a problem for the Oban Distillery. There is simply no more room to expand. Oban is therefore not only the oldest, but also one of the smallest whiskey distilleries in Scotland. Do you say "cut your own flesh?" Fortunately, today there is globalized trade, even if it only affects the distilleries of the neighboring islands. On Islay we saw a distillery, on Mull too: where isn't there a distillery here? In 1897, local banker John Stuart McCaig wanted to erect a monument. Or employ the local workers during the winter months when there is little work. Some say it this way, others that way. Oh Rome. Would he be able to let just a touch of the flair of this eternal city blow through the sooty alleys of Oban? So McCaig specifically hired stonemasons in the winter months who otherwise would not have had any work at that time of the year. On the hill above the town, overlooking the distillery, they created a granite ring with two rows of 94 arched windows. The similarity to the Colosseum in Rome is intentional. "McCaig's Folly" - McCaig's folly is probably what many citizens of the city call the building today. McCaigs Tower is signposted although this was planned but never finished. And yet, in the end, McCaig achieved his goal. The small Colosseum is now considered the landmark of Oban and is certainly the most important attraction next to the distillery. And his name is everywhere.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!