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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.