| Gylen Castle on The Island of Kerrera in The Bay of Oban |
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| Gylen Castle on The Island of Kerrera in The Bay of Oban |
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| Gylen, located on the Southern promontory of the beautiful island of
Kerrera out in the bay of Oban. Gylen was built Ca. 1582-1587 in the time of Dougall, the 15th chief, by Duncan MacDougall, who was either the brother or the son of the chief. It was certainly constructed as a fortified residence. On a nearly impregnable sea-cliff site, it was designed to the best defensive strategies of its time. It has heavy walls, guarded entrances, gun loops, gun ports, and observation outlooks on all sides. Its design was not entirely utilitarian, however. Not only is it surrounded by glorious scenery on all sides, but clearly, great care, artistry and craftsmanship went into its construction. Many very interesting features such as a crowstep gables, corbeled cornices, Romanesque carvings and sculptures of faces and figures, and dogtooth carving around oriel windows all testify to care of design and craftsmanship. Sadly, the descendants of Duncan were able to use and enjoy the protection of Gylen for barely 60 years. In 1647, a detachment of the army of the fanatic Covenanters captured and burned the castle, and slaughtered all who resided and defended therein. In addition to the loss of life and property was the disappearance of the great family treasure, the Brooch of Lorn, which had been captured by MacDougalls from Robert the Bruce in 1306. For the 350 years to the present. the ravages of weather have been gradually eroding and destroying the wonderful features of the castle that survived the fire and war. A little care and protection would preserve it for future generations as one of the most charming little specimens of architecture of (old)
Scotland. |
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| "This is the purpose of the present
fund drive: to pay for repairs which will try to prevent further erosion and damage to the existing structure. To repeat an often quoted remark from the respected Ross and MacGibbon book, Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, this is "...a little architectural gem, which unfortunately, owing to neglect, is fast going to wreck and ruin.
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