Tarbert Local History

Tarbert, like much of Scotland has a varied and eventful history with the remnants of a royal castle associated with Robert The Bruce and a architecturally stunning church with its original stained gass windows a testament to this. The harbour itself has a long history associated in the past with a large fleet of herring fishermen and the inner wall itself as is mentioned elsewhere, designed and built by Thomas Telford.

Harbour History

The small inlet of Loch Fyne, known as East Loch Tarbert, has been used as a sheltering place for over a thousand years. Even before Magnus Bareleg negotiated the isthmus, fisherman and traders alike, used this landlocked harbour. Variously described as "peaceful", "picturesque", "bustling" or merely "a curious little bay" it is undoubtedly the main factor in Tarberts existence...... read the whole passage here

Herring Fishing

Loch Fyne saw the appearance of the 'trawl' in the early 1830's at a time when drift-nets were stretched across a bay to enclose a schoal of herring. Tarbert fishermen designed small nets for hauling herring to the shore, but it was alleged that these new nets killed the young herring at the same time with the more mature herring caught. The argument by the opposing fishermen to the new nets resulted in trawling becoming illegal by Parliament in 1851 to 1867. Between these years there was some conflict, in 1853 Colin McKeith of Tarbert was shot and wounded near Skipness by a crew from HMS Porcupine. Between these years 26 Tarbert fishermen were imprisoned.....read the whole passage here

King Magnus

The legend of Magnus Barefoot is very well known locally and a story associated with Tarbert and how he came to claim the land on Kintyre.

In the Orkneyinga Saga (which is the history of the Earls of Orkney, written in Iceland in the 13th Century and is an important historical source) there is a detailed account of his expedition of 1093...read the whole passage here

Royal Castle

Few visitors to Tarbert fail to notice the Castle ruins on the hill above the village. No description of this ancient Burgh can be complete without mention of the castle and its connection with Robert the Bruce. Its outline is featured on almost all of Tarbert's holiday brochures. At one time ranking in importance with Scotland's best-known strongholds. Large parts of the history of Tarbert Castle are misted by the passage of time. This document tries to tell what is known of the part Tarbert and its Castle have played in Scottish history....read the whole passage here

Story Of The Fishermen

It is seldom that anyone can walk along Tarbert quay without seeing something of interest. There are nearly always fishing boats or yachts about, perhaps there is someone mending a net, weighing or selling fish at the auction or loading up a lorry with the day's catch or some suchlike scene.

Of the fishing boats, the larger ones usually take part in the herring fishing and are lying at the quay during the day, after being out at sea the previous night. They have come back to port in the early morning, when their crews have discharged their catches and seen them auctioned, and are.....read the whole passage here

Tarbert Church

In the Statistical Account of 1791-1799, the Rev. Andrew Campbell (Minister of the parish of Kilcalmonell) records that a Royal Bounty Mission Station had been established at Tarbert in 1775. The first minister of the mission was the Rev. John Smith who went on to become minister of the Church of Campbeltown.

It was however the Rev. Colin Fisher Campbell in 1837 set down the earliest description so far of the Tarbert Church. He estimated the cos.....read the whole passage here