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Latitude: 56.4157 / 56°24'56"N
Longitude: -5.4692 / 5°28'9"W
OS Eastings: 186105
OS Northings: 730230
OS Grid: NM861302
Mapcode National: GBR DCWR.MM2
Mapcode Global: WH0GK.Y0SG
Plus Code: 9C8PCG8J+78
Entry Name: Mccaig's Tower, Oban
Listing Name: Battery Hill, Mccaig Monument
Listing Date: 20 July 1971
Category: B
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 384283
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB38814
Building Class: Cultural
Also known as: Oban, Mccaig's Tower
ID on this website: 200384283
Location: Oban
County: Argyll and Bute
Town: Oban
Electoral Ward: Oban South and the Isles
Traditional County: Argyllshire
Tagged with: Folly Ancient Roman architecture
John Stuart McCaig, begun 1897. Circular screen comprised of continuous pointed-arch arcading in 2 tiers over partially exposed
foundation tier, built onto rock. Cruachan granite, bull-faced
squared and snecked to exterior, hammer dressed random rubble to interior. Round-arched main entrance with keystone in crenellated raised section to E, 2 pointed windows over arch with commemorative plaque between. Continuous band course cill to lower arches, continuous moulded string course cill and eaves detail above. Natural rock floor to interior.
Oban's most prominent and famous landmark. Unique style, incorporating plan of Roman arenas with Gothic arches. Planned by McCaig ("art critic, philosophical essayist, and banker") as a monument to his family. There was to be a central tower and statues in the arched openings. Dean of Guild Court retains drawings of a "stone and lime wall and granite tower, with freestone dressings" dated 1895, and of "stone and lime wall as an addition to the wall at present being erected" dated 1896, and a further addition to the height of the wall by 15 feet in 1897.
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