Bowmore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bowmore
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 Bowmore main street, looking towards Kilarrow Parish Church |
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 Bowmore
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| Population | 710 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NR310598 |
| • Edinburgh | 121 mi (195 km) |
| • London | 387 mi (623 km) |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF ISLAY |
| Postcode district | PA43 |
| Dialling code | 01496 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Bowmore (Scottish Gaelic: Bogh Mòr, meaning 'Big Bend') is a small town located on the Scottish island of Islay. It sits right by the sea loch called Loch Indaal. Bowmore is like the main town or "capital" of Islay. It is also known for the Bowmore distillery, which makes a type of Scottish whisky.
Contents
Discovering Bowmore: A Planned Village
Bowmore is a special kind of village because it was carefully planned. It has wide streets laid out in a grid pattern. Before Bowmore, there was an older village called Kilarrow. This old village was located near where Islay House is today, close to Bridgend.
How Bowmore Began
In 1685, the old village of Kilarrow was part of an important event. Rebels, led by the Earl of Argyll, arrived from the Netherlands. They tried to overthrow King James II and VII, but their attempt was not successful.
Later, around 1770, Daniel Campbell the Younger decided to build a new village. This was part of his plans to improve the area around Islay House. The new Kilarrow Parish Church was finished around this time. It has a very unique circular shape. The old village of Kilarrow and its church were then taken down. The people living there moved to the new village, which became Bowmore. You can still find the old Kilarrow Churchyard near where the former village used to be.
Community and Innovation
The Bowmore distillery started operating before 1816. It is located right on the shores of Loch Indaal. In the 1980s, something cool happened. One of the distillery's buildings was given to the community. It was turned into a swimming pool and leisure centre. This centre is called the Mactaggart Centre. It was named after Sir John Mactaggart, who gave a lot of money to the project.
The Mactaggart Centre uses an amazing system. It takes leftover heat from the distillery through underground pipes. This heat then warms the water for the swimming pool! It's a great example of using energy wisely.
Bowmore During World War II
During the Second World War, Bowmore had an important role. The RAF had a seaplane base here, called RAF Bowmore. Large flying boats, like the Short Sunderland and Consolidated PBY Catalina, flew from Loch Indaal. These planes were used for patrols and other missions.
Some parts of a wartime movie called Coastal Command were filmed in Bowmore. In the movie, Bowmore was called RAF Ferry Bay. You can even see a shot of a Sunderland plane flying low over Bowmore's main street and the Kilarrow Parish Church!
The RAF also built a power station in Bowmore. It was a diesel power station that supplied electricity to their facilities. In 1949, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board took over the station. It was made bigger several times, producing more power. However, in 1962, the National Grid reached Islay. This meant electricity came from the mainland through undersea cables. After that, the Bowmore power station was mostly kept as a backup. Today, it is owned by Scottish and Southern Electricity.
What Bowmore Offers
Bowmore has many useful places for its residents and visitors. You can find several hotels, restaurants, and shops here. There is also a hospital and a high school. Bowmore is home to the Ìleach newspaper, which was named community newspaper of the year in 2006.
The town also hosts Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle, also known as the Columba Centre. This is a cultural centre and college. Its main goal is to help promote the Gaelic language revival and the rich heritage of the island.
Famous People from Bowmore
Bowmore has been home to some notable individuals:
- William Livingstone (1808–1870): He was an important poet in 19th-century Scottish Gaelic literature. He wrote about the Highland Clearances on Islay. William was born at Gartmain farm, near Bowmore.
- Donald Caskie (1902-1983): Known as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for his brave actions during World War II. He helped many people escape safely through the Scots Kirk in Paris.
- Glenn Campbell (born 1976): He is a political correspondent for BBC Scotland.
Gallery
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The Bowmore Distillery
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The unique Round Church of Bowmore
See also
In Spanish: Bowmore para niños
