Should civic chains be returned to Campbeltown?

Should the chains of office worn by Argyll and Bute's provost on several recent visits to Campbeltown be returned to the former royal burgh they represent?

 

That is the question being asked by some of the community's most renowned local historians.

 

The civic chain and two bailie chains designed for Campbeltown, which became a royal burgh in 1700, date from 1816.

 

A chapter from The Campbeltown Book titled The Royal Charter and its Implications, written by former Argyll and Bute Council archivist Murdo MacDonald, provides more information about their history: ‘On September 30 1816, the council minutes record that “the magistrates and council, considering the propriety of the magistrates for the time being wearing gold chains as distinguishing emblems of their office, authorise the present magistrates to order such chains for that purpose for the provost and two bailies as they consider suitable”.

 

‘This acquisition of civic regalia by Campbeltown pre-dates that of any other in Argyll and Bute, and it would be interesting to learn how it compared with other burghs nationally. Even Rothesay, an older royal burgh by far, did not acquire a provost’s chain until 1874.

 

‘In its original form, the Campbeltown chain was probably a simple gold chain with a modest pendant.

 

'It has since been added to, receiving in 1887 a heavy 15 ct gold pendant from the provost, Duncan Colville, in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee.’

 

Royal burghs were abolished in 1975, at which time Campbeltown became part of the Argyll and Bute district in the Strathclyde region and, in 1996, became part of the present Argyll and Bute Council area.

 

The ownership of the chains passed to the new council in 1975 and then to the present council in 1996.

 

Angus Martin, editor of historical journal The Kintyre Magazine and chairman of the Friends of Campbeltown Museum, believes the time has come for a discussion on the possibility of the chains returning to their hometown.

 

'The reappearance of the provost's and the bailies' chains in Campbeltown recently was momentous in its own way,' he said. 'The question of their return to Campbeltown was raised at a meeting of the Friends of Campbeltown Museum committee in 2019, but, owing to Covid lockdown, the matter lapsed.

 

'I can't imagine what objections there could be to the return of the chains. They rightfully belong to Campbeltown, are relics of the royal burgh's illustrious history and should be displayed where the public can appreciate them.

 

'Campbeltown Museum seems to me the obvious place for them, but, whatever the debate, if any, about a location, I think all interested parties should act to bring these chains home.'

 

Fellow local historian Alex McKinven said: 'Campbeltown Heritage Trail Group is of the opinion that the historic chains of office should be brought home and displayed at a suitable local venue for the benefit of the public.

 

'As a member of the aforementioned group, I recently had the privilege to see the chains during a visit to the town by the current provost of Argyll and Bute, and, although grateful to actually witness same, immediately wondered why relics of our highly successful economic and social past were not displayed locally for the benefit of our community and the town's many visitors.

 

'I'm sure there are a number of locations suitable for the purpose; however, none more so than our local museum at the Burnet Building'.

 

"attachment_859102" "aligncenter" "200"] Current Argyll and Bute provost, Councillor Maurice Corry, wearing the Campbeltown chain of office during a recent visit.

 

South Kintyre councillor Tommy Macpherson, whose great great grandfather Tom McPherson wore one of the two bailie chains during several periods in office between the 1870s and 1910s, has told the Courier he will support any bid to have the chains returned.

 

'It was awfully considerate of the provost to visit wearing our Wee Toon's civic regalia,' he said. 'With more than 200 years' public service, it is very likely every family of old Campbeltown can claim a direct connection to one of the three chains of office.

 

'Tobermory and Inveraray have been permitted custody of their respected chains. On the back of a surge in local interest, I support calls for the return of the regalia and would willingly petition Kilmory [council headquarters] to look into the cost and logistics of a permanent "homecoming".'

 

An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson told the Courier: 'The provost’s chain of office for the former burgh of Campbeltown is one of a number of chains of office which have passed to Argyll and Bute Council, following local government reorganisations.

 

'They are all currently in use and worn by the provost, or depute provost, when they are undertaking civic duties in a particular area of Argyll and Bute.

 

'Due to the financial and historical value, there are strict security requirements to keep the chains secured. They are also subject to specific security arrangements when in use or in transit. There are no plans to change these arrangements.'