Bowmore

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Bowmore
gaelic_name=
population= 862 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Bowmore Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=bowmore&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
est. 860 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
latitude= 55.756816
longitude= -6.286883
os_grid_reference= NR315598
unitary_scotland= Argyll and Bute
lieutenancy_scotland= Argyll and Bute
constituency_westminster= Argyll and Bute
constituency_scottish_parliament= Argyll and Bute
post_town= ISLE OF ISLAY
postcode_district = PA43
postcode_area= PA
dial_code= 01496

Bowmore is a village on the Scottish island of Islay and serves as administrative capital of the island. It gives its name to the famous distillery producing Bowmore Single Malt, a single malt scotch whisky.

History

Bowmore is a planned village with wide streets on a grid-iron pattern. Daniel Campbell the Younger initiated the construction of the village in 1770, just after the completion of the Kilarrow Parish Church, which was built in a circular shape to prevent the devil from hiding in a corner.

In 1779 the Bowmore Distillery came in operation and is situated on the shores of Loch Indaal and next to an old warehouse which is converted to a swimming pool, known locally as the MacTaggart Centre. The waste heat from the distillery is partially used to heat the water of the swimming pool.

Bowmore in WWII

There was a RAF seaplane base at Bowmore during WWII. Short Sunderland and PBY Catalina flying boats operated from Loch Indaal. Some of the wartime film, [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034603/ Coastal Command] was filmed in Bowmore and it features a shot of a Sunderland flying low over the main street of Bowmore and over Kilarrow Parish Church.

Facilities

Bowmore has several hotels, restaurants, shops, a hospital, a high school and is home to the "Ileach" newspaper, community newspaper of the year 2006. Bowmore is also host to Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile (the Columba Centre), a cultural centre and college founded with the aim of promoting gaelic language and heritage on the Island.

Famous persons

The Rev Donald Caskie, famous as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for his wartime exploits in France, is one of Bowmore's most famous sons. He was responsible for the safe passage of numerous exiles through the Scots Kirk in Paris during WWII, risking both life and limb. In more recent times, Glenn Campbell can be seen regularly on BBC Scotland as their political correspondent.

References

External links

* [http://www.ile.ac.uk/ Homepage Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile (the Columba Centre)]
* [http://www.ileach.co.uk Ileach Community Newspaper]
* [http://www.theroundchurch.org.uk/ Bowmore Round Church website]
* [http://www.bowmore.co.uk/ Bowmore Single Malt Whisky Website]