The origins of some of the piers and landing places on the Clyde are shrouded in mist, perhaps none more so than Tighnabruaich. The previous article on the pier cited 1843 as the date when the pier was erected. This information came from Frank Arneil Walker’s tome, “The Buildings of Scotland, Argyll and Bute,” published by Penguin in 2000, and generally an impeccable source as it accesses architectural plans that are well-dated. The plans are presented in Ian McCrorie’s book “Tighnabruaich Pier,” published by the Tighnabruaich Pier Association in 2002. Indeed the plans for the quay at Tighnabruaich were likely drawn up in 1843 for the Castle Steamboat Company, but the construction of the pier was a year or so later.
In the Glasgow Herald in February 1844, there is an advertisement for feuing of the shore at Over Innens that mentions the ferry at Tigh-na-Bruaich, and a year or so later, a similar advertisement intimates the construction of the new quay, to be opened in June, 1845.
“Argyllshire.—To be feued.—The shore lands of Over Innens, beautifully situated in the Kyles of Bute, Cowal, having a fine Southern exposure, and very suitable for sea-bathing, the salt water being exceedingly pure and strong. And as an amusement, abundance of all kinds of fish can be caught at any season.
“There are several small streams, near the banks of which are choice situations for Villas. Fullarton’s New Gazetteer, vol 2d, page 202, remarks, so picturesque is the scenery here, that no one can behold it, under a favourable aspect of the heavens, without intense admiration.
“The Castle Company steamers call at the Ferry of Tigh-na-Bruaich, on the Property, to and from Glasgow in winter daily, and in the summer several times a day, making the distance in about four hours.
“Farther particulars will be learned, by applying to Arthur Scoular, the proprietor, House of Over Innens, on the Estate.”—Glasgow Herald, February 12, 1844
And a year later.
“Argyllshire.—To be feued.—The shore lands of Over Innens, beautifully situated in the Kyles of Bute, Cowal, having a fine Southern exposure, and very suitable for sea-bathing, the salt water being exceedingly pure and strong; and, as an amusement, abundance of all kinds of fish can be caught at any season.
“There are several small streams, near the banks of which are choice situations for Villas. Fullarton’s New Gazetteer, vol 2d, page 202, remarks—”so picturesque is the scenery here, that no one can behold it, under a favourable aspect of the heavens, without intense admiration.”
“There is on the Estate, now in course of erection by the Castle Steam Packet Company, a handsome and substantial Quay, which it is intended shall be finished in June, (the same shall be called Innen’s Quay), where the Castle Steamers will call several times a-day.
“The entire renovating and enlargement of the Inn will be completed early in June, where visitors will find improved accommodation.
“Farther particulars will be learned, by applying to Arthur Scoular, the Proprietor, House of Over Innen’s, on the Estate.”—Glasgow Herald, May, 23, 1845
The reference to the Fullarton’s New Gazetteer is the entry for Kyles of Bute and the quote is for the point where the passage opens to the West Kyles, in other words, Tighnabruaich. It is interesting that the quay was to be called Innen’s Quay, a name now lost to history, although Over Innen is still to the fore (or was as late as the 1950s).
Reference to the Castle Steam-Packet Company’s contemporary advertisements make no mention of Innen’s Quay. Thus, cheap excursions in August 1845 indicate that one could travel from Glasgow to Colintraive, Taynabruaich, Kyles of Bute, and back the same day for 3s. 0d., cabin and 2s. 0d., steerage. The following year, only Kyles of Bute is mentioned, and by 1848 when the Castle Steamers were under the control of the Messrs G. & J. Burns empire, the destination is again Taynabruaich.
Andrew Clark in his “Steamers to the Kyles of Bute” published by Stenlake in 2018, makes reference to Innen’s Jetty, so perhaps the name was used locally.
January 16, 2021
The Tighnabruaich Pier Association and local Heritage Club have been trying to get to the bottom of the origins of the pier for some time. You have managed to get as far as any of us. Arthur Scoular married into the Innens Estate, by then owned by the Williamson family. He spotted the trend along the Cowal Coast to sell feus to West of Scotland merchants for summer residences but must have recognised his estate was at a geographical disadvantage, in spite of its scenic splendours. The plans to develop a pier meant it became viable to develop the area in this way. There is no mention of Tigh-na-bruaich in any maps or literature pre-dating this time, so the name would appear to have been coined, probably by Arthur himself, to help market the area. The adjacent village of Kames was by then long established but, owing to the vigour with which Arthur Scoular attracted feuars to the area, Tighnabruaich became the principal settlement in the area, although Kames residents would take issue with that statement to this day.
The name Innens is still in use locally. There is an area behind the village, which has been earmarked for development for many years, which is known as Over Innens.
There are competing opinions as to whether the Williamson family had any link to Alexander Williamson who developed an important fleet of steamers serving Rothesay and the Kyles and began a dynasty of immense importance to the history of the Clyde steamers. The Innens Williamsons had Greenock connections, whereas Alexander Williamson hailed from the other side of the river. There is, so far, no conclusive evidence to prove or disprove the connection.