CIVIC CHAINS

The Council’s Convener represents the people of Argyll and Bute at literally hundreds of occasions every year. As a mark of office, the Convener is entitled to wear a civic chain.

Argyll and Bute Council does not have a civic chain representative of the authority. However the nine former Town Councils which represented the area prior to a reorganisation of local government in Scotland in 1975, each had a civic chain which was worn by the Town’s Provost.

These chains have become the responsibility of Argyll and Bute Council and are occasionally worn at important events by the Convener.

CAMPBELTOWN

This is by far the oldest of the chains, and may yet prove to be one of the oldest in Scotland. It, and two Bailie’s chains were commissioned by Campbeltown Town Council in 1816.

In its original form it was simply a slender chain of unmarked gold. In 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee the heavy central pendant, bearing the town’s coat of arms, was presented by the then Provost, Duncan Colville, a distiller in Campbeltown.

COVE AND KILCREGGAN

This is the youngest of all the chains in the Council’s ownership. It was gifted to the Burgh in 1960 by ‘a donor who wished to remain anonymous’.

It is a Celtic link chain supported on an azure corded silk ribbon. The oval gold medallion is emblazoned with the burgh coat of arms and motto.

ROTHESAY

This is the second oldest of the chains of Argyll and Bute. It dates back to 1874 when the Provost of Rothesay received an invitation to attend a dinner in London being hosted by the Lord Mayor.

In order to uphold the image of their town the Councillors arranged for a gold chain of office to be made for their Provost to wear for the grand occasion. The chain was designed by Rothesay jeweller Andrew Holden, and was made in Glasgow at the cost of £56 13s 8d.

In 1898 this expensive but simple chain was enlarged and remodelled in a ‘very handsome manner’ on the instructions of John, 3rd Marquis of Bute, the Provost of the Burgh of Rothesay. The remodelling was completed by March 1899.

DUNOON

According to an inscription on the back of the central medallion the chain was ‘Presented by 125 citizens of the Burgh of Dunoon for the use of Provosts of Dunoon in all time coming, April 1934’.

Made of 14 ct gold, with applied enamel the chain is the work of Brook and Son, Edinburgh 1933.

HELENSBURGH

To commemorate the first centenary of the Burgh of Helensburgh in 1902 the Town Council resolved to purchase a gold chain for the Provost - but nothing was done. A few years went by until a group of interested citizens in the town got together and subscribed towards the purchase of "a handsome gold chain".

The chain was solemnly presented and worn for the first time in December 1908. Later, in 1926, two chains for the use of the Bailies were given by Councillor Andrew Buchanan and his wife "as fully befitting the importance of the Burgh".

INVERARAY

This chain, made in Glasgow by the jewellers Aird and Thomson, was presented to the town in 1904 by W.D. Fisher, a writer in Glasgow. He claimed descent from earlier provosts of the burgh.

It consists of a gold pendant bearing the coat of arms, with a chain of silver gilt links. According to ex-Provost Mrs Helen Buntain it is heavy to wear and she was always glad to remove it from round her neck.

LOCHGILPHEAD

Made of copper gilt with a gold pendant, the chain was presented to the town in 1949 by John B. Ross, a native of the burgh.

In 1965 the chain was valued at £100. The coats of arms of both Lochgilphead and Inveraray feature the herring, once the basis of the main industry of the area.

OBAN

The chain was presented by Mrs F.A. Macauley of The Oban Times in 1953. It has 22 links of silver gilt each shaped like a lion.

The central pendant is of 19 ct. gold with the town’s coat of arms in enamel. It was commissioned from a firm of goldsmiths in London.

TOBERMORY

This chain was gifted to Tobermory by John MacLean, Vancouver, B.C., but by birth a native of the town.

He announced his wish to present the chain in 1959 but it was not until over a year later, on 29 June 1960, that Mr MacLean was able to travel to Tobermory to present his gift in person.