Description

Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Planning Authority

1883. Gothic monument to the Gaelic poet Dugald Buchanan standing on a circular base and enclosed by cast-iron railings. The lower part of the monument is composed of 4 short columns clustered around a central pillar: the column shafts are in red marble and the tops of the capitals were once small fountain bowls, but have been filled in. Above are 4 cusped-arch niches (one to each face) containing grey and red marble panels inscribed in Gaelic and English. The upper part of the monument is pyramidal and topped by a decorative wrought-iron finial. There is some decorative carving around the niches. A decorative monument to an important local poet (see Notes), occupying a prominent position on the main road through Strathyre.

Materials: sandstone with some red and grey marble.

Statement of Interest

Dugald Buchanan (1716-68) was one of the foremost Gaelic poets of the 18th century, and has been described as 'the Cowper of the Highlands'. He was born at Ardoch Mill, Strathyre and in 1755 became the Schoolmaster at Kinloch Rannoch. He helped the Rev. James Stewart of Killin to translate the New Testament into Gaelic, and published 'Laoidhibh Spioradail' ('Spiritual Hymns') in 1767. Verses from two of his works are inscribed on the E and W faces of the monument. The dedication is inscribed on the N face, and the S face, which is slightly eroded reads: ''There is not in any language truer poetry than that to be found in the Sacred Songs of Buchanan. It is undoubted that they have been largely blessed to the spirit [?] edification of the church of God' Rev D [?] T McLaughlan, Erected 1883 by public Subscription'.

The architect of the monument is unknown, but similarities to the work of William Leiper and Andrew Heiton have been noted.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77778358

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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