Cumbrae History
Artifacts such as Stone Coffins have
been found on Great Cumbrae and Little
Cumbrae dating to about 4,000 years
back.
700s - the village of Kirkton was
where the west side of Millport is today,
with an early Christian Church, where
Millport Old Cemetery is situated.
800s - Vikings took control of the
Western Isles of Scotland, including the
Cumbraes.
1263 - the Battle of Largs led to the
Vikings being forced to give up control
of the Western Isles to King Alexander
III.
Kings then controlled the Cumbraes
with their Relations or Loyal Clans.
People on the Islands were mainly
Tenant Farmers, growing crops such as
Oats and Barley, rearing Cattle and
Sheep, or were Fishermen.
1300s - a Royal Hunting lodge was
built on Little Cumbrae with John
Stewart, son of King Robert II of
Scotland, being granted the lands of
Cumbrae, Bute, and Arran, with that
family of Stewart's later gaining the
title Marquess of Bute.
1400s - Clan Hunter was looking after
Little Cumbrae for the Royals, with Clan
Hunter having a Castle on the south side
of Largs since 1271.
1500s - Clan Boyle began taking over
most of the Land on Cumbrae, with them
having Kelburn Castle on the south side
of Largs since the 1100s.
1515 - Clan Montgomerie was awarded
control of Little Cumbrae as the King
accused Clan Hunter of not protecting the
Island from poachers and outlaws, with
Clan Montgomerie having Castles in
Ayrshire since 1361.
1520s - a Castle was built on Little
Cumbrae to replace the Hunting Lodge for
Clan Montgomerie, Lord Eglinton.
1650s - the Castle on Little Cumbrae
was attacked and damaged by forces of
Oliver Cromwell, with it then in
ruin.
1600s - the village of Kames evolved
around fishing on the east side of where
Millport is today, at Kames Bay.
1700s - the villages of Kirkton and
Kames merged, forming Millport.
1745 - Garrison House was built for
Captain James Crawford in Millport so
customs officers could tackle illegal
smuggling in the area, as people were
avoiding paying Taxes on items such as
Coffee, Lace, Salt, Silk, Iron, Slate,
Wood, Spices, Tea, Tobacco, Brandy,
Claret, Rum, and Whisky.
1820s - Garrison House was converted
to a Mansion for George Boyle, 4th Earl
of Glasgow.
1833 - Millport Pier was built for the
4th Earl of Glasgow so the Clyde Paddle
Steamers could bring tourists to the
Island, with the George Hotel built at
the Pier around that time.
There were about 40 Paddle Steamers
operating around the Firth of Clyde and
Islands such as Cumbrae, Bute and Arran,
in the early 1900s.
1840s - Palm Trees were brought to the
UK with them planted in west Scotland
seaside towns such as Millport and Largs,
but it is un-clear when they were first
planted at Millport.
1800s mid - Clan Boyle had gained
control of about two thirds of Great
Cumbrae, with the Stewart's, Marquess of
Bute, owning about one third.
1851 - the Cathedral of the Isles was
completed in the centre of Millport, for
George Frederick Boyle, 6th Earl of
Glasgow, claimed to be the smallest
Cathedral in the UK.
1886 - the 6th Earl of Glasgow was in
debt after building Churches around
Scotland, leading to the 3rd Marquess of
Bute / John Crichton-Stuart, buying his
land on Great Cumbrae.
1887 - the 3rd Marquess of Bute bought
Garrison House.
1888 - the Cumbrae Golf Club was
founded.
1897 - the Marine Station and Aquarium
opened on the east side of Millport with
the Robertson Museum and Aquarium.
1900 - the Cumbrae Golf Club name was
changed to Millport Golf Club.
1913 - Little Cumbrae was sold to
Evelyn Stuart Parker to be used as a
private Island, with her having a 9
bedroom Mansion built. The Island has
been sold a number of times since, can
only be visited by appointments. Website.
1922 - Millport War Memorial was built
by the Beach with 42 names for World War,
with 19 names for World War II added
later.
1936 - the first Bicycle Hire Shop
opened in Millport, leading to the Island
becoming famous for Cycling around the
Islands fairly level coast.
1972 - Car Ferries began running
between Largs and Cumbrae Slip, 4 miles
north of Millport.
1976 - the Cumbrae National
Watersports Centre opened at the Ferry
Slip on Cumbrae.
1978 - the Museum of the Cumbraes
opened in Garrison House.
1999 - John Crichton-Stuart / 7th
Marquess of Bute, better known as the
racing driver Johnny Dumfries, sold his
land on Great Cumbrae, with Tenant
Farmers given the first chance to buy
their Farms.
2001 - the Garrison House Museum was
damaged by Fire.
2008 - the Garrison House Museum
re-opened.
2020 - the Cumbrae National
Watersports Centre closed.
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