Argyll Square Memorial Fountain, Oban, Argyll & Bute. - Converted Fountains on Waymarking.com

Argyll Square in Oban is a major intersection and roundabout. In its centre is a memorial in the form of a drinking fountain, now dry. It is the memorial to Robert Barbour McKelvie M.D.(Glasgow) who graduated in 1858.

Robert Barbour McKelvie was born on the Island of Arran in 1836. He graduated M.D.(Glasgow) in 1858 and after serving as an assistant in Ayrshire was appointed Parochial Medical Officer, Appin and Lismore. After the death of Dr.McGillvray he moved to Oban in 1875, and took on the medical care of four parishes and the Lorn Combination Poorhouse amongst other duties. This meant travelling a great deal on train and ferry around the islands. After an outbreak of an infectious disease in the area in 1897 he presented the Infectious Hospital to the town which was called the McKelvie Hospital for many years.

He died of apoplexy on 5th November 1901.

His Obituary can be found in the British Medical Journal and seen here:- Robert Barbour McKelvie

The memorial takes the form of a tapering granite column surmounted by a four-faced tablet and globe, mounted on an octagonal plinth with coving and recessed arches, all on a two-step octagonal base. Two of the arches contain the inscriptions, one in English the other Gaelic, on opposite sides. Between these arches are four blank panels and two fountain recesses with cast lion's heads as the spigots above a basin. There is no running water in these basins now. Below two of the blank arches are semicircular openings looking like boot scrapers. The monument is the centre-piece of the roundabout and is surrounded by flower beds and four flagpoles, the whole area is paved and there is seating.

Access to the memorial is across the A85, but beware, there is no pedestrian crossing at this point!

The inscriptions read:-

                    ROBERT BARBOUR
                    McKELVIE, M.D.
                    A.D. 1836-1901.
                    Medical Officer
                    to the Parishes
                      of Lismore
                       and Appin
                       1860-1875
                        Kilmore
                     and Kilbride
                       1875-1901
                  A Man He Was To all
                   The Country Dear”.
                       Erected
                    By His Friends.

                    ROBERT BARBOUR
                    McKELVIE, M.D.
                    A.D. 1836-1901.
                    Ollamh Leigheis
                    Do Sgìreachdan
                      Lios-Mòire
                      Agus Apuinn
                       1860-1875
                      Cille-Mòire
                    Agus Cille-Bhrìde
                       1875-1901
                    “THA BEANNACHD
                  BHOCHD IS BHEARTACH
                    THA BEANNACHD
                     TINN IS SLÀN
                    BHO'N CHRIDHE
                   LE DEADH DHURACHD
                    DHUIT ANNS GACH
                     CÙIS GU BRATH.”

Setting: Outside Place: Roundabout in Argyll Square, Oban. Use: Now dry, it is still a memorial to Robert Barbour McKelvie, M.D.

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