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The Toll, Arrochar
Moving on from Tyvechtican you come to The Toll.
Here you will find The Old Toll House. This was used by villagers of
Arrochar and Tarbet up until the 1950's.
On the other side of the main road was the old golf course and curling
pond. the golf course was used up until the early 1900's and ran from
Auchendarroch to the Stuckendu. The curling pond was used by guests
staying at The Tarbet Hotel.
Moving towards Tarbet you will come to the old
Ballyhennan Church and burial ground. The church was built in 1844 by
Stewarts Dunoon. It took 5 months with congregation doing all the
carting of materials. The church finally closed in 1966. It then became
The Black Sheep and is now The Ben Lomond and houses our Heritage Centre
on the first floor. The manse for the church, now Glebe House, was
situated at the back of the present school field. The origins of the
burial ground are summed up in two traditions: -
When Gilchrist of
Arrochar’s son Duncan was ruling these lands, during this time
the Battle of Largs was fought in 1263. Before that battle King
Haco sent an expedition, under one or two of his lieutenants, to
ravage Loch Lomondside, and the Glen of Tarbet. A great fight
took place between Duncan’s clansmen and the Norse. To bury the
slain in this action the little graveyard at Ballyhennan was
begun. The graveyard also contains many ancient MacFarlane
stones which should tell a story when examined properly – many
with the shield of the chief’s family sculptured on them: and
there at least two old stones there adorned with what looks like
ancient Celtic tracery. The other tradition
about the old graveyard – to the effect that it originated after
an attack of plague in which many people died, and had to be
buried at once.
If you have any knowledge, photographs, documents or any other information pertaining to this subject please contact us now. Thank you.