Oban’s Heritage

Exploring the history and heritage of Oban through events, activities and a good ol’ blether.

Our Heritage projects are led by our volunteer Heritage Hunters who wish to keep the heritage of Oban alive by capturing, conserving and sharing the heritage of Oban.

We meet from September to April twice a month at our Blether and Shinty Craic sessions.

The Sessions | Winter 2025


Junior Heritage Hunters

Oban has a long, long history filled with tales and adventures.

At the Rockfield we have online activities for kids that want to learn about when the Vikings arrived or know how to send maritime signal whilst sailing the seas.

There is also our Kid’s Space where wee Heritage Hunters can set up shop, man the lighthouse and set up camp in MacArthur’s Cave.

Heritage Hunters

We are a group of volunteers who enjoyable share an interest in the social history and heritage of Oban.

We work on various projects related to the town and manage a collection of local artefacts including photos and oral recordings for public research and exhibition. Head to our resources page to see more.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in too, say hello and send us an email.

Heritage Hunters

The People and the Place Podcast

Some sort of backgroung graphic here.

Line drawn town?

Episode 1

The Story of the Rockfield

Join host, Lauren McLachlan, in a wee throwback to learn about the beginnings of Rockfield Primary School before its current life as a community arts and heritage centre. Tales of milk mishaps, sweet shop stranger schemes and heart warming history. What are you waiting for? It’s time to take a trip down memory lane…

Episode 3

Fun Palace

Podcast host Lauren McLachlan interviews textile artist Deborah Gray about natural dyes and plants to make them. You can see some of Deborah's work at her website

Just a reminder that if you feel like giving natural dyes a try, remember to get permission before harvesting any plant material and only take approximately 10% of the plant so that it can continue to grow.

Episode 2

Argyll Square and the Station

Host and presenter Lauren McLachlan shares some fun information about two main locations in Oban that are often overlooked, Argyll Square and Station Square.

Music from arton Internet Publications.

Welcome to Oban Heritage group’s podcast - The People & the Place.

Listen to presenter and host Lauren McLachlan explore Oban’s history, cultural heritage and stories through interviews and the collected audio archive at the Rockfield Centre.

Episode 4

YAC takeover

The members of the Young Archaeologist Club at the Rockfield Centre interviewed local historian Mhairi Ross about the caves in Oban and what has been discovered in them.

This was part of the opportunity they had to design and deliver an archaeology themed project in their community exploring hidden stories or histories for the From Ordinary to Extraordinary from English Heritage Shout Out Loud program.