Taynuilt

Taynuilt Taigh an Uillt
Village
View of Taynuilt and Airds Bay from near Balindore
Taynuilt
Coordinates: 56°25′59″N 5°13′57″W / 56.43306°N 5.23250°W / 56.43306; -5.23250Coordinates: 56°25′59″N 5°13′57″W / 56.43306°N 5.23250°W / 56.43306; -5.23250
Country	United Kingdom
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Population
• Total	800
Website	http://www.taynuilt.net/

Taynuilt (['tɛinəlt]; Scottish Gaelic: Taigh an Uillt, [t̪ʰɤj ə n̪ˠɯiʎtʲ], meaning 'the house by the stream') is a large village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland located at the western entrance to the narrow Pass of Brander.

The village is situated on the River Nant about a kilometre before the river flows into Loch Etive at Airds Bay. This is just to the west of a narrowing of the loch down to about 0.2 km. The larger River Awe passes about 1 km to the east of the village and joins the loch just to the east of the narrow point. The West Highland Line and A85 road pass through the village.

The narrows form a natural crossing to Bonawe on the north shore, and for centuries the village was a staging post and resting place for travellers. A small hill immediately to the east of the main street of the village was the site of Killespickerill, which was built in 1228 as the seat of the Bishop of Argyll. Some of its ruins were incorporated into Muckairn Parish Church, built in 1829. On the north shore of Loch Etive more extensive ruins remain of Ardchattan Priory, which was founded in 1230. In 1308 it was the venue for the last Scottish Parliament held in Gaelic. A regular ferry service ran to Bonawe from 1690.

In 1753 the Bonawe Iron Furnace was constructed by the Newland Company, later known as Harrison Ainslie. It stood just to the north of the village, between the rivers Nant and Awe, making use of timber from the local forests for charcoal fuel to smelt iron ore brought by sea from England. Although small in comparison to the huge 'hot-melt' furnaces of the 19th century, the furnace provided work not only at the site of the smelter but also for up to 600 charcoal burners over a large area of local woodlands. The effects of coppicing trees for charcoal burning can still be seen in local woods where, for a time, during the early part of the 20th century, birch brooms for use in steel mills were manufactured. The furnace was of such strategic importance that in 1756 a military road was constructed, crossing the Pass of Brander and the Bridge of Awe to reach the furnace. Twenty years afterwards the road was extended westward to Connel, and later still on to Oban. The factory produced 42,000 cannonballs in 1781. Closed in 1876, the furnace is still substantially complete and is a tourist attraction in the care of Historic Scotland.