I suppose it's a matter of opinion and personal taste whether a Wm Low's supermarket (now Tesco) was a more attractive aspect in the townscape than an historical church building and the old Lochhead Maltings.
It was symbolic of Campbeltown's history as the Whisky Capital of the World that a church be juxtaposed cheek by jowl with a distillery building, and was also symbolic of the assertion in David Stirk's very interesting book "The Whisky Distilleries of Campbeltown", that Scotland has historically had a love/hate relationship with whisky. (Here I assume that the Church generally is against the abuse of alcohol, although JC himself is alleged to have turned water into wine
). Campbeltown in the 19th Century was possibly the finest case study of this love/hate relationship.
At that time, I believe Campbeltown had more distilleries than the now world-famous whisky distilling region of Speyside. The Toon has missed out here on a massive market, although I appreciate that at the time there were economic reasons for the decline.
It's also interesting to note that within my own memory, going back to the 1950s and 60s, Campbeltown supported five Church of Scotland congregations, namely Highland, Longrow, Lochend (UF), Castlehill and Lorne Street. There are only two left.
However, we have Springbank, Glen Scotia, Glengyle, Longrow, Kilkerran, and the various blends associated with the Campbeltown distilling trade, all excellent products.
Could distilling be a future niche market for the town again? Before somebody in the trade answers me by saying that Campbeltown already has a niche market in the whisky trade, I will state that I do appreciate this, but wonder if there is room for expansion in this field? Campbeltown is still a distinct whisky region, thanks to the survivors who have kept the tradition going in the local distilleries.
I suppose one's opinion on this would depend on whether one worships the conventional God or the Roman God Bacchus.
Merda taurorum animas conturbit. Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur