Oban is overlooked by McCaig's Tower(Image: Getty Images)

The tiny UK town that has its own 'Colosseum' and fascinating history

The town of Oban in Scotland is home to McCaig's Tower - a Colosseum-like folly that was the brainchild of a wealthy banker who had a passion for Roman and Greek architecture

by · The Mirror

One coastal town in Scotland boasts the distinctive McCaig's Tower, which bears a striking resemblance to Rome's Colosseum.

Oban, situated in Argyll and Bute, lies in the western part of Scotland. It's often dubbed the 'Gateway to the Hebrides' due to its strategic location, offering easy ferry access to the Outer and Inner Hebrides islands.

However, it's not just its seaside charm and ferry services that set Oban apart from other UK towns and villages; it's the Colosseum-like edifice that towers over it.

Construction on the tower started in 1897( Image: Getty Images)

McCaig's Tower perches atop Battery Hill, where it has stood since 1897 when it was designed and commissioned by affluent banker John Stuart McCaig.

McCaig had grand visions for the structure, intending to house a museum and art gallery within the proposed building, with a central tower displaying statues of himself and his family members.

A fervent admirer of Roman and Greek architecture, McCaig's choice to model the building after the Colosseum was no accident. Although if his dreams had fully materialised, the tower might have looked less like the ancient landmark.

Granite for the tower's construction was procured from quarries in nearby Airds Bay, with the hope that the project would create employment for local stonemasons.

Sadly, McCaig passed away following a cardiac arrest on June 29, 1902, leaving behind only the tower, much as it stands today, as an empty shell.

The tower was commissioned and designed by John Stuart McCaig( Image: Getty Images)

Following McCaig's passing, the tower's construction came to a halt. Despite his provision of £1,000 annually for its maintenance, this was contested in court by family members and their appeal was successful.

Although incomplete, McCaig's Tower has remained a historical curiosity and has held the status of a Grade B Listed historic monument since 1971.

Today, only the vacant shell of the tower stands, but it continues to be an intriguing site for visitors and photographers alike. In a unique event in 2003, two local high school teachers chose the tower as their wedding venue.