Davaar Island is situated at the mouth of Campbeltown Loch, and during low tide, is accessible from the mainland via a bank of shingle named the Dhorlin.
The modern form Davaar appears to originate from the older Do Bharre – thy St Barre. In his Place Names of Argyll, Hugh Cameron Gillies appears to accept the popular derivation, meaning “Double-pointed (Da-Bharr) Island”.
Davaar Lighthouse was engineered by David and Thomas Stevenson, and is now listed as a site of Architectural/Historic interest.
History
1449-1508: Between these dates, Davaar was known as the island of Sanct Barre.
1854: Construction on the lighthouse was completed. One and one third acres of ground were purchased to build the lighthouse and its related buildings, which were estimated to cost between £3,000 and £4,000. The Contractor responsible for the building was John Barr & Co., the lantern was manufactured by James Milne & Son, and the leadwork was produced by John Marshall.
A revolving white light was thought to be the best possible distinction for Davaar and the character in 1854 was one flash every ½ minute. The light used a mercury vapour lamp in conjunction with catoptric mirrors driven by clockwork machinery. The station also had a secomac electric siren fog signal with flap value shutters.
1887: A local artist, Archibald MacKinnon, painted a crucifixion scene in one of the island’s seven caves. The painting has since been restored on numerous occasions.
1983: The light was automated.