Cowal Heritage Society

15/10/2026

Three talks tonight at the Argyll Hotel from 7pm!

09/10/2026

In WWI, the Royal Navy cooked up the bright idea of building submarines that were as fast as a destroyer, so that they could keep up with the Grand Fleet when they sailed out to hunt German battleships. It sounded like a great plan, but there was a catch: to make them that fast, they had to be powered by steam. Giant air intakes, rows of pressurised boilers and a full set of gaping funnels don't sound like such a hot idea when it came time to dive to periscope depth! These were the 'K-class' submarines, of which 17 were built.

'It'll be fine' the designers said. Everything will seal up and fold away as soon the signal is given to dive. Just as long as Seaman Jones remembers to pull that handle over there, it'll go like clockwork. Everyone ready? Jones?... Anyone seen Jones? Where's that water coming from, Ellis?

On 29th January 1917, the auspiciously named HMS K13 was fresh out of Fairfield's ship yard, heading for Gare Loch and her final practice dive on acceptance trials. Off Shandon, she began her descent. Disaster struck and she flooded uncontrollably, ploughing into the sea bed. So began the desperate rescue action to try and save the 81 men trapped onboard.

On October 15th we'll also be hosting James Grace's short talk on the K-class submarines of the WWI Royal Navy and the HMS K13 disaster on the Gare Loch.Join us from 7pm at the Argyll Hotel in Dunoon to find out more!

06/10/2026

The first of three videos about long lost Highland railway routes...Connel to Balachulish along the southern shoreline of Loch Linnhe

The Ferry to branch line opened in 1...

06/10/2026

Derek's talk takes place on Thursday 15th October at The Argyll Hotel ...alongside a talk about the 'Convalescence Coast' project (Manda Watson) and a brief talk about K-Boats on the Clyde.

On Thursday 15th October from 7pm, I'll be teaming up with friends ...

05/10/2026

Open Day at The Meeting Place - Dunoon this Saturday 10th October

01/10/2026

Cowal Heritage Society focus on Scottish

The next Cowal Heritage Society meeting takes place on Thursday 15th October at the The Argyll Hotel in from 7pm with three fascinating talks on the agenda.

First off, Manda Foster from the The POP Shop on Hillfoot Street will be doing a short talk about the new Convalescence Coast heritage project that has recently received National Lottery funding.

James Grace will then be talking about the steam powered K-Boat submarines that were manufactured on the Clyde during the First World War.

The final keynote presentation of the evening is from Derek Darkins. A teacher at Dunoon Grammar School, Derek’s talk is titled “Blood on the Frontier: Murder, alliances and Lost Battles 704AD to 717AD” covering the little known Dark Ages era in Scotland.

Entry is £5 or free to members.
ENDS

24/09/2026

22/09/2026

An talk this Friday in ...

21/09/2026

How to make a 3D digital, animated film....join Marcus on a yomp around the amazing of the Stronafian Community Forest in on Sept 30, Oct 1 & 2...email Debbie at [email protected] if interested!