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History of Aros Park
Tobermory Isle of Mull

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THE EARLY YEARS

CHANGES IN THE 19th Cent

INTO THE 20th Cent.

FORESTRY COMMISSION

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

RECREATING THE PARK

WILDLIFE IN AROS PARK

LINKS TO MULL SITES

Aros House

The Forestry Commission
In 1959 the Forestry Commission bought much of the estate. However the House was sold to a private buyer who stripped it of all valuable materials then left; leaving the Forestry with a serious problem, what should they do with a property no one wanted? And the House was in a serious state of decay. In 1962 the army was called in to demolish the place for safety reasons. A very sad end to what must have been a very fine house. Much of the stone was used to make the car park. The front doors of the house are now the doors of Tobermory church.

In 1969 the Forestry Commission reopened the former grounds of Aros House to the public. A plaque and tree planting ceremony commemorated this event. Development in the park concentrated on the preservation, and as an area for quiet leisure pursuits such as walking and fishing. The provision of car parking and toilets were considered as minimum requirements but the overall fabric of the area was allowed to decline. The relentless spread of Rhododendron A Rhododendron Ponticum bush

Ponticum had caused severe problems on many walkways, making them very dark and difficult to access and also spoiling many of the excellent views. Some of the paths became dangerous, becoming pot holed and very muddy in wet weather.