Talks Archive

Session 2024-25

• The Hospitals of Ross and Cromarty — Their Origin and Development,   Jim and Steve Leslie
• High Pasture Cave — Ritual, Identity and Memory in the Iron Age of Skye,   Steve Birch

Session 2023-24

•  Tarradale Through Time — Remarkable Discoveries on the Black Isle,   Dr. Eric Grant
• A New perspective on the Highlands Before Culloden — The life‐writing of ‘curious cleric’ Rev. James Fraser (1634‐1709),    Professor David Worthington
• Maps and Map Making in the Scottish 18th Century — A transition in surveying, maps amd map-making in Scotland,    Roland Spencer‐Jones
• A Tale of Two Shopkeepers — and their families,    Ross Couper
• All Hail Macbeth, Thain of Cromarty? — Good king, bad king: the making of an historical myth,    Liz Broumley
• Are We Nearly There Yet? — A journey exploring Scotland’s milestones, Bruce Keith
• National Archive Papers regarding the Black Isle.,    Nicola Mills
• A Tour of Black Isle Place Names — Revealing the people, languages, values and changes over time ,    Sheila Currie

Session 2022-23

•  William & Paterson Murdoch — Engineers of Highland Railways,   Anne‐Mary Paterson
• The Herring Gutters of N.E. Scotland — a coastal history,   Anne Coombs
• Cromarty Town Council — and the end of local democracy,   Sandy Thomson
• From Pupil to Teacher — One Cromarty Girl’s journey in the first decade of the 20th century,    Paul Monk
• James Braidwood, father of the modern fire service — A true Scottish hero,    Diana Hamilton‐Jones
• General Sir Richard O'Connor of Rosemarkie; A hero of two world wars,    Roger Young
• Where Angels Fear to Tread — Setting an historical novel in your own backyard,   Shona MacLean
• The Story of Cromarty in Six Maps — (and a few diagrams),   Liz Broumley and Pat Haynes

Session 2021-22

There were no talks from September to January due to Covid

• 7 Braehead  —  a Pickletoun House,    Arthur Bird
• Resistance and Uprising — enslaved Africans defy their Highland masters, Guyana 1800-1814,   David Alston
• AGM followed by — From the Courthouse archives: Cromarty — the story of a town: memories of Fishertown

Session 2020-21

There were no talks due to Covid

Session 2019-20

• Archaeology and the Historic Environment  —  in Scotland’s National Forests,   Matt Ritchie
• Healing wells  —  Their contemporary use, history and folklore,   Roddy McKenzie
• Cromarty Emigrants  —  and the Ships that took them,   Sandy Thomson
• Telling the Highland Story  —  30 years reporting the news from the north,   David Ross
• Three Doctors  —  Highland medics at home and in the Empire,   Dr. David Alston
• ‘One of the best portes in this yslande’ — A history of Cromarty harbour,   Pat Haynes

Session 2018-19

• Kirkmichael  — Back from the brink of destruction,    Dr Jim Mackay
• The Yankee Mining Squadron  — Impact on the Inverness Firth in 1918,   Richard Jenner, Chanonry Sailing Club
• The Great North Road  —  The story of the A9,   Jim Miller
• Cromarty Cameos  —  Portraits from our Town,   Committee Members
• Making Plans for Daldon:  — the story of Cromarty’s Provost and Edinburgh College of Art’s class of ‘62’,   Gordon Haynes
• From factor’s house to The Factor’s House — a journey through 170 years,   Fran Tilbrook
• Hector the Hero — Evidence, interpretation and musical judgement,   Liz Broumley
• AGM Meeting,   Paul Monk & Gordon Haynes

Session 2017-18

• Interpreting the Black Isle and Beyond  —  The history and mystery of 21st. century interpretative storytelling,   Verity Walker
• The Hospitals of Inverness — Their origin and development 1650 – 2000,   Jim & Steve Leslie
• The Remarkable Miss Yule of Tarradale — A woman in a man’s world,   Dr. Eric Grant
• A Brief History of Cromarty  — 800 years on one page,   Dr. David Alston
• Walking with Cattle:  — A writer’s journey in search of the last drovers of Uist,   Terry J. Williams<
• Playing the Game:  — 19th Century Sports in Ross and Cromarty,    Sandy Thomson
• A Tale of Two Homes:  — A wee journey through the life of two Cromarty houses,   Sheila Currie & Jane Verberg
• Crime and Punishment at the Courthouse,   Paul Monk

Session 2016-17

• Cromarty School 1913 – 1946  —  Eric Malcolm’s last talk,   Presented by Sandy Thomson
• The Ross and Cromarty Mountain Battery  — Players on the global chessboard that was The Great Game,   Dave Rendell
• The Diary of a VictorianLady  —  A visit to Dingwall in 1892,   Jonathan McColl
• All Shall Have Prizes —  A look at some of Cromarty’s cups, awards and more
• A New Way of Living —  Georgian Town Planning in the Highlands and Islands,   Gordon Haynes
• Rosemarkie Caves — Some finds and a puzzle,   Simon Gunn & Mary Peteranna
• A Few Treasures from the Courthouse Museum — Objects Seldom Seen,   Paul Monk

Session 2015-16

• Inverness Man Lost at Sea — Highlanders on the Titanic,   Norman Newton
• A Curate's Egg — Hugh Rose Ross of Cromarty, 1767-1846   Dr Jim MacKay
• Tea and Rusty Bicycles — The Great Black Isle Drought of 1955   Sinclair Dunnett
• Eric Malcolm — Readings and Reflections
• Every Object Tells a Story,   Dr. Alix Powers Jones
• Scandals and Reay House,   Roger Young
• Still Life —  Distilling in the Black Isle and surrounding area in the 18th Century,   Meryl Marshall
• In the wake of the Betsey  — Following Hugh Miller to Eigg,   Ro Scott and Martin Gostwick
• Does Archaeology Matter? — Engaging the local community in the Cromarty Medieval Burgh,   Mary Peteranna and Steve Birch

Session 2014-15

• The Black Isle Railway,   Jack Kernohan
•  From Crofting to Oil Rigs —  the 1970s 'clearance' of Nigg,   Sandy Thomson
• The Evolution of the Highland Hospital,   Steve and Jim Leslie
• State-owned Pubs Around the Cromarty Firth,   Sandy Thomson, and Forty Years of Cromarty Fourways Club,   Anne Short
• 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders — the Great War,   Lynsey Easton and Robert Shanks
• A Safe Place for Cromarty's Poor — the Black Isle Combination Poorhouse,   Dr Jenny Fyfe
• Thief's Row Re-visited — an Update on the Cromarty Medieval Burgh Archaeology Project,   Steven Birch
• Two Communities Changed by War — Cromarty and Resolis in WW1,   Dr Jim MacKay

Session 2013-14

• The Baby in the Biscuit Box — A Case Study from 1882,   Norman Newton
• Tent Pegs and Treasures — Metal Detecting at Belladrum,   Eric Soane
• Building Your Own History — Climbing the family tree,   Jonathan McColl
• Christmas Crackers — James Thomson and Hugh Miller,   Society members
• Monumental Isles of Historic Scotland,   Kenny Taylor
• A Wander along Thief's Row — community archaeology at the Reeds Park,   Steven Birch
• The Murchisons of Tarradale,   Eric Grant
• Sutherland Murray — the Yukon Gold Rush to Cromarty,   Paul Monk

Session 2012-13

• How the Highlands and Islands Pioneered the Health Service,   Dr Miles Mack
• Buildings of the Western Seaboard ,   Mary Miers
• Maps of the Black Isle,   Graham Clark
• Cromarty Radicals (not the friends of Hugh Miller),   Dr David Alston
• Robert Dick — Baker, Botanist and Geologist of Thurso,   Jane Verburg
• Nigg and Rigs,   Ross Couper
• Remember who stole the Mulbuie? — The division of a Black Isle Commonty,   Ro Scott
• Spinning a Yarn — The Cromarty Hemp Factory,   Dr David Alston

Session 2011-12

• David Urquhart of Braelangwell 1805-77,   Sandy Thomson
• James Thomson of Tain — A Highlander in Quebec,    Estelle Quick
• Ferries of the Black Isle,   Dr Jim Mackay
• The Execution of John Adam,   Dr Graham Clark 
• Post-War Cromarty 1945-75,   Sandy Thomson and David Alston
• HMS Natal  — A Reappraisal ,   Paul Monk
• Hugh Miller's Visit to Olney,   Dr Lindsay Hemy
• The Wardie Legacy to the Courthouse Museum,   Paul Monk

Session 2010-11

• Oral History and Archaeology for Black Isle Communities,    Susan Kruse
• Cromarty Schools and Schoolteachers,   Dr Jenny Fyfe
• Heresy, Murder and Witchcraft,   The Story of the Cromarty Bible,   Dr David Alston
• George Bain — Pioneer in Celtic Art,   Susan Seright
• The Changing Fortunes of Seals and Seabirds in Scottish Waters,   Professor Paul Thompson
• RNAS Cromarty  — The Cromarty Seaplane Base,   Paul Monk
• Cromarty in Context 1901-1939,   Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
• The Excavation of the Caird's Cave, Rosemarkie,   Simon Gunn

Session 2009-10

• History of Education in the Highlands,   Eileen McCaskill
• The MacKenzies of Redcastle,   Dr Graham Clark
• The Episcopal Church in the Highlands,   Very Rev. Mark Strange
• Cromarty in the Victorian Age,   Dr David Alston and Sandy Thomson
• Cromarty Estate Farms in the 18th and 19th Centuries,   Sandy Thomson
• Highlanders in Poland/Lithuania 1500-1800,   Dr David Worthington
• Gravestones at the East Kirk,   History Society Members
• Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty,   Helma Reynolds

Session 2008-09

• Charming, and other sins, on the Black Isle,   Dr Jim Mackay
• Historic Buildings in the Highlands and Islands,   Mary Miers
• The Highland Archive Network,   Susan Beckley
• The Cromarty Fishing Community,   CHS Members
• Cromarty from 1707 to 1839,   Dr David Alston and Sandy Thomson
• Progress at the East Church,   Caroline Vawdrey and Dr David Alston
• Jacobites and Russia,   Dr Becky Boyd
• The Geological History of Cromarty and the Surrounding Area,   Dr Ian Basham

Session 2007-08

• Inverness Museum 'Future-Proofed',   Catherine Niven
• Archaeological Investigations in Cromarty,   John Wood
• Slaves, Highlanders and Freedom,   Dr David Alston and Margot Henderson
• Cromarty from 1513 to 1707,   Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
• The Fleet in the Cromarty Firth,   Estelle Quick
• Cromarty in the 1950s,   Dougie MacPhee

Session 2005-06

• The Parish of Edderton,   Reay Clarke
• Unearthing Redcastle's Secret History,   Colin MacLeod
• The Grahams of Drynie,   John MacDonald
• Cromarty Town CouncilThe Last Days,   Sandy Thomson
• A Walk through Resolis Parish,   Dr Jim Mackay
• Restoration of the East Church,   Sam Russell and Ian Fraser
• Cromarty Place Names,   Dr Jenny Fyfe
• The Nigg Fabrication Yard,   Bill Shannon

Session 2004-05

• Archaeology around Cromarty,   John Wood
• Rosehaugh House,   Kathleen MacLeman
• Hugh Miller — Hero or Villain?,   Martin Gostwick
• A Tale of Two Hospitals,   Lilah Dowsett
• Reverend Alexander Stewart,   John Tallach
• Strathcarnoch,   Dr David Alston

Session 2001-02

• Press Coverage of Cromarty in the 19th Century,   Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
• A Highland Monastery — Fearn Abbey,   Father Mark Dilworth
• Ross-shire Man Finds Gold in the Klondyke,   Caroline Shepherd-Barron
• The Cromarty Stone — a Relic from Sir Thomas Urquhart's Castle,   Eric Malcolm
• Kilts, Pipes and the Highland Soldier,   Gordon Urquhart
• Cromarty Church Papers Discovered,   CHS Members
• Remembering the Clearances,   Christine Mackay
• Cromarty Treasure Trove,   Dr David Alston

Session 2000-01

• Cromarty and the Civil War,   Calum Davidson
• E.A Mackintosh — Poet of the Highland Division:,   Colin Campbell MSP
• Forestry in the Black Isle,   Ian Ross
• Strathpeffer Spa Recalled,   Ian McCrae
• Black Highlanders,   Dr David Alston
• George Romanes and the Nigg Laboratory,   Dr Jenny Fyfe
• Playing the Game in Ross and Cromarty,   Sandy Thomson
• From Baltic Seals to the Cromarty Volunteers,   CHS Members
• Moray Firth Ships and Trade,   Ian Hustwick

Session 1999-2000

• The Medieval 'Power Centre' of Cromarty,   Dr Richard Oram  
• Our Episcopal forefathers,   Colin Page,   ,   
• Bringing Power from the Glens,   Eric Malcolm  
• Brewing on the Black Isle,   Dr David Alston
• Archaeology of the Moray Firth,   Dr Alex Hale
• Highland Drovers and Wild West Cowboys,   Rob Gibson MSP
• Cromarty in the 1930s,   Eric Malcolm

Session 1998-99

• Images of Highland Archaeology,   Sena Mackay
• The Five Euphemias of Ross,   Elizabeth Sutherland