28 March 2025Meeting Tuesday 15th April 2025, 7.30pm
Romancing the Stone — Marriage Lintels and Date Stones close to you
Dr. Jim Mackay
Victoria Hall, Cromarty
Cromarty History Society’s next meeting will be in the Victoria Hall at 7.30pm on April 15th, the subject being ‘Romancing the Stone ‐ Marriage Lintels and Date Stones close to you’.
Dr Jim Mackay of the Kirkmichael Trust will tell the stories behind our local marriage lintels and date stones, with copious beautiful images of the often extravagant carving on these stones. The focus will be on Cromarty, but with examples drawn from every village in the Black Isle, as well as some from Easter Ross and Inverness. Jim will be relating the tales, sometimes sad sometimes amusing, of the people behind the inscriptions on these stones.
Dr Jim Mackay is Chair of the Kirkmichael Trust which maintains medieval Kirkmichael in the Black Isle, subject of an award-winning restoration. He is a popular speaker, his lively talks combining information with entertaining stories. He is the author of ‘Resolis “Slope of Light$rdquo; Guide to a Black Isle Parish’, ‘Tales from Kirkmichael’ and ‘Guide to Jemimaville and the Colony “Reachfar”) creative home of Jane Duncan, author’. Jim’s latest research project has been marriage lintels and datestones in the area, and his discovery of the names behind the Abertarff House initials some months ago reached the national press.
The meeting begins at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hal with a short AGM and will be followed by refreshments, £5 for non‐members.
Cromarty History Society now meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September‐April and occasionally during the summer
28 March 2025Courthouse Re-Opening Event 18th April
Courthouse Re-Opening Event 2025
24 February 2025Meeting Tuesday 18th. March 2025
Alexander Ross (1834-1925) — the Lasting Legacy of a Highland Architect
Calum MacLean
Victoria Hall, Cromarty
On March 18th local architect Calum Maclean will tell us about the lasting legacy of Inverness Architect Alexander Ross (1834-1925). We all daily pass buildings designed and created by Alexander, who designed the Hugh Miller Institute in Cromarty, now the Library, and St Regulus Church. He also created the old primary school in Avoch and the farm cottages at Killen. He didn’t restrict himself to Inverness and the Black Isle and his buildings remain all over the country. They include the Bishop’s Palace and Inverness Cathedral itself. He had a hand in Skibo Castle and Invergordon Castle.
Calum Maclean is a conservation architect and founder of MAAC Studio Ltd, specialising in the care and management of historic buildings throughout the Highlands, including in Cromarty. He provides advice and guidance to homeowners on appropriate repairs and maintenance. He is the Cathedral Architect for Inverness Cathedral and Diocesan Architect for the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Calum will review the life and work of Alexander Ross, as covered in his latest book, and highlight projects in the Black Isle.
The meeting begins at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hall and refreshments will be served afterwards. For visitors the cost will be £5.
Cromarty History Society now meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September‐April and occasionally during the summer
29 January 2025Meeting Tuesday 18th February 2025
Only the Brave Sail from Here — The Vikings in Northern Scotland
Professor Donna Heddle
Victoria Hall, Cromarty
Cromarty History Society’s February talk will be given by Professor Donna Heddle from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Donna is Director of the UHI Institute for Northern Studies, based in Orkney. She has won awards for course design and development and is Professor of Northern Heritage.
At one time, the north of the Black Isle had Norse inhabitants, while the southern shore was Pictish, so much of what Donna tells us about should be very relevant to Cromarty history.
As usual, the meeting will begin at 7.30pm on Tuesday 18th February in the Victoria Hall and refreshments will be available afterwards. The cost is £5 for non-members, but there is still time to buy membership of the Society for the remainder of the year at £15. We look forward to welcoming you.
Cromarty History Society now meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September-April and occasionally during the summer
09 January 2025Cancelled: Meeting Thursday 30th January 2-4pm
This meeting has been cancelled because of illness
The Countess of Sutherland’s Shopping List — and its Black Isle Connections
Scilla Aitchison
Victoria Hall, Cromarty
Scilla Aitchison’s favourite place as a child was the library. She worked in archives and libraries before becoming a researcher into local history and aiding some of the Scottish Diaspora around the World in the search for their Highland ancestry.
She will explain an 18th Century Countess of Sutherland’s shopping list and its Black Isle connections at a get together of the Fourways Club and Cromarty History Society.
The meeting will take place on Thursday January 30th at 2-4pm in the Victoria Hall. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there.
Meetings cost £5 or £15 for annual membership which covers the rest of meetings for the year 2024-2025. We look forward to seeing you all on the 26th.
Cromarty History Society now meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September-April (except for variations this year in November and January — please see the programme) and occasionally during the summer