25 August 2025Meeting Tuesday 16th September
Corrugated Iron Buildings in the Highlands
Graham Clark
Victoria Hall, Cromarty
Autumn is coming and with it Cromarty History Society’s season of monthly talks will soon be underway.
On Tuesday September 16th, Dr Graham Clark will be telling us about the history of Corrugated Iron Buildings in the Highlands. Graham retired in 2002 as Principal of Inverness College and published a book about Redcastle in 2009 since when he has published more books and articles. He specialises in the history of ‘School Log Books’ and ‘Corrugated Iron Buildings’ and has won awards for articles on his research.
His illustrated talk begins with the invention of corrugated iron sheeting and why its use became widespread across the Highlands from the 18th Century until after WW1.
Meetings begin at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hall, Cromarty and are followed by refreshments. The fee for each talk is £5 but a whole year’s membership costs only £15 for all 8 meetings. Please bring cash.
Members come from the Black Isle and beyond and further information can be found on the Society’s website at www.cromartyhistory.scot. We look forward to meeting you as the new session begins.
25 August 2025Programme 2025-6
Press Release: Programme 2025‐6
Autumn is on its way and after last year’s very successful programme it will soon be time for Cromarty History Society’s monthly talks to begin again.
We’ve all noticed the corrugated iron buildings dotted about the Highlands. I remember as a child how loud the rain was on the roof and in the Victoria Hall on Tuesday September 16th at 7.30pm Graham Clark will explain how they came about and why they were so popular in remote areas. While on Tuesday 21st October we will discover the special collections preserved at the purpose-built Highland Archives in Inverness, available to us all, under the guidance of Lorna Steele‐McGinn, Community Engagement Officer.
David Alston needs no introduction to history buffs from the Black Isle and on Tuesday November 18th he will be telling us about the 10th and last Earl Marischal of Scotland, George Keith, Jacobite Commander in the 1719 uprising and later Ambassador of Prussia.
The December 16th meeting will feature Cromarty Trust Photographer of the Year, David Kent, showing ‘Then and Now’ pictures of Cromarty. As always, this meeting will feature mulled wine and mince pies. January”s meeting will instead be on a Thursday — January 30th at 2‐4pm in the Victoria Hall — and will be held jointly with the Fourways Club. Last year’s talk had to be cancelled because of flu, so Scilla Aitchison will be speaking of the Countess of Sutherland’s 18th Century Shopping List and how it involved the Black Isle.
Dingwall will celebrate its 800th anniversary in 2026 and Jonathan McColl will give us a potted history of the ancient town on Tuesday February 17th. On March 17th we will welcome the return of retired NHS medic Andrew Newton who will unveil his research into the Romans in the North of Scotland. Andrew works with museums and schools across the country explaining the Romans and their influence on us all. On April 21st herbalist and researcher Claire Mackay will speak on Highland Traditional Medicines, some of which go back 5000 years and of her work in researching and preserving the tradition.
With the exception of January 2026 all meetings begin at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hall Cromarty and are followed by refreshments. Meetings cost £5, but a year’s membership of the Society is only £15 for all the talks — please bring cash.
Members come from across the Black Isle and beyond and further information will be found on the Society’s website at www.cromartyhistory.scot. We look forward to welcoming you.
Scilla Aitchison, Secretary, Cromarty History Society
05 August 2025East Church Hall Consultation 2025
Common Good Fund — East Church Hall Consultation
Documentation about the consulation is available as follows
East Church Consultation Document
East Church Hall Consultation Poster
https:www.highland.gov.uk/common-good-asset-changes
09 July 2025Elgin Archaeology Conference 13th September 2025
Breaking New Ground — Sharing Archaeological Discoveries from Moray
Elgin Museum’s archaeology conference on Saturday 13th September 2025
Venue: Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health (AGBC) at UHI Moray, Elgin. It will be held in person and attendance will also be possible online.
This is the link to their website where there is more information on the speakers and topics and a link to book to attend in person or online:
N.B. Mary Peteranna is giving a talk at this conference.
03 June 2025Rhind Lectures June 2025
Rhind Lectures 20 June 2025 — Scotland's Place Names
This year’s Rhind Lectures will be presented by Dr Simon Taylor, Reader in Scottish Name Studies at the University of Glasgow.
20 June 2025 ‐ 22 June 2025
Venue: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
Online booking through Eventbrite.
Full details at:
https://fellows.socantscot.org/events/details/?id=a4fa79de-7c09-f011-bae2- 6045bd1050c8