Attribution: unknown or not recorded

The Avoch and Killen community is located on the Black Isle.  So, Avoch is a small fishing village while on the other hand Killen is mainly agricultural.  This means in the past most of the folk in Avoch and Killen have been employed in agriculture or fishing.  However, in the past the village has also been involved in ship building and transporting goods by ship.

A Pictorial Tour of Avoch and Killen

Why not join in a pictorial tour of Avoch through the ages?  You will meet some of the people who used to live here.  For example this is one of the photos on the tour and shows Sandy and Maggie Skinner working outside their house in Geddieston.  So, not all the work of a fisherman takes place at sea.

Two people baiting fishing lines

Attribution: unknown

"Scaffie" boats in Avoch harbour

Attribution: unknown

"Scaffies" in Avoch harbour.

A common sight on the beach was “Scaffies” drawn up on the beach as we can see in this pre-WW1 photograph.  After that,  if we look westward we can see Henrietta Street.  However, two of today’s features are missing: there is no Ormonde Street houses or the industrial estate.  Finally, the site of Ormonde Castle is still well wooded.

Margaret street after a Snowfall

Donald’s shadow can be seen here as he stood with his back to the Firth photographing the bottom of Margaret Street. On the left is a shop which was owned by Robert Jack who sold groceries. It later became an electrical shop. Next to it is a shed which was a shoemaker’s shop.

Snowfall on Margaret Street

Attribution: unknown

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Avoch » Avoch Places » Avoch Churches
Congregational Church hall.
Congregational Church hall.
Built in 1992 and situated between the church and manse, this hall replaced the previous one.
Congregational Church
Congregational Church
Alexander Dewar came to Avoch in 1806. He had been keen to start a Congregational church in Inverness but could find no interest there and travelled on to Avoch where he was received with more enthusiasm. The first services were held in the home of a fisherman's widow but by 1809 there was a thatched building probably on the site of the Mace store. A better building replaced it in 1819 and the present building on the High Street was erected in the 1880s. In recent years the organ has been thoroughly overhauled. There is an active Sunday School and a Ladies Meeting is held once a month.
The Gospel Hall
The Gospel Hall
Parish Church hall
Parish Church hall
Situated in Rose Street, this is the hall belonging to the Church of Scotland. During the 1939-45 war it was used as a canteen.
Avoch Parish Church
Avoch Parish Church
This is the third church on this site. The first was was built in 1670 but was destroyed by fire as was its successor. This is the third building and was erected in 1870. Mr James Douglas Fletcher, a great benefactor to the village of Avoch, donated the moderator's chair and the Communion Table and helped the congregation to fund the beautiful stained glass windows. In more recent years a local painter copied the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer in gold on the wall facing the congregation.

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