Medieval Cromarty ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Medieval Cromarty

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Cromarty Archaeology - Medieval Cromarty

Results of four seasons of archaeological work in Cromarty were revealed at a seminar in the town in November 2016.

Two Cromarty archaeologists, Steven Birch and Mary Peteranna, discovered exposed buildings and pieces of medieval pottery along the coastline following severe storms in December 2012.

Gathering a team of volunteers, and with financial support from Heritage Lottery Fund and Highland Council, a significant programme of excavation revealed medieval Cromarty and an amazing amount of artefacts, all during the Community Archaeology Project 2014-2016.

The work revealed the layout of buildings and how they changed through time. Finds included pottery and glass objects, stone tools and querns, animal and fish bones and artefacts such as medieval spindle whorls, fish hooks, a turning peg, combs, coins and a fine bronze alloy spoon. Another find, in 2016, were the fragments of a large glazed and patterned jug, the pieces of which lay across a former pathway.

In the summer of 2016 Mary Peteranna was the one to discover a medieval well, stone-built and still intact, with stepped access leading several metres underground. Somewhat incongruously, at the base of the well lay the skeleton of a small horse or pony. It is hoped that analysis will provide a date for the animal and, therefore, when the well went out of use.

The photos appearing in the album been taken from the website of Cromarty Medieval Burgh Community Archaeology Project 2014-2116 (see www.medievalcromarty.org ) and are used simply to tempt any browser to visit their excellent website.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Cromarty » Cromarty Folk

Gordon's Lane, Cromarty

Gordon's Lane, Cromarty. Maggie Flora Hogg opening mussels in preparation for baiting a line. The child in the background is possibly Katie Hossack.

Shore Street end of Gordon's Lane.

Shore Street end of Gordon's Lane. Some of the 'tough and hardy' men of Cromarty. From the left, Murda, Jimmy Potchak, Popenny, Lairdie and Boacks. In those days, c.1900, most of the houses in the fishertown were thatched.

Danny 'Boacks' Hossack working on his lines.

'Nansack', 'Annie Trickie' and 'Cripple Annie'

Even the women had bye-names - photo shows 'Nansack', 'Annie Trickie' and 'Cripple Annie'.

Cromarty fisherfolk c.1900.

The Little Vennel and carryimg the firewood is 'old Alicky Peepy'

A burning of sticks to take home for the fireplace . . . the scene is The Little Vennel and carryimg the firewood is 'old Alicky Peepy'.

Renovation of the East Church was nearing completion

Photograph taken during 'Open Doors Day' in September 2010 when the renovation of the East Church was nearing completion following work carried out by The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust. Photograph shows graves and wall in protective covering and duckboards protecting the graveyard.

Hugh Miller Cromarty Trail leaflet cover

8. The Courthouse (or Town House), Church Street

Built between 1771 and 1773 also by George Ross, using funds from the commissioners of the Annexed Estates (land forfeited after the unsuccessful 1745 Jacobite Rising). The building was used for the sittings of the Sheriff Court and for other official purposes. The high perimeter wall and the cell block was added in 1847. The Town council and the Burgh Magistrates continue to use the building until the 1960s. It was later restored as an award-winning museum in 1991, and is run by a locally based Trust. The Museum presents the social history of Cromarty in a most imaginative way.

1. Hugh Miller's Cottage, Church Street

1. Hugh Miller's Cottage, Church Street The birthplace of Hugh Miller, 10 October 1802. Cottage built in 1711 by John Fiddes, his great-great-grandfather, using his prize money as a sailor on the Spanish Main. Cottage interior features a "hanging lum", a chimney canopy of wood and daub, used for smoking fish. In the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

9. The Harbour

Cromarty's trading boom in the 18th century owes much to William Forsyth, who saw the potential to serve the wider Cromarty Firth. Forsyth's enterprise laid the bases after 1772 for the town's development by George Ross, which included the construction of the harbour by John Smeaton 1781 and 1784. It was in this period that Cromarty assumed its present appearance, reflecting its economic prosperity. In 1828, Invergordon improved its harbour piers and, with direct access to the rich hinterland of the Cromarty Firth, it prospered at the expense of Cromarty.

16. Lighthouse and Keepers' Cottages, George Street

16. Lighthouse and Keepers' Cottages, George Street This was established in 1846 to the design of Alan Stevenson, one of a long line of lighthouse engineers drawn from the same family (related to Robert Louis Stevenson, the writer). The stumpy tower is flanked by Egyptian-style Keepers' Cottages, now used by the University of Aberdeen as a base for the scientific study of the seal and dolphin populations of the Moray Firth, which attract much international interest.

Map of Cromarty

5. The Old Parish Church (the East Church), Church Street

Hugh Miller's Cottage

This photograph was taken during 'Open Doors Day' in September 2010 and shows the work of re-thatching the roof of the cottage nearing completion. In the same weekend it was announced that an anonymous benefactor had gifted £600,000 towards the upkeep of the property. [Photo RCHS]

Bust of Hugh Miller

Sketch of Pulpit

Monument

Lieutenant John Thomson - grave

[Photographs taken by RCHS during 'Open Doors Day' September 2010.] The inscription reads: "Sacred to the memory of John Thomson, inspecting chief officer in H.M. coast guard, Cromarty Division, formerly chief officer in the maritime service of the Hon. East India Coy., and fourth officer in their ship Kent when burnt in the bay of Biscay, on which occasion he was instrumental in saving many lives. Died 4th May 1870 aged 64."

Lieutenant John Thomson - grave

Site of Lt. John Thomson's grave beside Cromarty East Church.

[Photo RCHS]

Sir Thomas Hudson Middleton

Thomas Hudson Middleton, who was born at Rosefarm in 1863. Thomas was educated at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, leaving in 1880 at the age of seventeen. He was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, however 1879 had been a hard harvest for British farming, which had opened markets for produce from North America and Canada. The family felt it best that Thomas should follow a career in engineering. He graduated as B.Sc. (Engineering) in 1883, and then, to gain practical experience, went into the works of Messrs Merles, Watson & Co., Glasgow. Sir Thomas Hudson Middleton played an important part in the development of agricultural research, education and advisory work which took place in this country from 1894 onwards

MacKenzie Brothers

L-R: Brothers, George Mackenzie, Newspaper Editor in Inverness, Donald Alexander Mackenzie, and William Mackay Mackenzie. Taken around 1930.