James’ Bridge

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street  in Dingwall looking North)

Roberts' Bridge

Unlike Venice, Dingwall has few bridges crossing expanses of water. The oldest one, a small, stone bridge spanning the River Peffery at the west end of the town, and rejoicing in the name of Robert’s bridge was built by the Munros of Foulis in the 16th century and included the Munro crest on one wall.. In living memory, a rough track ran from East Lodge to the bridge situated beside West Lodge, both on Tulloch Estate. The bridge was replaced by a 20th century one when a tarmac road was created leading to Dingwall Academy and the council houses erected in what had been Tulloch wood. The only reference to its origins is on a plaque on a house at the entrance to Burns Crescent.

01 James' Bridge' Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

Peters' Bridge

A second structure, Peter’s bridge, traversed the canal at its Tulloch Street end and carried the A9 road until it transferred to the route across the three firths – Beauly, Cromarty and Dornoch. The name was given in recognition of Peter Reid, factor to Davidson of Tulloch, because of his role in supervising its building. At one stage the original bridge was widened to accommodate modern traffic but the name remains to honour Peter Reid.

James' bridge

Since December 2019 the town has had James’ bridge.

James Blake was a much loved young man who died in February 2019. He and his wife Sarah lived near the former harbour at the end of what was once Dingwall’s canal. The canal fell into disuse in the 1880s but since that time its banks have been popular walkways for townsfolk and with the provision of a footbridge at the harbour end it was possible to have an extended, circular walk. This was something James and Sarah loved to do ……

02 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

…… until Highland Council closed the footbridge in 2017 and indicated that budgetary restrictions precluded early replacement.of the structure.

Two years passed and the impasse remained, until the Blake family stepped in and offered the community a new bridge in memory of James. His father, Philip, was at the helm of the project, in collaboration with Dingwall Community Council.

03 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

The approaches to the old bridge were overgrown and not particularly attractive, and much work would require to be done to prepare the site for easy access to machinery involved in removal and replacement.

Removal of trees, for example, required liaison with the council’s wildlife officer to ensure that the work would not disturb bats, birds or a nearby otter holt.

17 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution:Philip and Edith Blake

Permission was obtained from Scottish Water to create a secure base for the very large crane that would be required to remove the old bridge and replace it with the new one. Part of the work involved felling some trees and clearing the site, and in this Dingwall Sawmill staff and tree surgeon Simon Logan participated, returning later to replace the rotten fence along the canal.

Local contractor Garry Bain created the crane pad and cleaned the ditches, as well as preparing the road corner for the delivery lorry.

In due course Stoddart Cranes arrived with their impressive lifting gear.

11 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

11 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Photo courtesy of the Editor of The Ross-shire Journal.

The arrival of the new bridge from CTS Bridges, Huddersfield. 

As dawn was breaking on a December morning the cables were in place around the old bridge, and finally lift off.

14 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

With the old bridge removed, attention was given to the supports.

14A James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

The old bridge having been laid on the hardcore base, the new structure was craned off the lorry ….

08 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

…. and within three hours the new bridge was in place and some finishing touches were made.

15 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

Dedication of James' Bridge

16 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

James’ bridge was now in place.

An open invitation was given to the community of Dingwall to attend the dedication of the bridge on 14 December 2019 and a large, appreciative crowd arrived.

19 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

Philip Blake addressed the crowd and proceeded to dedicate the bridge to James’ memory.  He urged everyone to use it and enjoy the freedom it gives.

24 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

31 James' Bridge, Dingwall

Attribution: Philip and Edith Blake

The day ended with a winter sun setting on James’ bridge.

 This video was taken as the old bridge was removed from the River Peffery and laid down on the hardcore base

View more of the photos of the installation and dedication of James' Bridge

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Dingwall » Dingwall History » Dingwall Of Old
26 Dingwall of old
26 Dingwall of old
Still at the end of High Street, where the road continues to Strathpeffer, and now adjacent to the Highland Council offices, stood "the boys' hostel" where generations of boys from the west coast of the county lived while continuing their secondary education in Dingwall Academy. This originally was the home of Provost Robertson whose daughter married Prime Minister William Gladstone.
09 Dingwall of old
09 Dingwall of old
Dingwall seen from Ferry Road leading to bridge over railway.
05 Dingwall of old. [Photo DMT]
05 Dingwall of old. [Photo DMT]
Burgh Court House c.1890.
25 Dingwall of old
25 Dingwall of old
The opposite end of Dingwall High Street in the 19th century, looking east.
34 Dingwall of old
34 Dingwall of old
Across from the Cromartie memorial was Dingwall Academy - staff and pupils c.1880.
26 Dingwall of old
26 Dingwall of old
And the same view c.1956.
10 Dingwall of old
10 Dingwall of old
Cambrai Cross of WW1 outside railway station.
11 Dingwall of old
11 Dingwall of old
After the Free Church, the former Post Office and the Commercial Bank, c.1918. On the left of the photograph is the future site of Dingwall's war memorial in the grounds of the National Hotel.
32 Dingwall of old
32 Dingwall of old
A few yards down Tulloch Street we find the Cromartie Memorial before it was rebuilt.
33 Dingwall of old
33 Dingwall of old
And an explanation comes from this postcard courtesy of the lateMiss Anne Fraser. The postcard was in the possession of Miss Fraser's aunt, who wrote: "Leaning tower re Earls of Cromartie. Taken down 9th March 1917 because it was leaning dangerously. New shorter tower erected."
13 Dingwall of old
13 Dingwall of old
Across from the Free Church, this building was the National Bank, then headquarters of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board and, currently, the Highland Theological College.
Dingwall of old
Dingwall of old
Ross Memorial Hospital, Ferry Road.
16 Dingwall of old
16 Dingwall of old
A quick trip down Castle Street finds St. Lawrence's RC Church.
01 Dingwall of old
01 Dingwall of old
Clerk's print of 1824 with main road arriving at Hill Street.
07 Dingwall of old.
07 Dingwall of old.
Dingwall harbour, August 1913, SS Jesmond.
02 Dingwall of old
02 Dingwall of old
Dingwall and Cromarty Firth from Hector Macdonald memorial.
13 Dingwall of old
13 Dingwall of old
The National Hotel, c.1920. Car registration is 1105.
14 Dingwall of old
14 Dingwall of old
The National Hotel again. By this time the war memorial is in place.
38 Dingwall of old
38 Dingwall of old
Going back to Dingwall High Street in 1932 ....... Man on left is standing outside what is now Boots, chemist. Shop on right became shoe shop (Easifit), later Pullars (drycleaners) and in 2010 is a Pizza supplier. The door on High Street became a single window during post-War alterations when the corner with Tulloch Street was replaced with a pillar and the entrance was a diagonal between the two streets. The building was refurbished in 2008-09 following the closure of Pullars and the entrance in 2010 has reverted to that of pre-War.
22 Dingwall of old
22 Dingwall of old
Gladstone Building in later years. Now the Royal Hotel with Restaurant on the ground floor.
12 Dingwall of old
12 Dingwall of old
Turning round and looking towards the Royal Hotel, the Commercial Bank is on the left, followed by ?Park House? On the right, beside the war memorial, is Archie's bus. Archie (Macrae?) was the owner of a bus which plied between Kessock and Dingwall. Photo c.1946.
36 Dingwall of old
36 Dingwall of old
Shortly afterwards we reach Craig Road, c.1918. A house would have stood at the foot of Kinnairdie Brae and on the ground which later became the extensive garden of Willie Logan's house. Next to it is "Marsule" followed by "The Gables".
15 Dingwall of old
15 Dingwall of old
The National Hotel c.1935 with Cormack, bootmaker, and Campbell's cycle shop on left.
06 Dingwall of old. [Photo courtesy of Dingwall Museum Trust]
06 Dingwall of old. [Photo courtesy of Dingwall Museum Trust]
Dingwall Court House pre-1905.
37 Dingwall of old
37 Dingwall of old
Finally, we leave Dingwall, heading north and looking back along Craig Road.
35 Dingwall of old
35 Dingwall of old
At the end of Tulloch Street we find Dingwall canal with Dingwall Castle on the right.
11 Dingwall of old
11 Dingwall of old
Dingwall Free Church beside the railway station.
21 Dingwall of old
21 Dingwall of old
Advert for David Macleay's shop. [Courtesy of Lou Tsiotinos.]
24 Dingwall of old
24 Dingwall of old
Fraser Brothers shop, showing staff and produce, just round the corner from the Royal Hotel entrance. The Fraser family is still serving the public in the 21st century but their produce is subject to strict rules of refridgeration!
30 Dingwall of old
30 Dingwall of old
At the junction with Tulloch Street was Lewis Fraser, saddler. [Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society is grateful to the late Miss Anne Fraser, Dingwall, daughter of Lewis M Fraser, for permission to copy the postcards which she owns.]
31 Dingwall of old
31 Dingwall of old
This would have been the view from the front of Fraser the Saddler's shop. On the right is the Bank of Scotland with the manager's house above and his garden extending to what became Mackay's Garage, with Dingwall Academy and its bell tower in the distance. Are these Dingwall Academy pupils, or is it a festive occasion? (There are girls in hats and dresses and boys in kilts.) [Photo courtesy of the late Miss Anne Fraser.]
17 Dingwall of old
17 Dingwall of old
Across the road from St. Lawrence's were the tennis courts ...... [Photo RCHS]
18 Dingwall of old
18 Dingwall of old
...... where Dingwallians of old gained exercise ..... [Photo RCHS]
03 Dingwall of old
03 Dingwall of old
HLI camp in Jubilee Park 1908.
28 Dingwall of old
28 Dingwall of old
Inside Frew's shop. [Photo RCHS]
29 Dingwall of old
29 Dingwall of old
Inside Frew's shop. [Photo RCHS]
19 Dingwall of old
19 Dingwall of old
...... beside the poplar trees lining the canal. [Photo RCHS]
04 Dingwall of old. [Photo courtesy of F W Urquhart collection]
04 Dingwall of old. [Photo courtesy of F W Urquhart collection]
Building of Hector Macdonald memorial.
Dingwall of old
Dingwall of old
Mackay's Garage in 1985. [Photo courtesy of Jim Macdonald.]
39 Dingwall of old
39 Dingwall of old
Munro Stewart in September 2011. [Photograph courtesy of Uisdean Menzies - uisdean@fraser-menzies.fsnet.co.uk]
20 Dingwall of old
20 Dingwall of old
Gladstone Buildings 1880s (later the Royal Hotel) and David Mcleay, silk mercer. The two policemen are standing outside what would become Dewar & Hay, chemist (later Lloyds pharmacy).
27 Dingwall of old
27 Dingwall of old
Walking back along High Street we find Frew's chemist shop, now the Museum.
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