Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street  in Dingwall looking North)

Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO

Although born at Mulbuie, on the Black Isle, Hector Macdonald was greatly revered by the people of Dingwall and on 11 May 1899 he was awarded the Freedom of the town. The photographs which follow are in the ownership of Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society.

Major General Sir Hector Macdonald

Major General Sir Hector Archibald Macdonald, KCB, DSO

General Sir Hector Macdonald

General Sir Hector Macdonald. Photograph may have been taken at Lemlair House.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

Birthplace

In August 2019 Mr Ian McNeish gave permission for RCHS to reproduce this postcard, which he owns, showing the birthplace of Sir Hector Macdonald in the early part of the 20th century.

General Sir Hector Macdonald

Rootfield near Dingwall, birthplace of Sir Hector MacDonald

Attribution: Ian McNeish

Freedom of Dingwall

On 13 May 1899 Sir Hector Macdonald was awarded the Freedom of Dingwall. The town was thronged for the occasion. This photograph has been taken outside the Masonic Hall (later the Picture House) and the building facing is the gable end of what is now Deas’ tearoom.

Freedom ceremony luncheon for Sir Hector Macdonald

Inside the Masonic Hall for luncheon. The Provost standing alongside Sir Hector Macdonald and Lady Macdonald in foreground.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

General Sir Hector Macdonald awarded the Freedom of Dingwall

The crowd in Dingwall when Sir Hector Macdonald awarded the Freedom of Dingwall.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

Shako and Freedom Casket

Sir Hector’s shako, or ceremonial hat, and the Freedom casket, both of which are in Dingwall Museum.

Freedom of Dingwall casket presented to Major General Sir Hector Macdonald in May 1899.

Attribution: Image in ownership of RCHS.

Sir Hector's shako, or ceremonial hat, decorated with ostrich feathers.

Attribution: Image in ownership of RCHS.

Minature Railway

When in due course the residents of Dingwall decided to honour Sir Hector by building the Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill, this was a photograph of the miniature railway used to convey material to the top. The photograph can be seen in Dingwall Museum.

And a photograph of the miniature railway used in the construction of the Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

The Sir Hector Macdonald Memorial

The Sir Hector Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

View More photos of Sir Hector and other famous Dingwall people

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Dingwall » Dingwall Work » Dingwall and Highland Marts
01 Dingwall and Highland Marts
01 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition of old auction marts (Hamiltons and Reith & Anderson)
02 Dingwall and Highland Marts
02 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition of old marts.
03 Dingwall and Highland Marts
03 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition of old marts.
04 Dingwall and Highland Marts
04 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Interior of old mart.
05 Dingwall and Highland Marts
05 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition proceeds in old marts.
06 Dingwall and Highland Marts
06 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition proceeds in old marts.
07 Dingwall and Highland Marts
07 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition continues.
08 Dingwall and Highland Marts
08 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition reaches ground level.
09 Dingwall and Highland Marts
09 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition debris.
10 Dingwall and Highland Marts
10 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition proceeds.
11 Dingwall and Highland Marts
11 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition looking towards Cluny Hill.
12 Dingwall and Highland Marts
12 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Demolition at Hamilton's Mart end.
13 Dingwall and Highland Marts
13 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Site almost cleared.
15 Dingwall and Highland Marts
15 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Old site cleared.
16 Dingwall and Highland Marts
16 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Tesco's contractors move in.
17 Dingwall and Highland Marts
17 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Tesco construction advancing.
18 Dingwall and Highland Marts
18 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Tesco construction proceeding.
19 Dingwall and Highland Marts
19 Dingwall and Highland Marts
A wintry start to preparing the site.
20 Dingwall and Highland Marts
20 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Site preparation.
21 Dingwall and Highland Marts
21 Dingwall and Highland Marts
The site from Maryburgh-Dingwall road.
22 Dingwall and Highland Marts
22 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Site preparation.
23 Dingwall and Highland Marts
23 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Snow-covered steelwork.
24 Dingwall and Highland Marts
24 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Snow conditions get worse.
25 Dingwall and Highland Marts
25 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Still snow covered.
26 Dingwall and Highland Marts
26 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Progress on steelwork despite snow.
27 Dingwall and Highland Marts
27 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Warmer weather helps progress.
28 Dingwall and Highland Marts
28 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Entrance road being laid.
29 Dingwall and Highland Marts
29 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Entrance road continues.
30 Dingwall and Highland Marts
30 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Landscaping.
31 Dingwall and Highland Marts
31 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Landscaping continues.
32 Dingwall and Highland Marts
32 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Still more landscaping.
33 Dingwall and Highland Marts
33 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Melting snow makes earthworks difficult.
34 Dingwall and Highland Marts
34 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Steelwork shows how vast the building will be.
35 Dingwall and Highland Marts
35 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Earthworks with Cromarty Firth and Black Isle in background.
36 Dingwall and Highland Marts
36 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Steelwork complete.
37 Dingwall and Highland Marts
37 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Internal walls being built.
38 Dingwall and Highland Marts
38 Dingwall and Highland Marts
View from hillside.
39 Dingwall and Highland Marts
39 Dingwall and Highland Marts
View from the hillside.
40 Dingwall and Highland Marts
40 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Another hillside view.
41 Dingwall and Highland Marts
41 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Roof and external walls in place.
42 Dingwall and Highland Marts
42 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Making progress
43 Dingwall and Highland Marts
43 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Loading area being prepared.
44 Dingwall and Highland Marts
44 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Loading and slurry tank area.
45 Dingwall and Highland Marts
45 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Access road.
46 Dingwall and Highland Marts
46 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Access road.
47 Dingwall and Highland Marts
47 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Completed building from customers' car park.
48 Dingwall and Highland Marts
48 Dingwall and Highland Marts
View of completed building from behind slurry tank!
49 Dingwall and Highland Marts
49 Dingwall and Highland Marts
Landscaping complete.

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