Dingwall - The Picture House ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Dingwall – The Picture House

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street in Dingwall looking North)

Masonic Hall

‘The Picture House’ began life as a Masonic Hall, the foundation stone being laid on 3 October 1870 and the building opened on 17 April 1871. It continued to fulfil its function but the owners generously allowed the population to use it for important occasions (see photo opposite) and social occasions, such as concerts and ceilidhs, until the Town Hall was enlarged.

A new Masonic Lodge was built at the west end of Dingwall and, following the First World War, the building was sold to Lady Seaforth. In the early 1930s it was sold again and, on 31 August 1931 ‘The Picture House’ opened and continued to entertain generations of local folk until it closed early in the 1970s. It has had a chequered career since then, mainly as a bar and disco venue.

The crowd at the Masonic Hall, Dingwall in May 1899 when Sir Hector Macdonald awarded the Freedom of Dingwall.

Attribution: unknown

Extract from the Inverness Courier of 14 August 1889:

Dingwall – Masonic Hall. Yesterday the Brethren of the Fingal Lodge of Freemasons met to re-lay the foundation stone of the hall. Owing to the new Post-office being built out nearer to the public street, the Masons resolved to have the hall extended two feet further out than the Post-office building, consequently the first foundation stone had to be removed. The ceremony was performed by Mr Kenneth Grant, late of Kinellan, the oldest mason. When finished, the building will have a very attractive frontage. It is proposed to have offices in the new addition. [Extract courtesy of Caroline Vawdrey.]

Ross-shire Journal, 22 April 1892:

“Time at the Dingwall Post Office
“Sir, I am sure you will agree with me that a clock should be displayed in the Dingwall Post Office. There is at present no clock in or about the establishment visible to the public, and the result is inconvenience, and, often, disappointment. Should the postal authorities refuse the convenience – which I am sure they will not – I, for one, should be glad to contribute my mite toward the acquiring of a clock, to be displayed either over the door or in the Post Office. It is a pity that such a well-conducted establishment should lack this much-needed convenience – a convenience which I hope, however, will soon be granted us. I am, yours truly, A Trader.” [Extract courtesy of Caroline Vawdrey.]

Morganti's

Morganti’s was owned by the Morganti and Simonelli families who came to Scotland following the First World War and quickly established their restaurant in premises originally occupied by the Post Office. This became a popular venue, noted for its ice cream and excellent cuisine. A second, smaller, shop (known locally as Little Morganti’s) was situated on High Street but was demolished when Boots the Chemist was built.

During the duration of the Second World War the families (now described as “enemy aliens”, although few in Dingwall regarded them as such) were interned in Largs and administration of their business was carried our by local chartered accountant Mr C G Macdowall.

Following the War, the families returned to Dingwall and continued to trade well into old age.

Attribution: [Photo DMT]

Mr Sestilio (“Joe”) Simonelli at the front of Morganti and Simonelli’s shop, on High Street, in 1923. This was formerly the Post Office (note clock) and was adjacent to the Masonic Hall, later The Picture House.

Demolition uncovered the faded sign, above the clock, proclaiming what Morganti’s had to offer – Refreshments – Saloons – Confections

Attribution: [4 Photos above: E Sinclair]

Conversion into Flats

In November 2018 it was announced that the site had been acquired by a developer intending to convert it into 17 flats as well as refurbishing the existing retail premises, and in the summer of 2019 demolition began.

Attribution: [Photo RCHS]

The front of Morganti’s. The site of the original post office clock is clearly visible.

Attribution: [Photo RCHS]

Life for a beam

As demolition progressed, Anagar Vinke, a woodturner living in Fodderty, acquired a beam from the site and proceeded to convert the wood into souvenirs of the Picture House. One of these, a candle holder, is shown at the right.

Attribution: RCHS

After Restoration

Attribution: [Photo: E Sinclair]

An enlargement of the Masonic plaque before restoration.

Attribution: [Photo RCHS]

In close detail the origins of the Masonic Hall are revealed, with finial above.

Attribution: E. Sinclair

Attribution: RCHS

View more photos of the picture house

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Dingwall » Dingwall History » 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

Dingwall seen from Ferry Road leading to bridge over railway.

05 Dingwall of old. [Photo DMT]

Burgh Court House c.1890.

25 Dingwall of old

The opposite end of Dingwall High Street in the 19th century, looking east.

34 Dingwall of old

Across from the Cromartie memorial was Dingwall Academy - staff and pupils c.1880.

26 Dingwall of old

And the same view c.1956.

10 Dingwall of old

Cambrai Cross of WW1 outside railway station.

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

A few yards down Tulloch Street we find the Cromartie Memorial before it was rebuilt.

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

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

Ross Memorial Hospital, Ferry Road.

16 Dingwall of old

A quick trip down Castle Street finds St. Lawrence's RC Church.

01 Dingwall of old

Clerk's print of 1824 with main road arriving at Hill Street.

07 Dingwall of old.

Dingwall harbour, August 1913, SS Jesmond.

02 Dingwall of old

Dingwall and Cromarty Firth from Hector Macdonald memorial.

13 Dingwall of old

The National Hotel, c.1920. Car registration is 1105.

14 Dingwall of old

The National Hotel again. By this time the war memorial is in place.

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

Gladstone Building in later years. Now the Royal Hotel with Restaurant on the ground floor.

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

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

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]

Dingwall Court House pre-1905.

37 Dingwall of old

Finally, we leave Dingwall, heading north and looking back along Craig Road.

35 Dingwall of old

At the end of Tulloch Street we find Dingwall canal with Dingwall Castle on the right.

11 Dingwall of old

Dingwall Free Church beside the railway station.

21 Dingwall of old

Advert for David Macleay's shop. [Courtesy of Lou Tsiotinos.]

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

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

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

Across the road from St. Lawrence's were the tennis courts ...... [Photo RCHS]

18 Dingwall of old

...... where Dingwallians of old gained exercise ..... [Photo RCHS]

03 Dingwall of old

HLI camp in Jubilee Park 1908.

28 Dingwall of old

Inside Frew's shop. [Photo RCHS]

29 Dingwall of old

Inside Frew's shop. [Photo RCHS]

19 Dingwall of old

...... beside the poplar trees lining the canal. [Photo RCHS]

04 Dingwall of old. [Photo courtesy of F W Urquhart collection]

Building of Hector Macdonald memorial.

Dingwall of old

Mackay's Garage in 1985. [Photo courtesy of Jim Macdonald.]

39 Dingwall of old

Munro Stewart in September 2011. [Photograph courtesy of Uisdean Menzies - uisdean@fraser-menzies.fsnet.co.uk]

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

Walking back along High Street we find Frew's chemist shop, now the Museum.