Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street  in Dingwall looking North)

Cromartie Obelisk

The present obelisk dates from 1921, built by the then Countess of Cromartie after the original was demolished in 1920. The original was a thinner and taller version, erupting from level ground with no trace of ornamentation surrounding it. This 65ft version was affected by the earthquake in 1800 and subsequently developed a pronounced lean which eventually led to its demolition.

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05 Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown

The Doocot

Governor Andro attended to the amenities of the Castle grounds as well as to the defensive strength of the structure. One of the three remaining ruin-relics of the Castle is what is still known as the “doo’ cot.” This originally was one of the corner towers of the old Castle, but was transformed by the Bishop into a dove cot after the type of the Norman towers, with low domed vaulted roof, having nest holes built into the wall on the inside.

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02 Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown

Sir Hector MacDonald Memorial

But the most significant monument to MacDonald is the national memorial in Dingwall. This was constructed between 1904 and 1907 (architect James Sandford Kay), its hundred foot high tower dominating the hillside above the town. Its main features are slender whinstone tower projecting from the rubbly sandstone base and the balistered parapet around the corbelled top platform. This in turn is surmounted by a castellated cap-house. Panoramic views may be obtained from the top of the monument on a clear day, giving a true impression of the northern Highlands, as well as the ancient burgh of Dingwall in the hollow below. Settlement was confined to the south side of the river Peffrey and when the monument was erected development did not extend north of the Peffrey until after the War. During this period, the population rose from 2800 to the present 5000.

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03 Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown

St Clement's Pictish Stone

Across the road from the Cromartie car park, the stone now stands in the churchyard to the south of the church and just within the gateway. During renovations to the church in 1878 Mr William Jones discovered the stone being used as a lintel over one of the doors. Its original provenance is unknown. The rectangular slab of mica schist has the double disc and Z-rod and two crescent and V-rods on one side. The other side of the slab has three circles, a crescent and V-rod, and six cup marks. All of the symbols are incised and the stone is therefore a class 1 symbol stone dating from the 5th – 7th centuries A.D.
[Text and photographs provided by Dr. Tony Woodham.]

Ref.: “St Clements looks back” D. D. MacDonald, 1976, p. 35.

07 Dingwall Features

Attribution: Dr. Tony Woodham

Town House Clock

The clock on the tower of Dingwall Town House has proved to be of great benefit to the townsfolk over many years, with its east- and west-facing dials and chimes. Over the years weather had affected the structure, leading to the tower requiring masonry and wood repairs and the clock, refurbishment..

In the summer of 2014 scaffolding was erected round the stone and timber tower in order that the project, commissioned by Highland Council, might commence. The overall cost, £197,000, was met by the Council, Highland Leader programme and Historic Scotland.

The work in question included an analysis of eight layers of paintwork, the final revealing a pale grey which is thought to be the shade favoured as a means of mimicking expensive leadwork. All the wood of the tower was stripped back and reinstated in this, historic, colour. Traditional lime harling was used to protect eroded masonry. The clock’s faces and machinery were stripped back and restored.

10 Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown

Dingwall Castle

The modern Castle House and (foreground) relics of the original Dingwall Castle. 

01 Dingwall Features

Attribution: unknown

View more photographs of the Dingwall Features

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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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