Bridges Connecting Maryburgh And Conon ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Bridges Connecting Maryburgh And Conon

Attribution: S. Fraser (Maryburgh Primary School March 2015)

A River with many bridges

Over the years there have been several bridges crossing between Maryburgh and Conon Bridge. These have ranged from a bridge by Thomas Telford to a metal bridge containing utility pipes.

Remnants of old with new in the background.

Attribution: unknown

History of the Railway Bridge

RCHS is grateful to the Editor of the Ross-shire Journal for permission to reproduce the article which appeared in the edition of 8 June 2012 to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of that section of the Highland Railway.

In January 1859 Alexander Matheson convened a meeting of interested parties to discuss the building of a railway from Inverness to Dingwall. Matheson was a director of Jardine Matheson which traded between India and China.

He and his uncle James, one of the founders, both made fortunes and were able to purchase Highland estates. Alexander owned Ardross, near Alness.

After Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral, the Scottish Highlands became a popular tourist destination. The landed gentry liked to travel each summer for their Scottish estates along with their retinue, so good communications were essential for them as well as for the local population who were able to benefit from the employment provided.

The indigenous landowners were also keen on the railway as they realised this was an opportunity for them to develop the resources of their estates for export such as wood, fish, grain and whisky.

The Dingwall Town Council was very enthusiastic about a railway. Its citizens had either to walk or ride on horseback to Inverness or rely on the stagecoach. From there, they were able to get a train to Aberdeen and travel further south if they wished.

The directors asked Joseph Mitchell, the engineer for the railway eastwards along the coast to Keith, to carry out a survey. He and his assistants, William and Murdoch Paterson

The plaque on the Maryburgh side of the rail bridge commemorates the opening of the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway on 11 June 1862. It lists the directors of the company, the civil engineer and the contractor.

Attribution: [Photo courtesy of Douglas Chisholm.]

View more photographs of the Bridges over the River conon

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Maryburgh » Maryburgh History » Maryburgh Tollie and Loch Ussie Schools

A postcard view of Loch Ussie

Lochussie school

Mrs Annie Mackenzie and pupils.

Lochussie school 1947-48.

Lochussie school 1947-48. Back row: John Duncan, George Campbell, Jimmy Maclennan, Neil Innes, Billy Kiel. Middle row: Miss Jessie Reid (Mossford, Park Street, Dingwall), Margaret and Annabel Mackenzie, Margaret Macleod, Mary Shewan, Jessie Macleod, Cathie Shewan, Isobel Sinclair, Margaret Maclennan. Front row: Willie Maclennan, Billy Campbell, Teddy Shewan.

Closure of Loch Ussie School

Our pictures show, from left to right, Mrs Elizabeth Ross, Mr Willie John Mackay, Mr Hugh Ross, Mrs Kate Macdonald and Mrs Annie Mackenzie (teacher), after the presentation; a souvenir picture for the Lochussie pupils and their teacher, all together for the last time.

Closure of Loch Ussie School

Back, l-r: Mrs Annie Mackenzie (teacher), Isobel Simpson, Colin Campbell, Duncan Mackay, Brian Cameron. Front, l-r: Donald Macdonald, Diane Macdonald, Bryan Macleod, Finlay Mackenzie, Anne Macdonald, Margaret Simpson.

Scout Centre

The old cottage and adjacent land at Tollie, Brahan, was gifted to the Scout Association for training purposes and as a camp site in the late 60s/early 70s. The cottage was upgraded and was re-opened in July 1987 by the late Mrs Matheson of Brahan who is seen here receiving a basket of flowers from Stuart Bain and Alan Walmsley. To Mrs Matheson's right is the late Alexander Ferguson, Rector of Dingwall Academy. The camp site closed in [?] and the area is now a golf course and a centre for observing Red Kite raptors.

Tollie school site

Tollie school site is marked in yellow in the top left-hand corner of the map. Maryburgh is situated in the top right-hand corner.

Ruins of Tollie School

THE SITE OF THE SCHOOL IS MARKED ON THE MAP, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW WHAT REMAINS OF THE BUILDING.

Ruins of Tollie School

THE SITE OF THE SCHOOL IS MARKED ON THE MAP, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW WHAT REMAINS OF THE BUILDING.