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

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Maryburgh » Maryburgh History » Maryburgh Seaforth Sanitorium

On duty.

In May 2018 RCHS was contacted by Heather Anderson who, as a 15 year old in 1963, was Nurse Heather Booth in the Seaforth Children's Home, as was her sister earlier (see Shirley Maureen Booth above). Although the photographs include Heather with the children, only Heather can feature. In explanation of this: RCHS has, in the past, received permission to reproduce the photographs featured above but does not have permission from children featured in photographs with Heather Booth.

Maryburgh in the background.

Heather and another nurse

Relaxing

Private George Rennie, The Royal Scots

Private George Rennie, The Royal Scots, wounded at Ypres 24 November 1914. 5567 Private John Veitch, 2nd Scots Guards. 6694 Private James Surgeoner, 16th Lancers, 30.12.14. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Private W Marshall, 2nd Gordon Highlanders

Private W Marshall, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, wounded at Zonneleike 28 October 1914. Private I Stewart, Black Watch, Barielle(?) 28/11/14. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Dominique Nythenhove, 6th regiment de Ligne

Dominique Nythenhove, 6th regiment de Ligne, wounded in the Battle of Ypres 26 October 1914. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Private E Smith, 2nd Battalion Warwicks and Private A Cameron, 1st Seaforth Highlanders

Private E Smith, 2nd Battalion Warwicks, wounded at Ypres 7 November 1914. Private A Cameron, 1st Seaforth Highlanders, wounded at Labassee 4 December 1914. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Andre Flamand, 11th Infantry

Andre Flamand, 11th Infantry, wounded to(at) the Battle of Ypres (Dixmunde) 25.10.14. 8 Museum Street, 8, Antwerp, Belgium. Belfort to Bruges, Belgium 21.11.14. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Charles Van de Kirkhoven, 3rd (fighter on foot) Infantry

Charles Van de Kirkhoven, 3rd (fighter on foot) Infantry, Doomick, Hautergden Doomick Straud, West Vlaaniteran(?), Belgium. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Joseph De Gombert, 5th Infantry,

Joseph De Gombert, 5th Infantry, wounded to(at) the Battle of Antwerp 7.10.14, Neder-over-Humbeeck, 5 Avenue du Roi Albert 5, Bruxelles, Belgique. Autographs from patients at Seaforth Sanatorium 1914 A fascinating legacy from this period is a collection of autographs signed by wounded soldiers. The soldiers seem to have come from different regiments, different ranks and even different countries. Editor's Note - We've done our best to transcribe the autographs which follow but there are a few inconsistencies that need to be clarified. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can provide more information. Also, it would be great if someone could provide a link to military historians who might be able to trace the records of some of these soldiers. Please send any additional information to Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society

Seaforth Centre before the A835 was built

Seaforth Centre. Photograph taken before the road to the West was constructed and at a time when the building was surplus to requirements and faced the prospect of demolition.

Seaforth Children's Home 1957-1965

Nurse Shirley Maureen Booth on left with her friend and fellow nurse, Mary Ledingham, from Invergordon. They each dressed up to entertain the children.

Opening ceremony.

Attractive art deco entrance.

"Laying foundation stone Seaforth Sanatorium 27 November 1906."

Seaforth Home Adult Training Centre 1974

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Seaforth Centre aka Seaforth Sanatorium

Opening of Seaforth Sanatorium

Opening of Seaforth Sanatorium, Maryburgh, by Mrs Stewart-Mackenzie of Seaforth, January 1908.

Seaforth Home Adult Training Centre 1974

Plaque recording building use as an auxiliary hospital

The plaque reads: "To record the use of this building as an auxiliary hospital during the great war and the thanks of the Scottish Branch British Red Cross Society to the generous donor. April 1919."

Memorial stone (surmounted by Mackenzie crest)

Memorial stone (surmounted by Mackenzie crest) "The Seaforth Sanatorium has been erected and endowed for all time by Colonel James Alexander Francis Humberston Stewart-Mackenzie of Seaforth and his wife Mary Margaret for the treatment of phthisis patients belonging to the counties of Ross and Cromarty. AD1907." [Note: phthisis - tuberculosis of the lungs.]

Seaforth Home Adult Training Centre 1974

Laying Foundation Stone 27th November 1908

Laying Foundation Stone 27th November 1908. [Photo RCHS]