Strathpeffer Features

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Strathpeffer Station

At the end of 2016 Strathpeffer’s former railway station received a much-needed facelift and the results were revealed to the public early in January 2017.

William Gray Ltd refurbished and made safe the platform canopy through new timber and glazing, repaired drainage pipes and repainting.

A local group, led by Susan Kruze of ARCH, in a year-long project, researched the history of the station and, through facts and images from the Highland Archive Centre and the Highland Railway Society, plus people’s recollections, produced new interpretation panels which are situated on the exterior of the station building. In addition, the group has produced a leaflet, an online blog, and there is a folder with all the research material on view in the Highland Museum of Childhood.

The station platform

Attribution: unknown

St John the Baptist well

Located on the lower slopes of Knockfarrel above Fodderty Cemetery. Wells such as these can be found throughout the Highlands and relate to Pagan times when well-worship was prevalent. On the arrival of the early Christians, there was a tendency not to antagonise the local population by discouraging well-worship, but instead dedicating certain wells to Saints, thus Holy Wells.

Originally, the water supposedly cured sickness and mental disorders, but recent analysis shows it to be beneficial for heart disease. The sites of the ancient chapels of Fodderty and Inchrory are in the vicinity.

St John the Baptist well

Attribution: unknown

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Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer Places » Strathpeffer Pump room
Nurse lowering patient into mud bath
Nurse lowering patient into mud bath
The patient would have been lowered into the mud bath by an extremely skilled nurse
A Mud Bath
A Mud Bath
After drinking the waters, Mrs Mitchell would have endured more torture by having a mud bath
Victorian gentleman
Victorian gentleman
As you enter the Pump Room you are greeted by volunteers Maureen and Shirley, and, as you leave, the Victorian gentleman holding the "sweetie poke" (paper bag) is not offering a treat but suggesting you may wish to leave a donation in support of the exhibition you have viewed. You can, of course, purchase your own "sweetie poke" from the attractive range on display, or a souvenir from the gift shop.
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters". Each picture is said to tell a story, and this one suggests domineering wife and hen-pecked husband!
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
These models show a patient consulting Strathpeffer physician Dr Fortescue Fox.
These models show a patient consulting Strathpeffer physician Dr Fortescue Fox.
For more information about Dr Fortescue Fox please read the page about him under Folk on this website.
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition. Visitors to Strathpeffer came via the Highland Railway Company which opened its branch line to the village on 3 June 1885. Until then, visitors made the final stage of their journey by horse-drawn coach, which was both inconvenient and not very suitable for the many guests who were older, in poor health or invalids. In the first decade of the 20th century the Spa was overflowing with visitors and the Railway Company built their grand 90-bedroom Highland Hotel, which opened in 1911 - it can be seen on the top left in the poster.
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