Talks Archive

Session 2023-24

Tarradale Through Time — Remarkable Discoveries on the Black Isle, Dr. Eric Grant
A New perspective on the Highlands Before Culloden — The life‐writing of ‘curious cleric’ Rev. James Fraser (1634‐1709), Professor David Worthington
Maps and Map Making in the Scottish 18th Century — A transition in surveying, maps amd map-making in Scotland, Roland Spencer‐Jones
A Tale of Two Shopkeepers — and their families, Ross Couper
All Hail Macbeth, Thain of Cromarty? — Good king, bad king: the making of an historical myth, Liz Broumley
Are We Nearly There Yet? — A journey exploring Scotland’s milestones, Bruce Keith

Session 2022-23

William & Paterson Murdoch — Engineers of Highland Railways

Session 2022-23

William & Paterson Murdoch — Engineers of Highland Railways, Anne‐Mary Paterson
The Herring Gutters of N.E. Scotland — a coastal history, Anne Coombs
Cromarty Town Council — and the end of local democracy, Sandy Thomson
From Pupil to Teacher — One Cromarty Girl’s journey in the first decade of the 20th century, Paul Monk
James Braidwood, father of the modern fire service — A true Scottish hero, Diana Hamilton‐Jones
General Sir Richard O'Connor of Rosemarkie; A hero of two world wars, Roger Young
Where Angels Fear to Tread — Setting an historical novel in your own backyard, Shona MacLean
The Story of Cromarty in Six Maps — (and a few diagrams), Liz Broumley and Pat Haynes

Session 2021-22

There were no talks from September to January due to Covid

7 Braehead — a Pickletoun House, Arthur Bird
Resistance and Uprising — enslaved Africans defy their Highland masters, Guyana 1800-1814, David Alston
AGM followed by — From the Courthouse archives: Cromarty — the story of a town: memories of Fishertown

Session 2020-21

There were no talks due to Covid

Session 2019-20

Archaeology and the Historic Environment — in Scotland’s National Forests, Matt Ritchie
Healing wells — Their contemporary use, history and folklore, Roddy McKenzie
Cromarty Emigrants — and the Ships that took them, Sandy Thomson
Telling the Highland Story — 30 years reporting the news from the north, David Ross
Three Doctors — Highland medics at home and in the Empire, Dr. David Alston
‘One of the best portes in this yslande’ — A history of Cromarty harbour, Pat Haynes

Session 2018-19

Kirkmichael — Back from the brink of destruction, Dr Jim Mackay
The Yankee Mining Squadron — Impact on the Inverness Firth in 1918, Richard Jenner, Chanonry Sailing Club
The Great North Road — The story of the A9, Jim Miller
Cromarty Cameos — Portraits from our Town, Committee Members
Making Plans for Daldon: — the story of Cromarty’s Provost and Edinburgh College of Art’s class of ‘62’, Gordon Haynes
From factor’s house to The Factor’s House — a journey through 170 years, Fran Tilbrook
Hector the Hero — Evidence, interpretation and musical judgement, Liz Broumley
AGM Meeting, Paul Monk & Gordon Haynes

Session 2017-18

Interpreting the Black Isle and Beyond — The history and mystery of 21st. century interpretative storytelling, Verity Walker
The Hospitals of Inverness — Their origin and development 1650 – 2000, Jim & Steve Leslie
The Remarkable Miss Yule of Tarradale — A woman in a man’s world, Dr. Eric Grant
A Brief History of Cromarty — 800 years on one page, Dr. David Alston
Walking with Cattle: — A writer’s journey in search of the last drovers of Uist, Terry J. Williams<
Playing the Game: — 19th Century Sports in Ross and Cromarty, Sandy Thomson
A Tale of Two Homes: — A wee journey through the life of two Cromarty houses, Sheila Currie & Jane Verberg
Crime and Punishment at the Courthouse, Paul Monk

Session 2016-17

Cromarty School 1913 – 1946 — Eric Malcolm’s last talk, Presented by Sandy Thomson
The Ross and Cromarty Mountain Battery — Players on the global chessboard that was The Great Game, Dave Rendell
The Diary of a VictorianLady — A visit to Dingwall in 1892, Jonathan McColl
All Shall Have Prizes — A look at some of Cromarty’s cups, awards and more
A New Way of Living — Georgian Town Planning in the Highlands and Islands, Gordon Haynes
Rosemarkie Caves — Some finds and a puzzle, Simon Gunn & Mary Peteranna
A Few Treasures from the Courthouse Museum — Objects Seldom Seen, Paul Monk

Session 2015-16

Inverness Man Lost at Sea — Highlanders on the Titanic, Norman Newton
A Curate's Egg — Hugh Rose Ross of Cromarty, 1767-1846 Dr Jim MacKay
Tea and Rusty Bicycles — The Great Black Isle Drought of 1955 Sinclair Dunnett
Eric Malcolm — Readings and Reflections
Every Object Tells a Story, Dr. Alix Powers Jones
Scandals and Reay House, Roger Young
Still Life — Distilling in the Black Isle and surrounding area in the 18th Century, Meryl Marshall
In the wake of the Betsey — Following Hugh Miller to Eigg, Ro Scott and Martin Gostwick
Does Archaeology Matter? — Engaging the local community in the Cromarty Medieval Burgh, Mary Peteranna and Steve Birch

Session 2014-15

The Black Isle Railway, Jack Kernohan
From Crofting to Oil Rigs — the 1970s 'clearance' of Nigg, Sandy Thomson
The Evolution of the Highland Hospital, Steve and Jim Leslie
State-owned Pubs Around the Cromarty Firth, Sandy Thomson, and Forty Years of Cromarty Fourways Club, Anne Short
4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders — the Great War, Lynsey Easton and Robert Shanks
A Safe Place for Cromarty's Poor — the Black Isle Combination Poorhouse, Dr Jenny Fyfe
Thief's Row Re-visited — an Update on the Cromarty Medieval Burgh Archaeology Project, Steven Birch
Two Communities Changed by War — Cromarty and Resolis in WW1, Dr Jim MacKay

Session 2013-14

The Baby in the Biscuit Box — A Case Study from 1882, Norman Newton
Tent Pegs and Treasures — Metal Detecting at Belladrum, Eric Soane
Building Your Own History — Climbing the family tree, Jonathan McColl
Christmas Crackers — James Thomson and Hugh Miller, Society members
Monumental Isles of Historic Scotland, Kenny Taylor
A Wander along Thief's Row — community archaeology at the Reeds Park, Steven Birch
The Murchisons of Tarradale, Eric Grant
Sutherland Murray — the Yukon Gold Rush to Cromarty, Paul Monk

Session 2012-13

How the Highlands and Islands Pioneered the Health Service, Dr Miles Mack
Buildings of the Western Seaboard , Mary Miers
Maps of the Black Isle, Graham Clark
Cromarty Radicals (not the friends of Hugh Miller), Dr David Alston
Robert Dick — Baker, Botanist and Geologist of Thurso, Jane Verburg
Nigg and Rigs, Ross Couper
Remember who stole the Mulbuie? — The division of a Black Isle Commonty, Ro Scott
Spinning a Yarn — The Cromarty Hemp Factory, Dr David Alston

Session 2011-12

David Urquhart of Braelangwell 1805-77, Sandy Thomson
James Thomson of Tain — A Highlander in Quebec, Estelle Quick
Ferries of the Black Isle, Dr Jim Mackay
The Execution of John Adam, Dr Graham Clark
Post-War Cromarty 1945-75, Sandy Thomson and David Alston
HMS Natal — A Reappraisal , Paul Monk
Hugh Miller's Visit to Olney, Dr Lindsay Hemy
The Wardie Legacy to the Courthouse Museum, Paul Monk

Session 2010-11

Oral History and Archaeology for Black Isle Communities, Susan Kruse
Cromarty Schools and Schoolteachers, Dr Jenny Fyfe
Heresy, Murder and Witchcraft, The Story of the Cromarty Bible, Dr David Alston
George Bain — Pioneer in Celtic Art, Susan Seright
The Changing Fortunes of Seals and Seabirds in Scottish Waters, Professor Paul Thompson
RNAS Cromarty — The Cromarty Seaplane Base, Paul Monk
Cromarty in Context 1901-1939, Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
The Excavation of the Caird's Cave, Rosemarkie, Simon Gunn

Session 2009-10

History of Education in the Highlands, Eileen McCaskill
The MacKenzies of Redcastle, Dr Graham Clark
The Episcopal Church in the Highlands, Very Rev. Mark Strange
Cromarty in the Victorian Age, Dr David Alston and Sandy Thomson
Cromarty Estate Farms in the 18th and 19th Centuries, Sandy Thomson
Highlanders in Poland/Lithuania 1500-1800, Dr David Worthington
Gravestones at the East Kirk, History Society Members
Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, Helma Reynolds

Session 2008-09

Charming, and other sins, on the Black Isle, Dr Jim Mackay
Historic Buildings in the Highlands and Islands, Mary Miers
The Highland Archive Network, Susan Beckley
The Cromarty Fishing Community, CHS Members
Cromarty from 1707 to 1839, Dr David Alston and Sandy Thomson
Progress at the East Church, Caroline Vawdrey and Dr David Alston
Jacobites and Russia, Dr Becky Boyd
The Geological History of Cromarty and the Surrounding Area, Dr Ian Basham

Session 2007-08

Inverness Museum 'Future-Proofed', Catherine Niven
Archaeological Investigations in Cromarty, John Wood
Slaves, Highlanders and Freedom, Dr David Alston and Margot Henderson
Cromarty from 1513 to 1707, Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
The Fleet in the Cromarty Firth, Estelle Quick
Cromarty in the 1950s, Dougie MacPhee

Session 2005-06

The Parish of Edderton, Reay Clarke
Unearthing Redcastle's Secret History, Colin MacLeod
The Grahams of Drynie, John MacDonald
Cromarty Town CouncilThe Last Days, Sandy Thomson
A Walk through Resolis Parish, Dr Jim Mackay
Restoration of the East Church, Sam Russell and Ian Fraser
Cromarty Place Names, Dr Jenny Fyfe
The Nigg Fabrication Yard, Bill Shannon

Session 2004-05

Archaeology around Cromarty, John Wood
Rosehaugh House, Kathleen MacLeman
Hugh Miller — Hero or Villain?, Martin Gostwick
A Tale of Two Hospitals, Lilah Dowsett
Reverend Alexander Stewart, John Tallach
Strathcarnoch, Dr David Alston

Session 2001-02

Press Coverage of Cromarty in the 19th Century, Sandy Thomson and Dr David Alston
A Highland Monastery — Fearn Abbey, Father Mark Dilworth
Ross-shire Man Finds Gold in the Klondyke, Caroline Shepherd-Barron
The Cromarty Stone — a Relic from Sir Thomas Urquhart's Castle, Eric Malcolm
Kilts, Pipes and the Highland Soldier, Gordon Urquhart
Cromarty Church Papers Discovered, CHS Members
Remembering the Clearances, Christine Mackay
Cromarty Treasure Trove, Dr David Alston

Session 2000-01

Cromarty and the Civil War, Calum Davidson
E.A Mackintosh — Poet of the Highland Division:, Colin Campbell MSP
Forestry in the Black Isle, Ian Ross
Strathpeffer Spa Recalled, Ian McCrae
Black Highlanders, Dr David Alston
George Romanes and the Nigg Laboratory, Dr Jenny Fyfe
Playing the Game in Ross and Cromarty, Sandy Thomson
From Baltic Seals to the Cromarty Volunteers, CHS Members
Moray Firth Ships and Trade, Ian Hustwick

Session 1999-2000

The Medieval 'Power Centre' of Cromarty, Dr Richard Oram
Our Episcopal forefathers, Colin Page, ,
Bringing Power from the Glens, Eric Malcolm
Brewing on the Black Isle, Dr David Alston
Archaeology of the Moray Firth, Dr Alex Hale
Highland Drovers and Wild West Cowboys, Rob Gibson MSP
Cromarty in the 1930s, Eric Malcolm

Session 1998-99

Images of Highland Archaeology, Sena Mackay
The Five Euphemias of Ross, Elizabeth Sutherland