Abstracts of talks 2025-26

Sep 2025,   Corrugated Iron Buildings in the Highlands,   Graham Clark

Graham Clark began his talk by reminding us of some of the Corrugated Iron buildings in Cromarty, starting with those which had been demolished such as the Mission Hall in 2003 and the Townlands Dairy in 2009. However others such as the Links Cottages and the Fish Store are still in use.

Corrugated Iron was invented by Henry Robinson Palmer (1795‐1844). Galvanisation protected against rust and was originally used by Luigi Galvani (1737-98) but patented in France in 1837 using zinc to protect the iron and patented in the UK in 1843. It was originally used by the Navy for Pembroke Docks. A cottage was designed for the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, where it was inspected by Prince Albert who purchased one to be erected at Balmoral Castle as a social space. Later when the new castle had been built it was resited to become a carpenter’s workshop where it remains.>/p>

Royal approval made the building material popular, especially in Scotland where it became the original ‘flatpack’, being easy to deliver by Puffer boat then horse and cart. Kits were made in Scotland until 1968.

Government contracts in World War One led to a proliferation of military buildings, as well as churches, schools and hospitals.

Graham then illustrated examples of churches, village halls and schools, especially in remote locations such as Inverpolly, Isle Martin, Badcaul Gairloch and Jemimaville, leaving his audience to now notice just how many of them there are in the Highlands.

Our talks are normally on the third Tuesday of the month at the Victoria Hall, Cromarty (please check the website for exceptions). Visitors are always welcome to our meetings and further information is available on our website: www.cromartyhistory.scot