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North Kessock & District History

Meeting Reports 2024/25

4th September 2024

The Bronze Age in North Kessock

Susan Kruse

It all started with commercial exploration at North Kessock prior to a new housing development. On a dig like this you don’t know what you are going to find!

Trevor Cowie a specialist from the National Museum Scotland looked at clay and sand samples from the dig and declared that amongst them was part of a clay mould for making tools. This was the starting point for a community project involving members of North Kessock & District Local History Society, the National Museums of Scotland and ARCH funded the Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland Council Ward Discretionary Fund and STEMnet. The interim report of the excavation also showed evidence of a roundhouse and pottery shards. The community project, funded by the National Lottery Fund included an investigation into local clay sources and talks, training workshops  and trips to see examples of bronze age artefacts. Experts in ceramics, clay analysis, historical metal and wood working signed up. The book of the project included a catalogue of metal objects found around the Moray Firth area. The result of all this activity was an exhibition (actually three exhibitions) which included practical demonstrations of Bronze Age metalworking and daily life.

Further detailed information and a video of the making of a sickle available is on this website.

Crafting Day 2013

2015 Feats of Clay Exhibition and Photos

The archaeological excavations were carried out in 2008-9 and the final results of the investigation are still not available. It is hoped that the latest information and results will be published early next year. 

2nd October 2024

Bridgescapes 

L Bruce Keith

A personal journey through history celebrating Scotland’s bridge building heritage.

Bruce gave us a very entertaining talk on bridges interspersed with many anecdotes. His interest in bridges began when he was a child and continues to the present day. Even on holiday Keith seeks out bridges and with his wife, has walked across many, including the arch of the Sidney bridge – not for the fainthearted or those who suffer from vertigo. Bruce covered the design and construction and development of bridges “from planks to spectacular icons”, related to historical events. He praised the creative talent and innovative approaches of Scottish bridge builders throughout the centuries. For example, those built by Thomas Telford during the great age of bridge building in the 18th and 19th century, right up to the newest, the Falkirk Wheel and the bridge across the Forth, the Queensferry Crossing. The talk was illustrated with many images of bridges including Carrbridge - the oldest bridge in the Highlands, built in 1717 and still standing. Bruce also brought along copies of his lavishly illustrated book, on sale to members at a special reduced rate. 

6th November 2024

Hospitals of Ross & Cromarty

Steve Leslie

Steve Leslie and his father Jim established the History of Highland Hospitals project supported by the NHS Highland Endowment fund and the Centre for History at the University of the Highlands and Islands. They found over 60 Highland hospitals including fever hospitals, poorhouses, and maternity homes. Many of them long forgotten. 

In 2011 they began to produce books for each area of the Highlands subsidised to keep the selling price It was hoped that as many people as possible would read them and respond with more information and this is what happened.  “Hospitals of Ross and Cromarty” is the latest book to be published with financial support from the Guthrie Trust.

They are currently working on the history of the hospitals of Caithness and Sutherland in two volumes. With funding from the NHS and UHI. These will be the last in the series of Highland Hospitals which it is hoped will be issued in 2025.

More information can be found at - https://www.historyofhighlandhospitals.com

 

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