1st Spetember 2025

Jim Mackay

Romancing the Stone – Marriage Stones near you

Jim Mackay of the Kirkmichael Trust spoke on the topic of  “Romancing the Stone — Marriage Stones near you”. He provided many images of stones in and around the Black Isle including one at North Kessock and another at Redcastle, Marriage stones became fashionable in the 1700s. Early in Jim’s research he discovered that the carved stones were mainly created when buildings were constructed and not at the time of the marriage and that the male initials were always on the left. They were often over the door of a house or above a window or over a fireplace and sometimes difficult to photograph. As a result of Jim’s research he was able provided little snippets of information on the owners lives. This is an on-going project as he continues to uncover the whereabouts of these stones. By 1800 marriage stones were no longer fashionable but there are still many left for Jim to photograph, research and reveal their stories of love and romance.

1st October 2025

Bruce Keith

Scotland Beneath the Surface

We welcomed back Bruce Keith who once again enthralled us with an entertaining talk on Scotland's rich underground heritage - and the wealth of resources and infrastructure which lie beneath our feet and form an important part of our history and geography both natural and the product of man's endeavours. Beautifully illustrated, the talk highlighted the diversity of 'life' beneath the surface which generates hydro-electricity, provides our transport networks, rocks bearing oil shale, coal, oil and gas, and  the granite, sandstones, slate, sands and gravels to construct the nation's built heritage. Not forgetting, pipes to deliver water and sewers to remove waste. Or, people who had homes in caves such as the Tinkers’ Cave in Wick where 24 families lived in the 1900s, and that in 1917 some 55 people claimed to live in a cave. Also, in Edinburgh when there were 120 vaults under the South Bridge, each providing accommodation for 20 to 30 people, and not forgetting the use of tunnels under castles to aid smuggling.

After answering questions Bruce closed by offering copies of his latest book “Scotland Beneath the Surface” for sale at a reduced price.

5 November 2025 

Iron Schools in the Highlands

Graham Clark

Graham began by giving us a brief history of corrugated iron and the economic advantages of it for building churches, halls and schools. What prompted the need for buildings such as these, in the case of education, was the legal requirements in the education act of 1872 that local authorities had to provide all children between the ages of five and fourteen with a basic education. (Reading, writing and arithmetic.)

However, in rural and remote areas in Scotland this was not as easy as it would have been in urban, more populated areas. Parents were farm, estate workers or quarriers or construction workers, or who lived in other ways off the land and sea and brought their families with them. Transport was not readily available and many children had to walk several miles a day to attend school.

In some cases a room was made available in a farmhouse and the teacher would travel in for a few days a week to teach the children. But often this was not possible, so small corrugated iron buildings were constructed. The building consisted of a  classroom, with a fireplace and sometimes a teacher’s room and a small entrance hall. Academically, the nearest available fully-qualified head-teacher was responsible for ensuring the quality of teaching. 

Graham has so far researched around forty of the “Side” schools that still exist in Scotland and is always on the lookout for more. 

During the talk we were shown many pictures of side schools that are still standing and have been adapted for other uses, some that are rubble and some which have disappeared altogether.  

3 December 2025

AGM & QUIZ NIGHT

The AGM was followed by another version of our very popular quiz run by Fred Fraser and Alasdair Cameron - guessing what the names and uses of items on the table and the opportunity to mix and natter with members of the group. This was followed by Christmas cke and mince pies and closed with wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.