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TALKS ARCHIVE

Below is a list of some of the talks given to the Society in recent years. The ones included here are those for which a brief abstract is available in the form of a press release. Click on the underlined dates for the detailed abstracts from that Session.

Session 1998-99

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

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 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 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 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 2005-06

  • The Parish of Edderton;  Reay Clarke
  • Unearthing Redcastle's Secret History:  Colin MacLeod
  • The Grahams of Drynie:  John MacDonald
  • Cromarty Town Council: The 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 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 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 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 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 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 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