Coronavirus Update
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation this year's programme of talks (2021-2022) will continue to be 'zoomed'.
Monday, September 13th. Dave Rendell, Meet Mrs Bean of Fortrose.
Looking to understand the processes of change at work in a small rural, Victorian community. Postponed .
This will be followed by the AGM.
Monday, October 11th. Richard Sims, The Textile Industry, from flax to linen, sailcloth and twine. Postponed until December 13th.
Monday, November 8th. Doug Maclean, Groam House Museum and the New Pictish Trail.
Doug is the Chairman of Groam House Museum and is looking to promote community development through a Community Heritage Hub and the New Pictish Trail.
Monday, December 13th. Richard Sims, The Textile Industry, from flax to linen, sailcloth and twine.
Richard Sims is the author of several books on the flax industry, 'Rope, Net, Twine and Sailcloth' and 'Sailcloth, Webbing and Shirts' He has also contributed to BBC's The One Show and BBC 4's Hidden Histories. Richard has concentrated his research on the flax industires of Somerset and Dorset but Richard will not only detail the entire process but also highlight the type of buildings and land used in the flax industry so that we may identify examples of the flax industry locally.
There is a strong folk memory of the flax industry in Rosemarkie. Most locals know about the 'pows', or retting ponds but very little other evidence is known.It is hoped Richard will inspire us to further research on the flax industry of Rosemarkie.
Monday, January 10th. Dr Eric Grant, Tarradale, Mills and Stills
Eric is a well known local historian and archaeologist who has shared details of the Tarradale Through Time Project with FRLHG members in the past. His new talk, Tarradale Mills and Stills, focuses on landuse in the Tarradale area and the products of the land which underpinned everyday life.
Monday, February 14th. Andrew Wright, Old Leanach Cottage: a relic of the Battle of Culloden?
Andrew Wright OBE is a retired conservation architect, and an architectural historian. He has served on numerous public bodies, including the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland. Andrew has made an in-depth study of the transformation of Highland houses over time. Tonight's talk will concentrate on the buildings of the Culloden Battlefield.
Monday, March 14th. Ronald Maclean, What's in a name? Quite a lot if it's a place-name. The Place-names of The Aird and Strathglass
Place-name entusiast Ron contributed to this important study of the origin and translation of some Inverness-shire place-names lwith Dr Simon Taylor and Dr Jacob King as part of a St Andrews University Project, supported by Kiltarlity Community Council. The place-names have been illustrated with a series of photographs taken by Mary Macdonald.
Monday, April 11th Professor James Hunter CBE, 'They Might as Well Die by Being Shot as by Starvation'.
Award winning journalist and Scottish Historian Jim's latest book 'Insurrection: Scotland's Famine Winter' is set in 1846 when Scotalnd's potato crop was wiped out by blight. The country was plunged into crisis. In the Highlands a huge relief effort came too late to prevent starvation and death. Towns and villages rose up in protest at the high cost of the oatmeal that replaced the potatoes as peoples' staple food. Troops were landed at Channonry Point to rsetore order in Fortrose and Rosemarkie.
Monday, May 9th. Dr John Barrett, A Guided Tour of the Medieval Royal Burgh of Forres.
Details of this visit will be confirmed closer to the date.