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Bill McAllister


BILL McALLISTER: The story of how Inverness established a Bishop’s Palace

09 April 2023
BILL McALLISTER: The story of how Inverness established a Bishop’s Palace

BILL McALLISTER: The story of how Inverness established a Bishop’s Palace

09 April 2023

Find out what the building was used for during World War II.


Bill McAllister: Wild horses and ‘wild beasts’ cause problems for Inverness Provost

02 April 2023
Bill McAllister: Wild horses and ‘wild beasts’ cause problems for Inverness Provost

Bill McAllister: Wild horses and ‘wild beasts’ cause problems for Inverness Provost

02 April 2023

If you think Inverness has traffic problems today consider the era when the Provost called for a stop to unaccompanied horses rushing to the Ness.


BILL MCALLISTER: Did you know Inverness had a library and street that vanished over 60 years ago?

26 March 2023
BILL MCALLISTER: Did you know Inverness had a library and street that vanished over 60 years ago?

BILL MCALLISTER: Did you know Inverness had a library and street that vanished over 60 years ago?

26 March 2023

Inverness Burgh Library, and the rest of the street, Exchange Place, vanished 60 years ago, and only a dwindling few will recall them.


Bill McAllister: Development aims to have city's showpiece centre stage

19 March 2023
Bill McAllister: Development aims to have city's showpiece centre stage

Bill McAllister: Development aims to have city's showpiece centre stage

19 March 2023

Next month sees the 160th anniversary of four local livewires unveiling plans to create a splendid new Inverness thoroughfare.


BILL McALLISTER: Grand Caledonian Bank is still standing proud in city

12 March 2023
BILL McALLISTER: Grand Caledonian Bank is still standing proud in city

BILL McALLISTER: Grand Caledonian Bank is still standing proud in city

12 March 2023

This is the 175th anniversary of the completion of one of our city centre’s most attractive buildings, which wears its age graciously.


Down Memory Lane: The time Buffalo Bill and the Wild West came to Inverness

05 March 2023
Down Memory Lane: The time Buffalo Bill and the Wild West came to Inverness

Down Memory Lane: The time Buffalo Bill and the Wild West came to Inverness

05 March 2023

William F Cody's massive show brought 46,000 spectators flocking to Dalneigh for a flavour of the American frontier.


Down Memory Lane: High-flying achievements of a real Highland pioneer

26 February 2023
Down Memory Lane: High-flying achievements of a real Highland pioneer

Down Memory Lane: High-flying achievements of a real Highland pioneer

26 February 2023

Columnist Bill McAllister continues to explore the life of Highland aviation pioneer Ted Fresson.


Down Memory Lane: Pioneering airman’s vision brought flights to Highlands

19 February 2023
Down Memory Lane: Pioneering airman’s vision brought flights to Highlands

Down Memory Lane: Pioneering airman’s vision brought flights to Highlands

19 February 2023

Exploring the life of Captain Ted Fresson, who brought the first scheduled flights to the Highlands 90 years ago...


Down Memory Lane: Soldier in the Square's 130-year vigil over city centre

12 February 2023
Down Memory Lane: Soldier in the Square's 130-year vigil over city centre

Down Memory Lane: Soldier in the Square's 130-year vigil over city centre

12 February 2023

Holding his rifle, the kilted figure gazes steadfastly out over Inverness as the 130th anniversary approaches of his tour of duty in Station Square.


Down Memory Lane: When thundering horses raced round a city landmark

05 February 2023
Down Memory Lane: When thundering horses raced round a city landmark

Down Memory Lane: When thundering horses raced round a city landmark

05 February 2023

Tomnahurich's past as an exciting horse-racing location is revisited by Bill McAllister in his latest trip down memory lane...


Down Memory Lane: Long lost cinemas are gone but not forgotten

29 January 2023
Down Memory Lane: Long lost cinemas are gone but not forgotten

Down Memory Lane: Long lost cinemas are gone but not forgotten

29 January 2023

Much-loved cinemas of Inverness that are gone but not forgotten are revisited by Bill McAllister in his latest trip Down Memory Lane...


DOWN MEMORY LANE: The Little Ice Age brought both joy and hardship north

22 January 2023
DOWN MEMORY LANE: The Little Ice Age brought both joy and hardship north

DOWN MEMORY LANE: The Little Ice Age brought both joy and hardship north

22 January 2023

The recent snows and frosts seemed fairly remarkable, but were exceedingly tame compared to what the Highlands endured in The Great Frost of 1895.


Down Memory Lane: Social reformer saw vast changes during his lifetime

15 January 2023
Down Memory Lane: Social reformer saw vast changes during his lifetime

Down Memory Lane: Social reformer saw vast changes during his lifetime

15 January 2023

A lad born at Aldourie on the day of the Battle of Culloden would become a key figure and chairman of what became the world’s largest corporation.


Down Memory Lane: Will conclusive evidence ever be found in Nessie hunt?

08 January 2023
Down Memory Lane: Will conclusive evidence ever be found in Nessie hunt?

Down Memory Lane: Will conclusive evidence ever be found in Nessie hunt?

08 January 2023

Bobby the Sea Serpent of Loch Ness was the name the Daily Mail gave 89 years ago to the phenomenon known worldwide today as “the Loch Ness Monster”.


Down Memory Lane: 'Kelpies or not, there's been plenty of monster tales'

01 January 2023
Down Memory Lane: 'Kelpies or not, there's been plenty of monster tales'

Down Memory Lane: 'Kelpies or not, there's been plenty of monster tales'

01 January 2023

From warlocks to skinned dolphins, Bill McAllister explores some of the strange tales associated with water kelpies and the Loch Ness Monster...


The castle is star of the show and a real boon for tourism...

18 December 2022
The castle is star of the show and a real boon for tourism...

The castle is star of the show and a real boon for tourism...

18 December 2022

The real star of BBC1's ‘The Traitors’ is a castle built by an Invernessian and funded by a man whose portrait hangs in Inverness council chamber.


BILL MCALLISTER: Burning of warlock among grim history in Inverness neighbourhood

11 December 2022
BILL MCALLISTER: Burning of warlock among grim history in Inverness neighbourhood

BILL MCALLISTER: Burning of warlock among grim history in Inverness neighbourhood

11 December 2022

Warlock burnings and brewery links – the Haugh in Inverness has a fascinating and sometimes grim history, writes Bill McAllister.


Bill McAllister: Continuing a look back at the life of Duncan Forbes

04 December 2022
Bill McAllister: Continuing a look back at the life of Duncan Forbes

Bill McAllister: Continuing a look back at the life of Duncan Forbes

04 December 2022

Columnist Bill McAllister continues his reflection on the life of a less widely known figure from Inverness's past.


Bill McAllister: Anniversary is a reminder of grim chapter in city’s history

20 November 2022
Bill McAllister: Anniversary is a reminder of grim chapter in city’s history

Bill McAllister: Anniversary is a reminder of grim chapter in city’s history

20 November 2022

This month is the 210th anniversary of Robert Ferguson publicly addressing a huge crowd in Inverness before they watched him being executed.


Bill McAllister: Railway almost looked very different than what we have

13 November 2022
Bill McAllister: Railway almost looked very different than what we have

Bill McAllister: Railway almost looked very different than what we have

13 November 2022

This is the 160th anniversary of the rail link north of Inverness – but, it nearly started with a sea crossing between Nairn and the Black Isle.


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