FROM THE ARCHIVE: Amazing Inverness field club collection
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Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club was founded in 1875 to promote scientific study and investigation and to enquire into the geology, botany, natural history and archaeology of Inverness.
The society became known simply as Inverness Field Club and this title was officially adopted in 1973. The amazing Inverness Field Club collection held at the Highland Archive Centre includes minutes, maps, plans, slides, photographs and notes from outings to various sites of historical or scientific interest across the Highlands.
The opening pages of the first minute book reveal that early meetings were held in the Waverly Hotel on Union Street and some notable people were present at the first meeting: Dr Thomas Aitken (M.D. of the District Asylum), Walter Caruthers of Gordonville, Mr Galloway (Chemist, Castle St), W. Jolly (H.M. Inspector of Schools), Dr MacKay, K Macdonald (Solicitor), Mr James Barron (Inverness Courier), A. Ross (Architect), J Wallace (Rector, High School), Mr James Melven (Bookseller, Union St), W.B. Forsyth (Inverness Advertiser), Ebenezer Forsyth (Inverness Advertiser), Mr C.A. Hendrie (Measurer, Union Street) and Mr MacTavish (Ironmonger, Castle St).
The first edition Ordnance Survey Maps published in 1880 show a stone circle lying between Broomtown (Raigmore) House and Stoneyfield. In 1883 James Fraser, a local civil engineer, formally surveyed the site on behalf of the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club. His plan shows 39 stones in the outer circle with six lying inside.
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The circle remained undisturbed for almost 90 years until 1972 when plans for the new A9 approach to the proposed Kessock Bridge were formulated. Realising that the circle was in the path of the road, permission was given by the Department of the Environment for archaeologists from the University of Leicester to excavate the site prior to the stones being reassembled slightly to the south of their original position. As well as finding flint tools, Bronze Age pottery and a Roman brooch, the dig revealed that the stone circle, believed to date from 1600 BC, was built over a significantly older settlement which dated from 3000BC.
Both the Burgh Council and Field Club approached the Ministry of Transport to have the line of the road altered so that the Circle could remain in-situ, however the site was “dismantled” in August 1973.
One year later, the circle was “reassembled” on its present site off Ashton Road with costs being met by the Scottish Development Department. The 1883 survey proved invaluable in ensuring that the stones were correctly placed, although to many this was simply a gesture, the value and spirit of the circle having been destroyed in its demolition.
A map, which is part of this collection shows the lands belonging to the town of Inverness in the 16th century, what was known as the Royal Burgh of Inverness is the dark area in the middle of the map, while the light red areas show the land which belong to the town. Many names although spelt differently are still familiar, such as “The Merkynche” and “The Inchis” whereas others such as Claypotts are no longer there.
