Highland Archive Centre explores the Parish of Cromarty on the Black Isle
The Highland Archive Centre includes a host of historical documents detailing the story of the Parish of Cromarty. Here it takes a look at the parish and burgh town…
The Parish of Cromarty is to be found at the eastern end of the County of Ross & Cromarty, in the north-east corner of the Black Isle. It is bounded by the Cromarty Firth and Moray Firth to the north-east, in the south by the Parish of Rosemarkie and in the west by the Parish of Resolis. The eastern side of the Parish is rocky and rugged, whereas the northern side slopes gently down toward the waters of Cromarty Firth. The principal settlement of the parish is the town of Cromarty: once upon a time a royal burgh and birthplace of Hugh Miller.
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The Royal Burgh of Cromarty dates from at least the 12th century. Since the reign of Robert I, the burgh was associated with the earldom of Ross, following the forfeiture of which in 1475, the status of the burgh is obscure until a charter of 1593, which promotes Cromarty to a royal burgh.
In 1672 Parliament accepted the resignation of Cromarty as a royal burgh and it remained a burgh of barony thereafter. Cromarty Town Council was abolished in 1975 under the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 (c. 65) and its powers were assumed by Highland Regional Council and Ross and Cromarty District Council.
Alongside the Burgh of Cromarty Town Council minutes (which cover the period 1848-1975) the Highland Archive Centre also holds Cromarty Town Council records relating to the Medical Officer of Health, the Harbour Trust and files of correspondence discussing such matters as sewerage systems, public transport and housing.
One of the most fascinating volumes within the Burgh of Cromarty records is the Police Report book, covering the period 1869-1891. This book lists all the crimes that were reported within the Burgh and outlying areas and gives details about the crime, the perpetrators, victims and any witnesses. The most common crimes committed included theft, assault, trespass and breach of the peace. However there were also some more unusual crimes reported such as reckless discharge of a firearm, accidental fire, sudden death and ‘Keeping a Shebeen’ (selling alcohol without a licence).
One particularly eye catching crime was recorded as ‘Furious Driving’. The case was reported as follows:
“Reported by Constable Campbell Cromarty on the 10th Nov. 1870 that about 6pm on the night of Friday the 4th Nov. 1870 Colin McIvor 28 years of age, Manager with George Begg, Farmer Mains of Cromarty was riding a horse at a furious rate along Church Street Cromarty, when Jannet Skinner, an old woman, was passing along the Street with a Fish basket on her head. McIvor came on so rapidly with the horse that she could not get out of the way, was thrown down by the horse, had her left hand and leg severely bruised and was injured in other parts of her body.”
