The Cromarty Archive
No: 1068 Contributor: Alison Dunn Year: 1973
Braehead from the shore
An unusual shot from the beach below the Links of the houses on Braehead. Note that the house behind the tallest tree is Miss Macdonald's house, which burnt down in a mysterious fire shortly afterwards. See picture #1011. It is currently being renovated.
Barkly Cottages, to the left of that house, were inhabited at this time by George and Ted ??. George had reputedly won a large sum of money on a horse race in the south of England, and had bought the property in the 60s. Ted was a bit simple, and used to wander the town giving sweets to children. The sort of person that kids would probably be warned to avoid now, but he was harmless.
The wooden piles in the foreground are part of the old seabreak which ran almost all of the way along the top of the beach. Most, if not all, of this has now rotted away. Date is a guess, but seems about right.
Picture added on 16 March 2005
This picture is in the following groups
Barclay House Restoration
Barclay House Restoration
Help - does anyone have a picture or photograph of the Crown Inn which stood where the school now is at Braehead, Cromarty. My relatives ran it in 1820ish-1844. I would love to see what it looked like.
Added by Katrina Whitehouse on 06 September 2005
Hi Katrina - the map on picture #544 is possibly the only record we'll have of that. If you click on the Zoomify button below it you can see that the space on Braehead (called Links Terrace on this map) where the school should be, there are some buildings surrounded by gardens. I've no idea what these were.
If you look around the map some more you'll see that there are a number of Inns mentioned, and also the letters P.H. on some buildings, standing for Public House. There's no inn or public house shown on Braehead at all, but the map is dated 1871.
I'd be very interested in what information you have which makes you suspect your ancestor's establishment was where the school is now. Perhaps some other contributors have more information about this.
If you look around the map some more you'll see that there are a number of Inns mentioned, and also the letters P.H. on some buildings, standing for Public House. There's no inn or public house shown on Braehead at all, but the map is dated 1871.
I'd be very interested in what information you have which makes you suspect your ancestor's establishment was where the school is now. Perhaps some other contributors have more information about this.
Added by Garve Scott-Lodge on 06 September 2005
I appreciate all your replies - I have found out only today that it was not the Crown Inn they had but an article in the Inverness Journal dated 1833 said John Mann, late commander of the Inverness packet is opening the large house by the harbour as an inn with accomodation for guests etc. I believe this is still in the Braehead area so I am hoping you guys have information on this. Is the large house still there? I do not think it would have remained an inn but would have changed back to a house. If anyone has a record of what it was called or images I would be forever grateful. Also any info on the Inverness packet a 117 ton sloop which went between Inverness and London between 1810 and 1831 would be great as he appeared in the Inverness Journal a few times.
Added by Katrina Whitehouse on 06 September 2005
The Royal Hotel - the white building in picture #501 - is of course right beside the harbour, but is not on Braehead. It used to be called the Admiral Napier although I'm not sure if that was it's first name.
Added by Garve Scott-Lodge on 06 September 2005
Thank you Garve - it does say big or large house near or by harbour and on the 1841 census they are at Braehead so that house I assume is the house they turned into an inn. I also know they were still running the inn in 1842. Keeep digging for me Garve im sure you will find it for me and I will buy you a drink when I come up next year.
Added by Katrina Whitehouse on 06 September 2005
It looks like it could be what is known as the Cliff In or Inn, Garve, and Hugh Miller had his farewell dinner at the Mann's Inn so if you or anyone know of this please help - this drinks bill could become quite large - many thanks.
Added by Katrina Whitehouse on 07 September 2005
Now we're getting somewhere Katrina - the Cliff is a large house on George St. The only picture I've got of it just now is picture #946 - it's one of the houses on the right - but I'll take one tomorrow and put it on the site.
If you zoom in on the top left hand corner of the map on picture #544, the Cliff is the house just opposite the first E in George Street.
If you zoom in on the top left hand corner of the map on picture #544, the Cliff is the house just opposite the first E in George Street.
Added by Garve Scott-Lodge on 08 September 2005
Barclay House Restoration
Sophia was the keeper of a public house or inn at Braehead up until around 1845 - as yet I have been unable to confirm the name of it but it was definitely at Braehead as I have the proof through an application for aid to Trinity House in 1842.
If anyone knows of the pub or inn I would appreciate it - it could possibly have been called the Crown Inn but not definite.