Cromarty Archive

Gaelic Chapel - c1916

Gaelic Chapel - c1916

Date Added: 01 January 2003 Contributor: Robert Clyne Year: 1916 Picture No: 55

The roof still intact at this point - when did it fall in?
Taken from Robert Clyne's album. To see it as it is now go to picture #2. An earlier view can be found on picture #471.

Albums: Churches

5 Comments

The roof remained intact until 1952, when it was blown down in a strong SW gale. Last use of the Chapel for worship was by the Polish Army, men of the Pioneer Platoon of the 24th Silesian Infantry Battalion, (1945-46). The men marched from their camp on the links, to the Chapel for RC services. The use of the Chapel was a 2-way agreement between the late Col G.D.N. Ross and the Poles, after they constructed a bridge across a burn in the 'Planting' close to Cromarty House. There are cement Plaques on both bridge piers, on the 'upstream' side to commerate the work, which on my last visit, were in a bad state of repair. Personal photos of the plaques, in Polish & English will be posted on this site shortly. Comment left on 06 November 2003 by Clem Watson
...i was only a young lad at the time ..but remember vividly the sound of the chapel roof 'caving in" in the wee small hours. I never knew that about the agreement between colonel Ross and the poles ..a nice bit of history ...see what you find out on this site !! I hope this site continues until years to come ...the photo archives alone that have been built up ...are a credit to you all !!! Comment left on 08 November 2003 by John Macdonald
picture #788 shows the bridge mentioned by Clem. Comment left on 02 May 2004 at 13:06 by Garve Scott-Lodge
Only heard about this today from Clem Watson. Very interesting to hear. My Grandfather was Polish and came here during the war, settled in Caithness and later Perth. Inpires me to find out more..... Comment left on 14 January 2008 at 18:01 by Ewan McNeil
My Mother Jessie Reid played the organ for the Polish services in the Chapel. She lived on Braehead at the time. She surprised us in later life with her Polish language skills. She had a fond affection for the soldiers and spoke of them in glowing terms. Perhaps if the cards had fallen differently my father would have been Polish! It is wonderful to see the great work that has been done recently to remove the overgrown ivy and undergrowth around the chapel. Comment left on 15 May 2020 by Arthur Bird
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