Cromarty Archive

Kessock Ferry - c1905?

Kessock Ferry - c1905?

Date Added: 20 December 2004 Contributor: Craig McDonald Year: 1905 Picture No: 985

Craig says: "One of the men on the ferry is Roderick Morrison, my gt gt grandfather. He started life as a crofter in Sand, Gairloch, before relocating to the Black Isle and a career change as a ferryman."

"He died in 1907, so that gives a little something to work with. I can't honestly say how early it might be."

"Looking at the hillside in the background, it was taken from the same location as the existing photo of the Eilean Dubh." (picture #329)

Albums: The Sea

11 Comments

Roderick my gt gt grandpop also so hello Craig we must be distant cousins. Comment left on 22 March 2007 at 11:12 by Liz Watson
My mother asks if you have any other family photographs? She recollects one portrait in particular, of Murdo complete with walrus-like whiskers with Catherine, her grannny. Everything lost this side of family due to fire 17 november 1936, her fourteenth birthday! Would love to get in touch with you! Comment left on 29 March 2007 at 00:54 by Liz Watson
Do you know who any of the other men are? My great grandfather was a ferrymaster here at around this time. He was called Alexander MacLeod. Comment left on 12 May 2007 at 22:36 by Karen Harley
Hi Karen I have read a little about the ferry and believe this picture marks the inauguration of the steam driven boat in 1907 and reading from the 1891 and 1901 censuses can only name Roderick, his son Donald and one other, James Young but no others at the present. Comment left on 15 May 2007 at 02:00 by Liz Watson
The North Kessock & District Local History Society are collecting information on the ferries over the centuries and have had help with photographs and information already from Cromarty folks. They will have an exhibition in the Community Hall from 13 to 15 July. The Kessock Bridge is 25 years old now...a celebration!
Look at www.kessockferry2007.com.
Comment left on 19 May 2007 at 22:37 by Alasdair Cameron
See also- Inverness Royal Acadamy website. Article by Robert Preece -Earthquakes in the Inverness Area - the 1890 quake. Comment left on 26 May 2007 at 18:07 by Liz Watson
My fifth great-grandfather Alexander McIntosh was the Kessock ferryman in 1810 according to the birth record of his son Duncan. It is likely that his father and grandfather (both Donalds) were also Kessock ferrymen going back to 1730! Comment left on 24 February 2009 at 16:40 by Glen Midgley
Sorry, but I have no idea who the other men are. I don't even know which one of them is Roderick Morrison. I also have no other photos. It is one of a meager collection of surviving photos. I shared it in the hope that others with an interest in the Black Isle might enjoy seeing how the crossing used to be made before more modern ferries and (of course) the current bridge. Comment left on 25 February 2009 at 22:22 by Craig McDonald
This vessel is the Lowestoft Belle, dims 78' x 14' x 6' depth, b1906 at Lowestoft, withdrawn from Kessock Ferry 11-4-1936 ref Scotland's National Sunday newspaper cutting p2 Comment left on 11 January 2021 by C Osborne
Thanks you for the additional information, is tha in the British newspaper archive?
Comment left on 14 January 2021 by Liz Watson
The information is from a cutting from the MacLaren Collection held at the Ballast Trust, Johnstone which describe's itself as Scotland's National Sunday newspaper; the Sunday Post described itself as Scotland's Favourite Sunday newspaper, so I assume it comes from the Sunday Mail. Comment left on 16 January 2021 by C Osborne
Form Goes Here