Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 1

CAITHNESS-SHIRE.
WICK.
SLATER'S
Wick waa elected into a royal burgh in the year 1589, by theinflu-
onco of George, Earl of Caithness, whose principal residence waa at
the strong castle of Gernego, concerning the antiquity of which
there is no tradition, bat by its construction and workmanship it
appears to have been of Danish origin ; it is situated about two
miles from Wick, and the greater part of its walls are still standing.
Another interesting ruin in the vicinity is an old castle, known as
the " Old Man of Wick," which, with a linelighthouse on Noss-head,
forms an excellent land mark to seamen, otherwise the district is
comparatively destitute of antiquities except some of a very remote
and obscure period. The old tower of Ackergill has been extended
into au elegant castellated mansion, for the chief proprietor in the
district, Garden Duff Duubar, Esq. The Duke of Sutherland is
superior of Wick, which is the county town of the shire, a parlia-
mentary burgh, nud the station of returns at elections. It joins
with Kij'kwall, Dornoch, Dingwall, Tain, and Cromarty in returning
a member to the Imperial Parliament ; its- present representative
is John Pender, Esq. The government of the town is vested in
fifteen councillors, from whom are chosen a provost, thi-ee bailies,
a dean of guild, and a treasurer ; tbeii- jurisdiction, however, is con-
fined to narrow limits, and the amount of theii* revenue inconsider-
able, and confined to the rental of market dues, and some curing
stations. The harbour dues, with the feus and rental of Pulteney-
town, form the revenue of the British Fisheries Society. The justice
of peace and sheriff's court, tho former sitting every alternate Mon-
day, the latter every Tuesday and Friday, with power to appoint a
sitting when and where within the county. The customs collection
extends from Meckle Ferry to Cape Wrath, with sub-stations at
Thui-so and Little Ferry, the number of shipping registered being
about 4,602 tons. Different foreign states are represented by resi-
dent vice-consuls.
There are places of worship of the Establishment and the Free
Chui'ch of Scotland, of the former one in Wick and one in Pulteney-
town, and of the latter one in Wick and two in Pulteneytown, and
others for congregations of United Presbyterians, Independents,
Evangelical Union, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Episcopalians,
the latter having built a handsome chapel in Pulteney ; the locality
of each and their officiating ministers are given in the directory.
The Pulteneytown Academy was founded and endowed by the
British Fisheries Society. There are other good schools, some
friendly associations, and one of an agricultural character, which
holds an important annual cattle show, and shows for seeds and roots,
alternately at Wick and Thurso. A chamber of commerce comprises
the respectable traders in the place. A market is held every Friday,
and fairs on the 24th of June (if Tuesday}, or Tuesday after, the
Tuesday after the 20th July, and the first Tuesday after the 17th
November (old style), but the stock of the district is generally dis-
posed of at trysts held at Georgemas Hill, now rising into import-
ance as a market ground. In 1871 the parliamentary burgh of Wick
contained a popiUation of 3,131, the entire parish at the same period
having a population of 13,291.
Watten is a parish situated about nine miles w.n.w. of Wick, and
is bounded on the north by Bower, on the east by Wick, on the
south by Latheron, and on the west by Halkirk. In the north-west
part of tlie parish, which is of a square figure and measures from
seven to eight miles each way, there is a tine sheet of water about'
three miles in length called Loch Watten, from which issues a
branch of the river Wick. There are places of worship in connection
with the Established and Free churches, and a public school in the
village. The parish of Watten comprises an area of 30,579 statute
acres, and in 1871 contained a population of 1,453.
Canisbay is a parish 7 miles from Keiss, situated on the Pentland
Frith, and includes Duncansby Head, John o' Groats's House and
Stroma Island. In size it is about ten miles by five ; the inhabitants
being chiefly occupied in agriculture and fishing. There are Estab-
lished and Free churches and a public school in the parish.
Population in 1871, 2,729.
Bower is a parish 10 miles n.w. of Wick, and in size is about 11
miles by 3, rising towards Heather Cowcann, from which a fine
view is obtained. Population in 1871,1,700.
POST OPZ'ICE, Bridge street, Wick, John Sandison, Post Master.
Letters from all parts arrive at twenty minutes past five evening and twenty minutes past ten night ; from Mey at twenty minutea
past seven evening ; and from Dunbeath at eleven evening.
Letters are despatched to all parts South at one morning and half-past eleven morning; to Thurao at three afternoon; to Mey
at six morning; and to Dunbeath at twelve night.
Money Order and Telegraph Office and Saviyigs Bank.
Post Offlce, Pulteney, William Sinclair, Post Master, — Letters from this branch are forwarded at eight evening to the "post
office, Wick.
Post Office, Bower, E. M. M'Innes, Post Mistress. — Letters from all parts arrive (from Wick) at five minutes past ten
morning, and are despatched thereto at half-past two afternoon.
Post Office, Canisbay, John Sutherland, Post Master,— heitevs from all parts arrive {from Wick) at half-past eight morning,
and are despatched thereto at a quarter before six evening.
Post Office, Kjeiss, Gordon MiUer, Post Master.— ILetters fi-om aU parts arrive (from Wick) at a quarter-past seven morning,
and are despatched thereto at seven evening.
Post Office, Mey, David Patereon, Post Master.— heiteTB from all parts arrive (from Wick) at twenty minutes past nine
morning, and are despatched thereto at five evening.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY. | Reid Mr. Peter, Sinclair ter. Upper Pulteney *Cormack A. (and general fish merchant &
Adam Mrs. Jane, High st I g^id Rev. Wihiam, Watten , *^"^"^^*>' Harbour quay, Wick->SV>e advert
Adam Thomas Esq. (of Lyneagar), Bridge st : Robertson Mrs. George, Smith ter. Pulteney -^Duncan James G. Bank row, Pulteney
-— .-'.«,, . «^ Russell Hamilton, Esq. (sheriff substitute), *Geddes Brothers (and dealers in manure &
9 Ereadalbane place agricultural implements). High st. AVick
Rutherford Admiral G. B. r.n. Harbour Geddes James (for Singer's sewing machines),
House, Pulteney \ High st
Scott John, Esq. Noss : *Georgeson Donald, Pulteney, Wick
Sinclair Sir John Rose, Bart, of Dunbeath, ^Henderson James, Rose st
Barrock House - -.. _
Sinclair W, Sinclair Thomson, Esq. of ;
Freswick, Dunbeath Castle
Smith Mr. William Paterson, Sinclair terrace
Stevenson Rev. George, Sinclair terrace,
Upper Pulteney
30
Bremner the Misses Annie & Jessie,
Argyle square
Bremner the Misses—, West Park
Bruce Mrs. W. G. Breadalbane crescent
Bulk Major John Henry, Sinclan terrace,
Pulteney
Calder Mrs. Janet, Sinclair terrace, Pulteney
Clark Rev. Alexander, m.a. The Manse, Wick
Cleghorn Mr. John, High st. Wick
CoghiU Miss Janet, East banks, Pulteney
CormackMr.David, Sinclair terrace,Pulteney-
town
Donaldson Mr. Donald, Breadalbane crescent g^obie Rev Robert, The Manse. Keisa
Leith David (and vice consul for Norway &
Sweden, factor for Garden Duff Dunbar,
Esq. of Hempriggs. and for D. S. Weniyss,
of South Dunn), Bridge st
*Louttit Daniel & Company (and ship), Bank
row, Lower Pulteney
'^Manson George (& emigration), Louisburgh
Sutherland George, Esq. of Forss
Sutherland Rev. George, Francis st
Sutherland Blr. George MiUer, East banks
Sutherland Mr. John M'Kay, High st
Thomson Mrs. — , West Park
Wares Alexander, Esq. Bi-idge st. Wick
Wemyss David, Esq. of South Dunn, Wick
Reiach James (for Willcox & Gibbs and the
Howe Sewing Machine Co.), High st
*Reid Peter, Bridge end, Pulteney
*Reid WiUiam, Union st. Pulteney
Rutherford Admiral G. B. (to the British
Fishery Society), Bexley terrace, Upper
Pulteney
*Sandi3on D. & Co. Telford st
*Sinclair Alexander, High st. Wick
=^Sinclair Robert, Union st. Pulteney
Swanson Donald (for Henry Willis, marine
insurance, Lo?idon), Bridge st
*Waters Donald, Pulteneytown, Wick
Wilson John (to the North of Scotland Steam
Navigation Company), Harbour brae,
Pulteney
Dnnbar Garden Duff Esq. of Ackergill ' Sutherland Mrs. Alex. Breadalbane crescent +Munro Alexander, Bridge st
Tower, Hempriggs
Fergus Kev. Jolin, The Manse, Bower
Gilcbrist James, Esq. Commercial Bank, j
Bridge st
Go%v Mis. George, Breadalbane crescent |
Gunn Hev. Alexander, Free Church Manse, {
Watleu I
Gunn Rev. Robert J. Keiss '
Henderson James, Esg. j.p. of Bilbster, Rose
bank House, Pulteney
Innes BentleyFrdck. Stocks, Esq. Thrumster
Leo Adjutant, Sinclair terrace, Pulteney
Leith Rev. David, Independent Church,
Wick
Leith Mr. R. S. W. 8 Sinclair terrace
Loag Mrs. Ann, Thurso st
Louttit Mr. James, Kiikhill House
M'Donald Roy. Duff, Smith terrace, Pulteney
M'Ewen Mr. Alexander, George st. Wick
JI'Gregor Eev. Roderick, Free Church Manse,
Canisbay
Mackay Mr. John W. High st
M'Kenaie Rev. John, United Presbyterian
Manse, Francis st
M'Lachlan Robert, Esq. Bexley terrace,
Upper Pulteney
M'Lonnan Malcolm, Esq. High st. Wick
M'Phevson Bev. James, Canisbay
IMann Ui'V. V\'iUiam, Sinclair terrace
MiUer William, Esq. t.c. Bt-Ui: Vuo Cottage,
Wick
Miller Mr. WiUiam, jun. West Park, Pulteney
Nimmo Mr. John M. Argyle sq. Pulteneytown
Paterson Bev. Gilbert E. Willow bank
Rae Mr. WUUam, Wick
Renny Rev. Geo. Free Church Manse, Wick
530
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Gunn Henrietta (music teacher), Bank row.
Lower Pulteney
Public Schools: —
Canisbay— John Sutherland, master
Keiss— Archibald Morrison, master
Blacrae st. Pulteney— John Murray.master;
Ann Mui'ray, mistress
Watten— James S. Taylor, master
West banks, Pulteney — master, vacant
Wick— David Nicolson, master ,^ ,. „ „ -r^ , i. t^ i.
Wick (North)— Geo. Gunn, master; AHson Go^ William & Son, Denipster st. Pulteney
E. Bourie, mistress ^eUy A. P. (& wine merchant;, High st. Wick
Pulteneytown Academy— William Dick, Mackay Grace S. L.JIigh st
ALE & PORTER DEALERS.
M.A. head master
Sinclair Jessie Elizabeth,
Upper Pulteney
Sinclair terrace,
AGENTS.
Marked tlius * arc Commission Agents.
[Sec also Fire, <6c. Oficc Aprntsi.)
Banks Wiiham (for Lloyds), Old Harbour,
Lower Pulteney
*Brims William, Bridge st. Wick
*Cnghill David {& vice consul for the German
Empii'e), Union st. Lower Pulteney
1-1
Manson Catherine, Telford st
Taylor David, Breadalbane terrace, Upper
Pulteney
Taylor George, Tolbooth lane
ARCHITECTS.
Brims William. Bridge st. Wick
Harper John J. Bank row, Pulteney
Munro Alexander, Bridge st
Swanson John, High st
Tait ?.T!ignus, Coach road, Wick