Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

SUTHERLANDSHIRE
ASSYNT
SLATER'S
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
M'lver Thomas, Tongue
M'Lean Neil, Lairg
M'Leod Norman, Stoer
Morrison John, Seourie
Murray William, Lairg
Reid Daniel, Tongue
Robertson John, Lochinver
Robertson Roderick, Tongue
Sutherland John, Lairg
Sutherland Robert, Lairg
Sutherland William, Durness
MILLERS.
Dunn George, Melness
Fraser George, Portskerray
Fraser Simon, Lairg
M'Kay Peter, Tongue
Morrison John, Seourie
Munro George, Betty Hill
Robertson John, Balnakiel
Robertson John, Locbinver
SHOPKEEPERS, DRAPERS & DEALERS
IN SUNDRIES.
M'Donald Donald, Lairg
M'Kay Mrs. — , Strathy
M'Kay Andrew, Durness
M'Kay Donald, Farr
M'Kay William, Armadale
M'Kay William, Strathy
M'Kenzie Alexander, Strathy
M'Kenzie George, Tongue
M'Kenzie J. Drumbeg, Assynt
M'Kenzie Kenneth, Lochinver
M'Kenzie Thomas, Locbinver
M'Leod Alexander, Culkein, Assynt
M'Leod Donald William, Tongue
M'Leod Neil, Lochinver
Munro Hugh, Coldbackey
Murray Angus, Melness
Sinclair William, Melvich
Sutherland Robert, Durness
Watson John, Lairg
SURGEONS.
Austin George, Tongue
Boe S. Seourie
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dunbar William (heirs of), tacksman of sal-
mon fisheries for west coast of Sutherland-
Bhire, Brawl Castle, Thurso
M'Kay George, ferryman, Portnacon
Murray AngUB, watchmaker, Tongue
Simpson John, accountant, Seourie
Swanson H. S. ngentfor Board of Trade and
for Lloyd's, Rispond, Durness
Watson John, merchant & agent to the Allan
line of steamers, Lairg
Public Buildings, Offices, &c
PLACES OF WORSHIP
and their ministers.
Established Churches: —
Assynt — Rev. David Williamson
Durness — Rev. W. Grant [M'Kenzie
Eddracbillis (Bodeull) — Rev. Kenneth
Farr— Rev. — , M'Gregor
Kinlochbervie — Rev. David Lundie
Lairg — Rev. David M'Kenzie
Sioer— Rev. Alexander Grant
Strathy — Rev. Kenneth M'Kenzie
Tongue— Rev. T. M'Kay
Free Churches : —
Assynt— Rev. Norman M'Kny
Altnaharra — Rev. John M'Kay
Durness— Rev. James Ross
Eddracbillis— Rev. Donald Campbell
Farr— Rev. Donald M'Kenzie
Kinlochbervie— Rev. D. Finlayson
Lairg—
Melness — Rev. James Cumming
Roseball — Rev. John Falconar
Seourie — Rev. Alexander Campbell
Stoer— Rev. John Ross
Strathy— Rev. Christopher Munro
Tongue— Rev. John M'Neill
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR THE
COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND.
The Master of Blantyre
Sberiff T. M'Kenzie
Thomas Barclay, Skelbo
George Clark, Erribol
John Dudgeon, Crakaig
W. S. Fraser, Dornoch
Dugald Gilchrist. Ospisdale
Robert Hill, Navidnle
William Houston, Kintradwoll
George Lawson, Clynlish
Alexander Leslie, Dornoch
Evander M'lver, Seourie
A. S. M'Donald, Cyderhall
Thomas M'Kenzie, Lochinver
William Mitchell, Ribigil
Robert Paterson, Bighouse
Joseph Peacock, Golspie
George Ross, Torbnll
Patrick Sangster, Rovie
John Scobie, Keoldalc
Jobn Scott, Clibrig
Peter Sellar, Culmailly
Hector Swanson, Rispond
Robert Tennant, Roseball
Major C. S. Weston, Morvich
Inspectors of Poor and Registrars of Births,
Deaths and Marriages :— for Eddracbillis,
Kenneth Chisholm, Seourie; for Lairg,
Daniel Campbell; for Assynt, James Gor-
don; for Betty Hill, John M'Dougall; for
Tongue, Arcbibald M-Neil
Library and Reading Room, Tongue— Archi-
bald M'Neil, secretary
Registrars of Births, Deaths & Marriages:—
For Assynt, ADgus M'Ewen ; for Stoer,
John M'Kay ; for Kinlochbervie, Peter
M'Donald ; for Durness, Torquil Nicolson ;
for Strathy, Donald Anderson
CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY,
ON THE highland line.
Station, at Lairg
MAIL GIGS.
The Tongue and Thurso Mail, carrying eight
outside passengers, is despatched from
Thurso on the mornings of Monday, Wed-
nesday and Friday, at seven, arriving at
Tongue at a quarter-past-four, and from
Tongue on the mornings of Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday, at seven, arriving
in Thurso at four
The Lairg and Lochinver Mail Gig is des-
patched from Lairg daily, at half-past six
morning
The Lairg, Seourie and Durness Mail Gig
leaves Lairg daily, at half-past six morning
The Lairg and TongueiHail Gig leaves Lairg,
daily, at half-past six morning
CONVEYANCE BY WATER.
LOCHINVER to Glasgow, the Clansman—
James Gordon, agent, Lochinver
TONGUE, ERIBOLL and the West, the
Smack "Anne"— William M'Donald & Co.
agents, Thurso; Hugh Blatheson, agent,
Tongue
DORNOCH,
DORNOCH is a small town and royal burgh, the capital of its parish,
and of the county of Sutherland, nine miles from Tain, and eleven
from Golspie, healthfully and pleasantly situated near the mouth of the
river Portmaculter, now generally caUed the Firth of Dornoch, ana
ODDOsite to Tain, which lies on the south side of the estuary. Dornoch
is an ancient place, and was the residence of the bishops ot Caithness
even before the 12th century. The cathedral church was then erected
here by Bishop Gilbert Moray, but in the year 1570, some hostile tribes
of the nei»hbouring conntry took advantage of the minority of Alexan-
der Earl of Sutherland, made a sudden irruption into the town, and
among other barbarous acts, set fire to the venerable edifice, after a
desnei-ate resistance by the inhabitants, who succeeded, however, m
^reserving the oia tower that still remains. On the 5th November, 100o
(the day of the discovery of the gunpowder plot), a range of handsome
stone pillars which supported some Gothic arches that had escaped
destruction were prostrated by a violent gale of wind. In lbl4 the Earl
of Sutherland commenced the repair of a part of the cathedral, ana
subsequent alterations converted it into an ordinary plain church ; but
during the year 183G, the late Duchess Countess of Sutherland restored
the structure to its original dimensions and Gothic proportions; and
now with its projecting abutments and arched windows (all carefully
copied from the remaining fragment of the edifice), and adorned with
Gothic groinings along the lofty and long roof of the aisles, the Dornoch
cathedral is the handsomest erection of its kind in the north of
Scotland. The remains of the late Duke of Sutherland repose m the
east aisle, where is placed a beautiful marble statue of that deeply
lamented nobleman, executed by Chantrey, also a tablet to the late
Duchess A small part of the bishop's palace still remains ; but all the
manses of the other dignitaries of the cathedral have disappeared, and
the town has lost much of its comparative importance since the triumph
of the Reformation. Dornoch was constituted a royal burgh by Charles
I in 1628 • and is governed by a provost, two bailies, a dean of guild,
and a treasurer, with six councillors. In connection with certain other
burghs before named, it enjoys parliamentary representation. The
trade of the town is very limited, owing chiefly to its locality at an angle
of the county, and the free navigation of the Frith being obstructed by
the same bar of dangerous sandbanks mentioned in the account of Tain.
Of late years some extensive buildings have been erected, regular and
neat • two of these aro very handsome, one contains the town and
county room, sheriff clerk's room, &c. ; the other the volunteer armoury
(formerly the town and county gaol), and also a very neat police station
for the county. There is a public school, and a Society school. The
neighbourhood of Dornooh iB very pleasant, and a short distance hence
are some good sea bathing stations. Within four miles, situate on the
1278
CLASHMORE AND BONAR BRIDGE IN CREICH.
rising ground, is the neat and picturesque castle of Skelbo, erected by
the late Duke of Sutherland, as a home farm and a rural retreat during
the residence of His Grace in the north ; it is now in the tenancy of its
former manager, Mr. T. Barclay. The scenery about here is diversified,
and combines the home grounds laid out with the best taste, and
surrounded by distant spots alternately romantic and beautifully
picturesque, with wood and water, hill and dale. There are two public
fairs or markets held annually in the town, on the first Thursday in
November, and the other on the first Wednesday in December. These
fail's were formerly wont to be thronged by persons from distant parts of
the country; but now, in consequence of the rise of small villages in
different places, and the establishment of cattle markets elsewhere, these
fairs are but thinly attended. In 1881 the parish of Dornoch, which
covers an area of 30,189 acres, contained a population of - 2,525 ; of this
number the burgh had 497.
Clashmore is a modern and thriving village, about three miles west
from Dornoch, situated partly on the estate of Sutherland and partly on
that of Skibo, being divided only by a small burn which separates these
properties, and by the parliamentary road to Caithness, which passes
through the village. A neat and comfortable inn — the Sutherland Arms
— affords every accommodation required by visitors ; it was erected some
years since by the Duchess Countess of Sutherland, at an expense of
£1,000 sterling, and is much frequented by travellers. Within half a
mile from the village is the beautiful seat and residence of Evan Charles
Sutherland, Esq., of Skibo ; on the site of this mansion there formerly,
for centuries, stood a castle, with a garrison, under the charge of a
general officer as governor ; around it many bloody conflicts took place,
but its retention having become unnecessary in these peaceful times, it
was demolished, and the present castle of modern architecture erected
instead. The celebrated, noble, and brave, but ill-fated Marquis of
Montrose, in the year 1650, lodged two nights as a prisoner in the Castle
of Skibo, after his unfortunate defeat by the Presbyterian army near
Bonar Bridge, and his subsequent capture by the avaricious and treach-
erous Neil Macleod, of Assynt, who basely betrayed and delivered him
up to his enemies. An extensive fair is held on thefirst Monday of May,
at Clashmore. Population included with that of Dornoch.
Bonar Bridge is a considerable village in the parish of Creich, 15
miles west from Tain, and 13 miles from Dornoch, situate on the great
north mail road, and on tho north side of the Firth of Dornoch, which
is here crossed by an elegant iron bridge, erected by Government at a
cost of £13,971. Fairs are held in the village on the second Monday in
April, June, July, August, September and October. Population in
1881, 313.