The Invergordon Archive

The open area in front of the Castle became the Games field. The avenue of trees ran from this to the ridge, south of the Castle, along which Gordon Terrace now runs. It is interesting to note that the line of the trees pointed straight to the location of the railway station although a map of 1880 shows the tree avenue stopping at the aforementioned ridge.

I remember a Lady Anderson being the occupant of what was previously the castle..was always driven by her chauffeur in what looked like a Rolls Royce touring car. I also remember one time that she took a pair of rabbits from me, claiming that I had caught them on her land...I had not, but it didn't matter she took them anyway....different times back then.....does anyone remember the road that was called The Horseshoe Bend? that went around at the end of the Castle road...

Yes I remember the Horseshoe Bend it had the best wild blackberries growing in the hedge. The Polish camp was near there and my mother used to do their laundry. She used to push me there in the push chair then load the washing on, leave me there while she took it home then come back for me later. I remember being lifted up to look into the water tank that was there. Also remember helping to paint the stones round the huts white. I can't have been more than two or three as my youger sister wasn't born.

Meg, you bring back memories for me...I too used to look into the water tank, and can clearly remember the white stones..remember the blackberries, do you remember the Walnut trees, wonder if there are any of the trees left...wasn't the water tank made of corrugated iron?

Yes I remember the walnut tree and wasn't there what we used to call the punching tree? The water tank was made of corrugated iron and it was round. Glad to remind you.

Well for heavens sake, yes there was a punching tree, soft bark, kids used to punch it like a punching bag..If you search the site for Polish camp you will see a good pic of hut and the white stones..

There was a punching tree on fifth hole of the golf course - only 9 hole course then. probably very useful for poor golfers.

Good one Brian, may be a few clubs wrapped around it by now..if it is in the location of the horshoe bend then it could be the same one....

There's an icehouse marked on the 1880 OS map just to the north of the castle. Does anyone know if it's still there and if so what condition it's in? Thanks.

I am researching Roderick Macleod of Cadboll's 3 daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth and Anna Maria Isabella, all born 1814-1821. They all seem to have gone to Italy in the 1840s where 2 of them married and Margaret became a permanent resident, spending some time in Devon where she inherited property. Why did they all go to Italy? Two of them were born in Edinburgh. Presumably there was no building on the castle site when they were born, between the fire and the later rebuilding? Is there an archive in the town which I could visit which might hold information about the family? It is Margaret who particularly interests me.

I think the "punching tree" referred to in some of the entries must refer to the Sequoia tree growing near the old games field. It is a type of pine with a very soft and thick bark. This tree is native to California and will become very very big if allowed to continue. Hopefully it is still there and has a preservation order on it. One day Invergordon may be able to claim having the highest tree in the UK.

The 'punching tree' that I remember was definitely on the fifth hole of the old nine hole golf course - I certainly bounced a few balls off it!

The punching tree is indeed on the golf course....on what is now the 10th hole - a short hole across the dyke. The American Garden originally part of the Castle Garden is also part of the golf course.

Catherine Mackenzie (Clark) has put me onto an article in the Press and Journal, regarding the removal of trees on Castle Avenue. Where exactly? Is there a picture? I hope not too many were chopped down....

Harry, if you have a look at picture #840, it shows a part of the now "Castle Avenue"; in our younger days we called it Castle Road. Do you remember the "white gates" at the manse and also up by the old lodge? This "road" has changed quite dramatically in the past 50+ years.

I remember the wonderful trees on the Castle Road, Beech mostly I think. Even as a kid they struck me as impressive. Many had lovers messages carved on them and these had expanded with age into quite big writing. Its a shame if they have gone but then trees do not live forever. I just hope that for the future they are replaced with something which will, in time, replace them. On Games days it was quite special to see hundreds of people walking down the Avenue, it really had a special feel to it. Thanks Harry for passing on the P&J info.

Hi Duncan, yes I remember the gates at the Manse and Lodge. I was curious re the felling of trees as the article is dated Oct 20 and they say it has changed the look quite substantially. Have you had a look?

The big house at the back of the games field, does anybody know the name of the property or who owns it? The cottages too, what are they called?

The big house is called "The House of Rosskeen" and as far as I know is still lived in by Mrs Daphne Mackenzie, widow of Major HAC Mackenzie former owner of Dalmore distillery. The cottages are the "Castle Cottages" and are on what Harry calls the Horseshoe. There used to be a cottage there also called Honeymoon Cottage; it was derelict last time I saw it.

Would the Honeymoon cottage be what I grew up calling 'The haunted house'? The last I heard, it had been burnt down by some local youths.

I believe that nowadays the "House of Rosskeen" is actually the "Kincraig House Hotel", very posh and with double rooms starting at £150 a night!
Presumably the Mackenzies sold up at some point?
I recall that once a year the house and grounds were turned over to charities for a Garden Fete. The lady of the house looked like the Queen Mother of the day and appears on this site at picture #812 where she is 2nd on the left at the back. She was one of the Judges for the fancy dress Competition - maybe she should have entered herself....toffs get all the fun!

Possibly, it is years since I saw it last and the windows were out then. I remember the Hay family lived in it about forty years ago as Laura Ann, James, William and Joan Hay were in school in Invergordon before moving to Alness.

The Kincraig House Hotel is mid way between Invergordon and Alness just off the A9 and isn't the house I am thinking of. The house I mean is right next to the golf course in Invergordon and just behind the games field. Right next to the large house are two small cottages and then another that was on its own: 'the honeymoon cottage.'
The Kincraig House Hotel was built in 1800 and has always had that name as far as I know.

Sorry Bill, they are two different houses. Kincraig House is the Hotel and is between the Achnagarron road and Tomich farm, on the back road to Alness, now the A9. House of Rosskeen is where the old castle was and beside the former games field.
An old pic of Kincraig is picture #626 on the site and picture #787 shows Sir William Martineau of Kincraig.

Sorry Billy but your info is a bit out, Kincraig House Hotel is a bit further north as the crow flies from "House of Rosskeen". It’s on the north side of the A9. Kincraig House has been a fancy Hotel for a number of years and Rosskeen House is still beside the old games field.

Hi Bill, I can see where you are coming from. I ‘googled’ the name Martineau and came up with the family tree of the Mackenzies/Martineau and a clip from the P&J about the sale of Kincraig and how it was the Mackenzie clan seat; I did not realise that. I remember my father telling me how he helped carry Lady Jean out of the house to be taken to hospital when he was on his post rounds.
The link is below:
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/661967?UserKey=

Apologies to all! I can see now that I got mixed up between these 2 houses. I am glad to hear that Rosskeen House is still as it was. I have conributed a picture of this house and it is picture #1224 on the site.

Hi Bill, still confused. When did Kincraig House become Rosskeen House?
Always knew it as Kincraig House and it is now known as Kincraig House Hotel. It is the house located on the "backroad" to Alness across from Kincraig farm...

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