Ardross, Highland
Encyclopedia
Ardross
Rural area in the Highland
region of Scotland
, 30 miles (48.3 km) north of the nearest city, Inverness
. Ardross lies 10 miles (16.1 km) inland from the east-coast town of Alness
and progressively becomes more mountainous to the west and north.
The area is populated by a small rural community mainly confined to the more fertile lower slopes to the east and the glacial glens of Strathrusdale
and Strathy (Ardross)
. The total area comprises about 30 square miles (77.7 km²), most of which is lower slope farming, commercial pine forrest on foothills and open mountain to the north and west. The largest concentration of dwellings are in the village of Dublin comprising about 30 houses and a church, so named as it was founded by Irish immigrant workers who built Ardross Castle.
The earliest inhabitants of Ardross were the Picts
(6-10th century), and there are still recognisable remains of Pictish roundhouses
at various locations in the area. The most notable surviving artifacts of their time in Ardross are two carved stone slabs depicting a wolf and a deer, some of the finest surviving Pictish animal symbols ever discovered, which are now displayed at Inverness Museum. The carvings were recovered from a drystone wall in Stittenham, Ardross in 1891. After the 10th century, habitation of the area became progressively more influenced by the Norse.
The Duke of Sutherland bought the 60000 acres (242.8 km²) Ardross Estate in the late 18th century, and in 1845, sold it to Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet
for £90,000.
Matheson improved the estate and placed it under the supervision of factor William MacKenzie, an engineer by profession. By 1875 the number of agricultural tenants had increased fivefold to over 500, with around 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of arable land being improved. The architect Alexander Ross was commissioned to re-design Ardross Castle in the Scots Baronial style and following Sir Alexander's death, his son, Sir Kenneth Matheson, sold the estate in 1898 to Charles William Dyson Perrins, a Captain in the Highland Light Infantry, with interests in the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company and Lea & Perrins
(Worcester) sauce. The estate was broken up and sold in 1937. Mr and Mrs Austin Mardon purchased Ardross Castle and 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of associated land and lived there until 1983, when the castle and grounds were sold to the McTaggart family, who began a program of restoration work.
Famous people from Ardross include Sir John McKenzie
, who emigrated to New Zealand and became a prominent politician. He is remembered in New Zealand as the Minister of Lands and Agriculture
who developed a policy which disfavored large landowners. This stemmed from his experience in Ardross where he was deeply moved by the misery he witnessed among tenants on Ardross Estate. Some of his near relatives suffered in this way and were forced to emigrate to Canada and the United States. Many years later McKenzie related how, when once walking home with his father, he came upon a number of dispossessed tenant farmers who had been forced to camp in the local cemetery at Ardross Church as there was nowhere else to go. Many years earlier, in 1792 tenants at Strathrusdale
, which forms the western area of Ardross, led a famous revolt against landowner's such as the Duke of Sutherland who were pursuing a policy of clearing land
.
. Most inhabitants of the area today are employed in forestry, agriculture or the provision of local services.
Rural area in the Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
region of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, 30 miles (48.3 km) north of the nearest city, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. Ardross lies 10 miles (16.1 km) inland from the east-coast town of Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
and progressively becomes more mountainous to the west and north.
The area is populated by a small rural community mainly confined to the more fertile lower slopes to the east and the glacial glens of Strathrusdale
Strathrusdale
Strathrusdale Glen in the Highlands of Scotland forming the western part of the area known as Ardross...
and Strathy (Ardross)
Strathy (Ardross)
Strathy is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland, forming the Northern part of the area known as Ardross. The Glen runs SSW to NNE for 1.5 miles. The floor of the strath is mainly low-quality fields used for grazing of sheep and cattle. The glen is surrounded by commercial pine forest...
. The total area comprises about 30 square miles (77.7 km²), most of which is lower slope farming, commercial pine forrest on foothills and open mountain to the north and west. The largest concentration of dwellings are in the village of Dublin comprising about 30 houses and a church, so named as it was founded by Irish immigrant workers who built Ardross Castle.
History
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
(6-10th century), and there are still recognisable remains of Pictish roundhouses
Roundhouse (dwelling)
The roundhouse is a type of house with a circular plan, originally built in western Europe before the Roman occupation using walls made either of stone or of wooden posts joined by wattle-and-daub panels and a conical thatched roof. Roundhouses ranged in size from less than 5m in diameter to over 15m...
at various locations in the area. The most notable surviving artifacts of their time in Ardross are two carved stone slabs depicting a wolf and a deer, some of the finest surviving Pictish animal symbols ever discovered, which are now displayed at Inverness Museum. The carvings were recovered from a drystone wall in Stittenham, Ardross in 1891. After the 10th century, habitation of the area became progressively more influenced by the Norse.
The Duke of Sutherland bought the 60000 acres (242.8 km²) Ardross Estate in the late 18th century, and in 1845, sold it to Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet
Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet
Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet , was a Scottish businessman and long-standing Liberal Member of Parliament.Matheson was the nephew of Sir James Matheson, 1st Baronet, and a partner in the family firm of Jardine Matheson...
for £90,000.
Lea & Perrins
Lea & Perrins is a United Kingdom based food division of the H.J. Heinz Company, originating in Worcester, England, with a subsidiary in the United States which manufactures Lea & Perrins in New Jersey...
(Worcester) sauce. The estate was broken up and sold in 1937. Mr and Mrs Austin Mardon purchased Ardross Castle and 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of associated land and lived there until 1983, when the castle and grounds were sold to the McTaggart family, who began a program of restoration work.
Famous people from Ardross include Sir John McKenzie
John McKenzie (New Zealand)
Sir John McKenzie KCMG was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Liberal Government of John Ballance.-Early life:...
, who emigrated to New Zealand and became a prominent politician. He is remembered in New Zealand as the Minister of Lands and Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
who developed a policy which disfavored large landowners. This stemmed from his experience in Ardross where he was deeply moved by the misery he witnessed among tenants on Ardross Estate. Some of his near relatives suffered in this way and were forced to emigrate to Canada and the United States. Many years later McKenzie related how, when once walking home with his father, he came upon a number of dispossessed tenant farmers who had been forced to camp in the local cemetery at Ardross Church as there was nowhere else to go. Many years earlier, in 1792 tenants at Strathrusdale
Strathrusdale
Strathrusdale Glen in the Highlands of Scotland forming the western part of the area known as Ardross...
, which forms the western area of Ardross, led a famous revolt against landowner's such as the Duke of Sutherland who were pursuing a policy of clearing land
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
.
Local Area
The community has its own primary school with a roll of about 30 pupils and a recently built well-founded village hall for hosting local community activities and social events. Other local services can be found in the nearby town of AlnessAlness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
. Most inhabitants of the area today are employed in forestry, agriculture or the provision of local services.
External links
- Community Website: Ardross.net
- Ardross Primary School