Uploads from conner395, tagged scotland, with geodata

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:21:43 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Brodie Castle is located close to the A96 Inverness/Aberdeen trunk road, between Forres and Nairn, very close to the local authority border between Moray and Highland.

The original Z-plan castle was built in 1567 by Clan Brodie but destroyed by fire in 1645 by Lewis Gordon of Clan Gordon, the 3rd Marquess of Huntly. It was greatly expanded in 1824 by the architect William Burn who turned it into a large mansion house in the Scots Baronial style.

The Brodie family called the castle home until the late 20th century. It is widely accepted that the Brodies have been associated with the land the castle is built on since around 1160, when it is believed that King Malcom IV gave the land to the family.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_Castle

The castle and its extensive grounds are now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

More information on visiting the castle, and thr hisotry contained within, can be found at:
www.nts.org.uk/Property/Brodie-Castle/

The 16th century tower is that part of the building with narrowe slit-type windows, from the days when a Castle was designed for defence.

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:20 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:09 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:45 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Brodie Castle is located close to the A96 Inverness/Aberdeen trunk road, between Forres and Nairn, very close to the local authority border between Moray and Highland.

The original Z-plan castle was built in 1567 by Clan Brodie but destroyed by fire in 1645 by Lewis Gordon of Clan Gordon, the 3rd Marquess of Huntly. It was greatly expanded in 1824 by the architect William Burn who turned it into a large mansion house in the Scots Baronial style.

The Brodie family called the castle home until the late 20th century. It is widely accepted that the Brodies have been associated with the land the castle is built on since around 1160, when it is believed that King Malcom IV gave the land to the family.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_Castle

The castle and its extensive grounds are now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

More information on visiting the castle, and thr hisotry contained within, can be found at:
www.nts.org.uk/Property/Brodie-Castle/

The 16th century tower is that part of the building with narrow slit-type windows, from the days when a Castle was designed for defence.

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:27 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Brodie Castle Moray Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:21:58 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:14 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

The North Tower, formerly Police HQ and now a Court. The Round Tower, or Drum Towe, which links the two buildings aesthetically (but not practically) can be seen to the left.

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear until later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:25 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

The Main Building of the Castle, looking from the top of the Castle Brae

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear unti later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:19 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

This cute but seeming impractical annex to the North Tower was the Caretaker's flat.

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear unti later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:34 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

The shortest distance between two police stations anywhere - probably! I am standing where the former Inverness Burgh Police Station used to be in Castle Wynd (demolished 1960s) and the North Tower of the Castle was the Headquarters of the Inverness-shire Constabulary until 1968 - and became the combined Inverness Constabulary HQ on 16.11.1968 when the Burgh and County Police forces merged. The Castle remained a Police office until 1999. The two walls pre-date the Castle.

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear unti later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:39 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

A rarely seen view - looking up from Bridge Street.

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear unti later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Views of Inverness Castle Scotland

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:02 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

The North Tower. looking from the perimeter fortified wall above Inverness City Centre. The frist floor was formerly the County Hall, the meetign place for the County council but then became a Court. The remainder of the bullding was Police HQ until 1974, and part of the ground floor remained a police office iuntil 1999. A Criminal Court continues to sit her although the principal courts (High and Sherriff) sit in the other, earlier, building of the Castle.

A spare half hour before the Pipe Band
played in the City Centre meant an opportunity for a wander around the grounds of Inverness Castle - the weather was bright but the sky was heavy to the south, and the rain did not appear unti later. Being weekend, there were no vehicles parked outside the Castle!!

There has been a Castle or fortress on the "Castle Hill" overlooking the main crossing of the river Ness in the centre of the City of Inverness for ad long as history has been recorded. Other sites nearby were also used from time to time (such as at Auld Castle just east, reputed location of MacBeth's stronghold which overlooked the seaward approach to the city).

Castle Hill was however the main location - any army approaching down the glen would be seen a distance away! The problem was that whenever the Castle changed hands it was inevitably destroyed, either by the retreating incumbents or by the victors. The last such occasion was in 1746 when it was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. As such, latterly it served no great purpose other than to provide stone for other buildings.

It was eventually rebuilt (as a castellated structure) in pink sandstone to beautify the Royal Burgh of Inverness - although in point of fact it was not actually IN the Burgh. It was an exclave of the County of Inverness, an island of “County-ness” in the centre of the Burgh. It thus became County Sheriff Court House, County Prison, and County Council HQ - and of course County Police HQ too.

The building was completed in two parts, in the 1830's (main part) and 1840's (North Tower). The Castle was built from scratch (apart from some ramparts remaining from previous versions).

The Prison portion (part of the North Tower) was vacated in 1902 when a new Government prison was built nearby at Porterfield (still in use), and thus the County Constabulary was able to expand into that part of the building.

The front (Main Section) of the Castle - as featured here - was built first and is a better standard of stone work as befits its striking location. Quite why one corner is rounded and the other square is likely known only to the architect but despite not being "matching" the appearance is remarkably pretty (I think!)

“Inverness Castle was originally a 12th century earth and timber enclosure fortress, founded by King David I. In the early 14th century during the Wars of Independence, English troops under King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by King Robert the Bruce in 1310. In the early 15th century Alexander, earl of Mar, founded a stone castle on the hill and in the 16th century George Gordon, earl of Huntly added a high square stone tower. Seized and badly damaged by the Royalists in 1649, from 1653-8 Cromwell's Fort was built at the mouth of the River Ness. In 1726, General Wade transformed the castle into the square Hanoverian Fort George, with a governor's house and a chapel, encased by barracks. Surrendered to the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edwards Stuart in 1746, the castle was blown up after the Battle of Culloden. A dramatic mid 19th century neo-Norman castle now stands on the site, built to house the Sheriff Courthouse and County Hall and all that remains of the medieval castle are a deep resorted well and part of the bastion wall.”
www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/26/invernesscastle...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

In front (south face ) of the Castle is a statue of Flora Macdonald, famed heroine of Highland folklore who encountered Bonny Prince Charlie during his flight after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and who disguised him as her Irish maid "("Betty Burke") in order to sneak him through lines of Government soldiers.

Flora and her husband subsequently emigrated to the Carolinas (now USA) before returning to their home on the Isle of Skye.

The brass statue - erected in 1896 - was designed by Andrew Davidson, a sculptor from Inverness. Captain Henderson Macdonald bequeathed £1000 towards the cost of the monument.

With a Scottish hound at her feet, she is depicted looking out over the valley and shielding her eyes. This one of few statues which depict an animal (other than a horse).

The inscription on the statue reads (in English and Gaelic): 'The preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour'.
www.ambaile.com/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=75473

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2003 BRPS

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:03:03 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Location: Burnett Road

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera (2002/2003)

Clockwise from Top Left:
Ford Mondeo - close-up of door logos
Ford Ranger Dog Unit demonstator
Ford Ranger Dog Unit demonstator
Ford Focus

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2002 HQ

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:40 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera (2002)

Left:
Nissan Terano (Fort william vehicle?)

Right:
Land rover (Cannich vehicle)

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2003 BRPS

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:59 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Location: Burnett Road

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera (2002/2003)

Clockwise from Top Left:
Nissan Terano
Shift changeover - Inverness' whole fleet
Ford Transit Connect
Vauxhall Astra

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2003 BRPS

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:44 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Location: Burnett Road

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera

Clockwise from Top Left
Ford Mondeo (Patrol/Response)
Nissan Terrano
various
Ford Focus

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2003 HQ

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:03:06 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera (2002/2003)

Clockwise from Top Left:
Peugeot crewcab van
Ford Focus
Honda Civic demonstrator
Nissan Primera demonstrator

Northern Constabulary vehicles 2003 BRPS

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:02:50 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Location: Burnett Road

More nostalgia - some more compilation shots from my archive of Northern Constabulary vehicles during my earliest days with a digital camera (2002/2003)

Clockwise from Top Left:
Vauhall prisoner van
VW Transporter
Ford Focus and rest of Inverness fleet
Ford Transit Incident Unit

Northern Constabulary Range Rover 2005

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:38:38 -0700

conner395 posted a photo:

Now that Northern Constabulary has riden off into the sunset (and became part of the Police Service of Scotland - "POLICE SCOTLAND" at the start of April this year) , I am doing yet another trawl of my photo archive to see what else remains which has not yet been uploaded to Flickr.

Here's a mix of the old (but smart) yellow stripe livery, old RPU vehicles in the process of being reliveried in Battenberg, and new vehicles.

All these photos were taken out the back of Force HQ several years ago, so all the vehicles will surely have long since been de-badged and sold on at auction.

Northern Constabulary Volvo patrol car newly reliveried in December 2005

nobody@flickr.com (conner395) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:38:43 -0700

conner395 posted a photo: