Welcome to our growing collection of recent history articles, documents, and publications that bring our community’s past to life. Drawn from our newsletter, old newspapers, books, and other sources, these pieces fill in the details of our shared history over the past century.
Every article here offers a glimpse into the events, people, and everyday moments that shaped Strathdearn. We invite you to explore these stories and gain a deeper appreciation of our community’s journey.
Do you have old documents, articles, or booklets that shed light on our history? We’d love to add them to this collection! If you have something to share, please get in touch and help us preserve our past for future generations.
Tomatin Golf Club (1905 – 1950s)
An extract from a report that appeared in the Inverness Courier in 1905, with map.
Working at the Freeburn Hotel
Pearl Cameron records her husband Charlie’s memories of working at the Freeburn Hotel before it was demolished.
Tomatin House
Photos and drawings related to Tomatin House, kindly supplied by Colin Glynne-Percy
Very old floor plans of the Freeburn Hotel
Front elevation and floor plans of ground, first, and attic floors. Only one bathroom in the building!
Tomatin : A Reminiscence (from around 1910)
This is a treasure! A detailed account from when Gaelic was still the language of the strath: concerning food, furnishings, clothes, church …. just everyday life.
Moy School – the First Hundred Years
Reproduction of a booklet created by staff and parents, past and present, of Moy school, to celebrate its centenary in 1995.
Raigbeg School recipe book
This recipe book was compiled by Michelle Bryden in 1995 to raise funds for musical instruments – mainly percussion ones 🙂 to be used by Raigbeg Primary School children. School pupils, past and present were invited to propose their favourite lunch time dish prepared by the school cook Betty Christie. She then provided her recipes, the children drew some pictures and the book emerged.
Dalarossie in Strathdearn
A deep dive into the history of Dalarossie Church.
Wartime childhood in the Glen
Betty Watson’s wartime memories of Dalarossie school, evacuees, and the Home Guard.
Another Highland Road
Jamie Scarlett takes us on a journey through time as we follow the route of the old Shenachie road, from Dalmagarry to Pollochaig.
The Great Moray Floods
From “The Great Moray Floods of 1829” by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, published 1832. How the Findhorn was affected in Strathdearn.
Thoughts on some Strathdearn Placenames
Jamie Scarlett’s research (more Strathdearn place name derivations here).
Growing up in Strathdearn in the 1940s
Sinclair Calder reminisces on local characters, bicycles, the bus, the hall, and the war.
Altnaslannach Bridge
A technical report, detailing the construction of Moy’s wooden railway bridge (built 1897), in preparation for repair work in 2002.
Where exactly was the Rout of Moy?
In the November 2002 Newsletter, Jamie Scarlett speculated on the site of the skirmish. Murdo MacAskill responded the following month (see next article).
The site of the Rout of Moy
In the February 2003 Newsletter, Murdo MacAskill responded to Jamie Scarlett’s speculations (see previous article above). Also included here is Murdo’s own account of the Rout.
Have things changed?
A rambling piece by Jamie Scarlett which includes reference to the weaving and wearing of Highland dress.
A Winter’s Tale
The story of a Whitley bomber which crashed near Balvraid Lodge in 1942, plus photos gleaned from various sources.
A Schoolboy’s Snapshot View of Farm Life at Invereen 1948-1951
Squeezed by horses, nipped by sheepdogs, and spitting out lead shot.