Love and romance carved in stone focus of Black Isle talk at Cromarty History Society
A FASCINATING insight into marriage lintels that surround us if we look closely enough will be offered at a history talk on the Black Isle next week.
‘Romancing the Stone - Marriage Lintels and Date Stones close to you’ is the subject of the talk being given to Cromarty History Society by Dr Jim Mackay of the Kirkmichael Trust.
At the April 15 7.30pm meeting at the Victoria Hall, he will tell the stories behind our local marriage lintels and date stones, with some beautiful images of the often extravagant carving on them.
The focus will be on Cromarty, but with examples drawn from every village in the Black Isle, as well as some from Easter Ross and Inverness.
Jim will be relating the tales, sometimes sad sometimes amusing, of the people behind the inscriptions on these stones.
Dr Jim Mackay is chair of the Kirkmichael Trust which maintains medieval Kirkmichael in the Black Isle, subject of an award-winning restoration.
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He is a popular speaker, his lively talks combining information with entertaining stories. He is the author of Resolis Slope of Light: Guide to a Black Isle Parish, Tales from Kirkmichael and Guide to Jemimaville and the Colony "Reachfar"): Creative home of Jane Duncan, author.
Jim's latest research project has been marriage lintels and datestones in the area, and his discovery of the names behind the Abertarff House initials some months ago reached the national press.
The meeting begins with a short AGM and will be followed by refreshments.The cost is £5 for non-members.
