EXPLAINER: The 'rose window' will form a key part of the Highland castle transformation – can you remember it and do you know about the Dingwall connection?
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The transformation of Inverness Castle will see an historic ‘rose window’, incorporated into the interior design for the building.
The window's early days
The rose window dates back to Victorian times when it was placed as part of the gable end of a Methodist church built in Inglis Street in 1867.
Costing £1200 at the time, it is recorded in Highland Archive Service records as being "the gift of a friend" and later church records confirm the benefactor as James Keith, a bookseller from Dingwall.
His obituary was carried in the Inverness Courier in January 1897 where he was described as “one of the most correct, attentive and upright business men in the North of Scotland”.
The obituary added that “though living a bachelor life and latterly very retired, no one in the town took so keen an interest in the poor of the place, and his ample means were employed, amidst the strictest secrecy, to ameliorate their distress”.
He was a member of Dingwall Town Council and Dean of Guild.
Removal
The window has been held in storage by a range of local authority bodies throughout the years, including the current Highland Council, supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund, since it was removed from its original site at the time of the Eastgate Centre's construction in the 1980s.
Road layouts had to be changed in the city centre, making Academy Street two-way and pedestrianising Inglis Street.
As part of the works the former church – later a restaurant – had to be demolished.
While not listed the rose window was recognised as being of "sufficient architectural merit" to be worth saving.
There were hopes originally that it could be incorporated into the Eastgate Centre itself and, much later, that it might also form part of a revamped façade at Inverness Railway Station, but neither came to fruition.
New life
There were rumours in 2018 that the window could see light of day again as part of the internal decoration for Inverness Castle as it is transformed from the city's courts base into a new visitor attraction.
At the time Bill Anderson, former Inverness Local History Forum chairman, said he was "absolutely ecstatic" at the prospect.
"I think the people of Inverness would be well-happy if it does go up again," he said.
It wasn't until last year, however, that it was finally announced that the window would indeed be castle-bound when the time comes.
It is understood that it will be placed in what was formerly the sheriff's clerks offices in the building, providing spectacular views down to the River Ness.
The then Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael, said at the time: “I am thrilled that the rose window will feature in the transformed Inverness Castle.
"This beautiful window is over 100 years old and has been in safekeeping until we could find an appropriate site for it within the city.
"With this prime site in the transformed Castle building, it will be seen by thousands of visitors from near and far for years to come."
And Fiona Hampton, director of the Inverness Castle – Spirit of the Highlands project, said: “The rose window will be a fantastic feature in the transformed Inverness Castle.
“We are delighted to have been able to include it in the new visitor attraction design.
“Saved from the old Methodist Church on Inglis Street, the window will make for a stunning effect when installed.
“At over 100 years old, the window will be given a new life at Inverness Castle and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to the attraction to see it.”
