From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 12, 1999
Golspie’s caravan site has been sold, it was confirmed this week.Two brothers by the name of Morrison, who live in Inverness, have bought the land, which lies to the south of Golspie on the Littleferry road. The new owners plan to upgrade and refurbish the site and reopen it by Easter 2001. The site was purchased in 1988 from the former Sutherland District Council for £25,000 by Mr Stuart Meffen, who was to develop it as a caravan and camping site and leisure complex. However, despite a lavish official launch and firework display, it was never opened, and in January 1990 Mr Meffen was jailed for fraud in Coventry. The site has been on the market since then, and was recently put in the hands of auctioneers.
One of Sutherland’s most fragile rural communities is poised to apply for funding for a project which it is hoped will help regenerate the area. Rosehall and District Action Group are optimistic that money will be forthcoming from public bodies for a £63,000 hill ground footpath and cycle trail network. In addition to the trail scheme, the group are working towards proving new housing for Rosehall village.
50 years ago
From the newspaper of November 15, 1974
The new bridge carrying the A9 over the Kyle of Sutherland at Bonar-Bridge has earned an award for its designers, Crouch and Hogg, the Glasgow firm of consulting engineers. The award was won in an open competition with a large number of designs submitted from all parts of Britain. The first of its type in Scotland, the bridge is a 104 metres span-tied bowstring steel arch. Crouch and Hogg considered many alternatives before selecting the 20 metre high arch.
Dornoch Town Council are to hold a special meeting next Thursday to make arrangements for their “winding up” before local government reorganisation next May. Provost Harry Clunie told the council last week that they had many things to decide - books, photographs and reports had to be catalogued and listed. They had to decide what to do with the Provost’s chain of office and other valuable articles. Paintings in the council chamber had been donated along with funds to pay for their upkeep. Buildings would be handed over to the new authority. Councillor W. W. Stewart-Fitzroy said he hoped all the trophies would remain in Dornoch and “not go into some dungeon in Inverness”.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 13, 1924
Under the auspices of the Literary Society of the Golspie branch of the British Legion, a debate entitled, “That the Mental Power of Woman is equal to that of Man,” took place in the club-room on Tuesday evening. The debate, sprinkled with humour as it was, was a most entertaining one, both sides getting home good hits. On a vote being taken, 30 voted for the affirmative and 25 voted for “Man possessing superior mental powers”. The ladies side thus won the battle.
Four Sutherland estates are on the markets. Durness extends to 11,500 acres, and provides good rough shooting and good trout fishing. Inveroykel, 6,600 acres in extent, is a picturesque and secluded estate lying south of the Kyle of Sutherland. Rosehall, 6,500 acres is on the Kyle of Sutherland and gives a great variety of sport. Rhelonie, 4,200 acres, lies to the south of the Kyle of Sutherland.
Mr Littlejohn of Invercharron, with his usual generosity has presented the inmates of the Sutherland Combination Poorhouse with handsome gifts of game. Needless to say, the gifts are very much appreciated.
