A SHORT HISTORY WALK
At the junction of what was Upper Kessock Street is Trinity Church (called that after 1977), it was originally called the United Free West Church, which began as a Free Church mission in the Merkinch until the present church was built in 1863; known as St Mark’s Church after 1929 when it joined the established Church of Scotland. On Gilbert Street along the riverside stood Chisholm’s Tannery (known as Fraser’s Tanyard in 1820: the building was demolished in 1966). About this time the older properties, including the narrow alleys of Shoe Lane, Ross’s Close, Simpson’s Lane and Tap Lane were swept away to be replaced by the flat roofed block of flats. The Black Bridge or Waterloo Bridge had a toll-bar at it until 1836.
The South Kessock Ferry Pier was built in 1828 by Sir William Fettes of Redcastle. There was an Inn here during the latter half of the 19th century. The Ferry was privately owned until 1939 when the Inverness and Ross local authorities took over and jointly ran the vehicle and passenger service until the completion of the Kessock Bridge in 1982. Nearby between the Kessock Road and the shore, a high squarish building with “look out” windows on the top was the Watch House: further along the road, on the other side, within a walled garden is number 39 Kessock Lodge dating from about 1840. The adjacent row of houses was formally the Coastguard Station and Cottages. Between Kessock Road and North Drive is the site of an old flour mill built in 1872 by William Wright: it became disused by the 1880’s and the stump was removed in 1943. Thornbush Inn is the site of the Thornbush Brewery which operated until at least 1830 until the Guild and Co., Brewers took over, and they ceased production sometime around 1914.
Merkinch was granted to the Burgh by King Alexander 2nd in 1236: during the Middle ages it was pasture land. After 1771 it was settled by fisher families from Avoch when the Town House had the fishertown area laid out, this is why the street names have a seafaring association, all built up in 1832.
Pumpgate Street get it’s name from the early water supply point. Telford Road was known as “Aird Road Street” in the 1830’s. The Militia Depot built in 1856, planned round a square courtyard with a gatehouse which has now gone. Continue along Telford Road and you’ll find Merkinch Primary School built in 1875-77 to replace the first Merkinch school built at the east end of Madras Street before 1835.