Dingwall
Encyclopedia
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh
in the Highland council area
of Scotland
. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor
but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle
was once the biggest castle
north of Stirling
. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle
, parts of which may date back to the 12th-century building. In 1411 the Battle of Dingwall
is said to have taken place between the Clan Mackay
and the Clan Donald
.
has lain on what is now called the Far North Line
since circa 1865. It also serves the Kyle of Lochalsh Line
, with the junction between the two lines being located within the town. The station is served with around 26 trains a day, 14 of which go to Inverness.
of Ross and Cromarty
. It lies near the head of the Cromarty Firth
where the valley of the Peffery unites with the alluvial lands at the mouth of the Conon, 14 miles (22.5 km) northwest of Inverness
.
Its English name, derived from the Scandinavian Þingvöllr (field or meeting-place of the thing
, or local assembly; compare Tynwald
, Tingwall
, Thingwall
in the British Isles alone, plus many others across northern Europe), preserves the Viking
connections of the town; Gaels call it Inbhir Pheofharain (iɲiɾʲˈfjɔhəɾaiɲ), meaning "the mouth of the Peffery") or Baile Chàil meaning "cabbage town".
The 18th-century town house, and some remains of the ancient mansion of the once powerful earls of Ross
, still exist. An obelisk
, 51 feet (15.5 m) high, was erected over the grave of Sir George Mackenzie
, 1st Earl of Cromartie
, near the parish church of St Clement. It was affected by subsidence, becoming known as the "Leaning Tower", and was replaced by a much smaller replica in the early years of the 20th century. However even this is now marked by signs saying "Keep Out" on the grounds that it is a dangerous structure.
King Alexander II
created Dingwall a royal burgh in 1226, and James IV
renewed its charter. On the top of Knockfarrel
(Gaelic: Cnoc Fhearghalaigh), a hill about three miles (5 km) to the west, stands a large and very complete vitrified fort
with ramparts.
More recently, Dingwall suffered widespread flooding during storms in late October 2006, during which the weather cut off much of the Highlands north of Inverness, including the A9 and Far North Line
for a significant period of time.
team Ross County
, who currently play in the Scottish First Division. Despite the town's small population, Ross County are able to attract sizable crowds to Victoria Park
thereby maintaining the UK's most northerly full-time squad. The team contested the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
, having knocked out Celtic
in the previous round. Over 17,000 Staggies fans travelled to the showpiece event on 15 May 2010.
is located within the town. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and has been recently approved by the Church of Scotland
for the training of ministers.
The town holds the shortest and most northerly canal in the UK, the Dingwall Canal
.
The band The Cinematics
and Royal National Mod
Gold Medalist Fiona Mackenzie
come from Dingwall.
Keyboard player George Campbell, a member of the successful Ross-shire band - The Side
- also comes from Dingwall; The Side famously were the only support for Bon Jovi at London's O2 Arena to an audience of 23,000 people. They have also supported Texas in Luxembourg at a 30,000 capcity festival and performed several other international shows in Russia, Holland and France, as well as appearing at nearby music festivals, Rockness and Belladrum. They are also known for releasing the unofficial Ross County song "The County's Going To Hampden" for which they received chart position of 23.
Dingwall was a parliamentary burgh, combined with Dornoch
, Kirkwall
, Tain and Wick in the Northern Burghs constituency of the House of Commons
of the Parliament of Great Britain
from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1801 to 1918. Cromarty
was added to the list in 1832.
The constituency was a district of burghs known also as Tain Burghs
until 1832, and then as Wick Burghs
. It was represented by one Member of Parliament
. In 1918 the constituency was abolished and the Dingwall component was merged into the county constituency of Ross and Cromarty
.
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
in the Highland council area
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle
Dingwall Castle
Dingwall Castle was a medieval fort in the town of Dingwall, eastern Ross-shire, Scotland.The castle is believed to have been established by Norse settlers in the area in the 11th century.-Wars of Scottish Independence:...
was once the biggest castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
north of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle
Tulloch Castle
Tulloch Castle is located in the town of Dingwall in the Highlands of Scotland. It dates from the 12th century, when it is thought to have been built by Norsemen. Over the years, it has served as a family home for members of the Bayne and Davidson clans, as a hospital after the evacuation of...
, parts of which may date back to the 12th-century building. In 1411 the Battle of Dingwall
Battle of Dingwall
The Battle of Dingwall was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1411, in Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan Mackay against the Clan Donald.-Sir Robert Gordon:...
is said to have taken place between the Clan Mackay
Clan MacKay
Clan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were...
and the Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
.
Rail
Dingwall railway stationDingwall railway station
Dingwall railway station serves Dingwall, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is located just south of the junction of the Far North Line and the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, and is served by First ScotRail. To the south is the proposed station of...
has lain on what is now called the Far North Line
Far North Line
The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick.- Route :...
since circa 1865. It also serves the Kyle of Lochalsh Line
Kyle of Lochalsh Line
The Kyle of Lochalsh Line is a primarily single track railway line in the Scottish Highlands, running from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh. The population along the route is sparse in nature, but the scenery is beautiful and can be quite dramatic, the Kyle line having been likened to a symphony in...
, with the junction between the two lines being located within the town. The station is served with around 26 trains a day, 14 of which go to Inverness.
History
Dingwall formerly served as the county town of the countyCounties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
. It lies near the head of the Cromarty Firth
Cromarty Firth
The Cromarty Firth of Cromarty') is an arm of the North Sea in Scotland. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth, and to the south the Beauly Firth....
where the valley of the Peffery unites with the alluvial lands at the mouth of the Conon, 14 miles (22.5 km) northwest of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
Its English name, derived from the Scandinavian Þingvöllr (field or meeting-place of the thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
, or local assembly; compare Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, Tingwall
Tingwall
Tingwall may refer to:*Tingwall, Orkney*Tingwall, Shetland*Tingwall Airport, Shetland Islands...
, Thingwall
Thingwall
Thingwall is a village on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The village is situated to the south west of Birkenhead and north east of Heswall. It is part of the Pensby & Thingwall Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and is situated within the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West...
in the British Isles alone, plus many others across northern Europe), preserves the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
connections of the town; Gaels call it Inbhir Pheofharain (iɲiɾʲˈfjɔhəɾaiɲ), meaning "the mouth of the Peffery") or Baile Chàil meaning "cabbage town".
The 18th-century town house, and some remains of the ancient mansion of the once powerful earls of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
, still exist. An obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, 51 feet (15.5 m) high, was erected over the grave of Sir George Mackenzie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman....
, 1st Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie is a title that has been created twice, both times for members of the Mackenzie family. This branch of the family descends from Sir Roderick Mackenzie, whose elder brother Kenneth Mackenzie was created Lord Mackenzie of Kintail in 1609 and was the father of Colin Mackenzie, 1st...
, near the parish church of St Clement. It was affected by subsidence, becoming known as the "Leaning Tower", and was replaced by a much smaller replica in the early years of the 20th century. However even this is now marked by signs saying "Keep Out" on the grounds that it is a dangerous structure.
King Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
created Dingwall a royal burgh in 1226, and James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
renewed its charter. On the top of Knockfarrel
Knockfarrel
Knockfarrel is a village, 1 mile east of Strathpeffer, in Dingwall in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
(Gaelic: Cnoc Fhearghalaigh), a hill about three miles (5 km) to the west, stands a large and very complete vitrified fort
Vitrified fort
Vitrified fort is the name given to certain crude stone enclosures whose walls have been subjected in a greater or lesser degree to the action of fire. They are generally situated on hills offering strong defensive positions. Their form seems to have been determined by the contour of the flat...
with ramparts.
Far North Line
The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick.- Route :...
for a significant period of time.
Sport
Dingwall is the home of footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
, who currently play in the Scottish First Division. Despite the town's small population, Ross County are able to attract sizable crowds to Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Dingwall
Victoria Park is a football stadium situated in the town of Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland. It is the home stadium of Ross County F.C. who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. It is the most northerly ground in the Scottish Football League.There are two stands; the West ...
thereby maintaining the UK's most northerly full-time squad. The team contested the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
2010 Scottish Cup Final
The 2010 Scottish Cup Final was the 125th final of the Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, the Scottish Cup. The match took place on 15 May 2010, at Hampden Park, Glasgow and was contested by first time finalists Ross County and 1994 winners Dundee United...
, having knocked out Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the previous round. Over 17,000 Staggies fans travelled to the showpiece event on 15 May 2010.
Other
The Highland Theological CollegeHighland Theological College
The Highland Theological College is located in Dingwall, Scotland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. The Principal is Hector Morrison, a Church of Scotland minister....
is located within the town. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and has been recently approved by the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
for the training of ministers.
The town holds the shortest and most northerly canal in the UK, the Dingwall Canal
Dingwall Canal
The Dingwall Canal was a short tidal canal running from the town of Dingwall to the Cromarty Firth in the county of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland...
.
The band The Cinematics
The Cinematics
The Cinematics were an alternative rock band from Scotland, consisting of Scott Rinning , Larry Reid , Adam Goemans and Ross Bonney...
and Royal National Mod
Royal National Mod
The Royal National Mod is the annual national mod, a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture.The Mod is run by An Comunn Gàidhealach , and includes competitions and awards.-History:...
Gold Medalist Fiona Mackenzie
Fiona Mackenzie
Fiona J Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer from Dingwall in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.-Career:...
come from Dingwall.
Keyboard player George Campbell, a member of the successful Ross-shire band - The Side
The Side
The Side is a Britpop band from Scotland, which was founded in 2005.It consists of Hugh Winton , John Ross , George Campbell and Ryan Golder ....
- also comes from Dingwall; The Side famously were the only support for Bon Jovi at London's O2 Arena to an audience of 23,000 people. They have also supported Texas in Luxembourg at a 30,000 capcity festival and performed several other international shows in Russia, Holland and France, as well as appearing at nearby music festivals, Rockness and Belladrum. They are also known for releasing the unofficial Ross County song "The County's Going To Hampden" for which they received chart position of 23.
Parliamentary burgh
Dornoch
Dornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east...
, Kirkwall
Kirkwall
Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...
, Tain and Wick in the Northern Burghs constituency of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
from 1801 to 1918. Cromarty
Cromarty
The Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire...
was added to the list in 1832.
The constituency was a district of burghs known also as Tain Burghs
Tain Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Tain Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832, sometimes known as Northern Burghs. It was represented by one Member of Parliament .The first election in Tain Burghs was in 1708...
until 1832, and then as Wick Burghs
Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Wick Burghs, sometimes known as Northern Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918...
. It was represented by one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. In 1918 the constituency was abolished and the Dingwall component was merged into the county constituency of Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)
Ross and Cromarty was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1983. The constituency elected one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system....
.