MacLean's of Inverness Parish
Extracts from Slaters 1873 Commercial Directory for parishes of Inverness
DONALD MacLEAN, Ach-populi
ALEXANDER MacLEAN, Ach-populi
* DUNCAN McLEAN, Ness side Farm (my great grandfather)
WILLIAM McLEAN, Inverbro/Moy
JOHN M'LEAN, Holm
1873
"INVERNESS, the capital of the Highlands and of the large county of its name, is ... situated upon the
northern extremity of the Great Glen of Scotland, and upon the banks of the Ness (near the confluence of
that river with the sea), about a mile from the northern entry of the Caledonian canal. We learn from
Richards' Itinerary (one of the oldest documents extant relative to the affairs of Grat Britain, and referring to
the period between A.D. 138 and 170), that Inverness was one of the ten cities of Britain enjoying the Jus
Latinitatis, only two others in Scotland are mentioned, Perth and Dumbarton. After the Romans withdrew,
Inverness became the seat of the Pictish monarchy. Here Macbeth, the great Lord of Ross and Moray, had
a castle, which Beothius, and after him Shakespeare, assigns as the scene of Duncan's murder ... Near to
the site of this castle, a royal castle or fort was afterwards erected, which was in existence until 1746, when
it was blown up during the rebellion; a new building (which will be hereafter noticed) occupies the site of the
old one.
"The situation of Inverness is so singularly beautiful as to have compelled a recognition of its claims to that
character, even amid the dry technical details of its great charter; "its good and pleasant situation", is there
noticed as one of the reasons for its endowment as a royal burgh. The eminent lexicographer, Dr. Johnson,
in speaking of Inverness, adds – "The language of this town has been long considered as peculiarly elegant
... [even though] the Gaelic continues to be the prevailing language still spoken by the common people." The
great part of the town lies on the eastern part of the Ness, here a broad, clear and equably flowing stream.
The streets are well paved, and gas lighted. In the summer months, Inverness is much frequented by tourists
and sportsmen. Being the centre to which the principal lines of road in the Highlands converge, having the
Caledonian Canal on the one hand, and the Moray Frith on the other, in maintains a rapid, frequent, and
easy intercourse, both by land and water, with all parts of the kingdom; being also the head office the
Highland Railway.
"The environs of Inverness combine picturesque beauty in detail with magnificence as a whole, "uniting",
says a tourist, "two opposite qualities, and each in the greatest perfection, the characters of a rich, open,
lowland country, with those of the wildest Alpine scenery; both being also close at hand, and in many
places intermixed; while to all this is added a series of maritime views not often excelled." The walks near
the town are deserving of a stranger's perambulation; whether along the banks of the river to the wooded
islands of the ness, or along the sea shore, or by the margin of the canal; or to the singularly shaped hill of
Tomnahurich, or "hill of the fairies;" or to the summit of Craig Phadrig ... or to the druidical circles of Leys; in
each and all of these directions there is much to please and interest the man of taste or science.
Public Buildings and Works. Pre-eminent among these, as much for its architectural beauty as for is
commanding position, is the Castle of Inverness, erected on the site of the old royal castle. The modern
edifice was built in 1836 and a cost of 10,000 pounds for the accommodation of the courts of justice in the
northern circuit, and for the preservation of the records and transactions of the judicial business of the
country ... Among the other public buildings, institutions, etc., exclusive of the edifices for divine worship,
are the Town Hall, in High-street; the Northern Meeting Assembly Rooms, in Church-street, with the
Northern Meeting Pavillion and Pari; the Northern Infirmary, a large, well-constructed institution, with an
imposing exterior, a little way out of the town, on the bank of the river.
"Great improvements have taken place in Inverness within the last 30 years, upon the road and walks upon
the ness and principal thoroughfares of the town, in additional buildings, and in providing for more efficient
sewerage. Several handsome buildings have also been erected, as the Railway Station, the Burgh
Courthouse, and the Railway Station Hotel, the West parish church, the Free High Church and spire, the
Free East Church, the Episcopal Chapel, and Union Street are of this description ....
Commerce, Trade, etc.. At the quays, and also at the Caledonian canal wharfs, within a mile of the town,
vessels of considerable tonnage may receive or discharge their cargoes, while large ships have excellent
anchorage in Kessock roads, just about the confluence of the river with the sea. Inverness possesses and
extensive trade, carried on in very fine coasting and steam vessels. The exports from this port are chiefly
grain, wool, timber, salmon, etc. The imports comprise timber, Archangel tar, guano and wheat. There are
ship and boat building yards; a manufactory for woollen cloths, two breweries, three iron foundries, and other
trades of a local nature. There are no fewer than six banking companies established in Inverness ... The
shops in Inverness are well supplied with goods of every description ... The press of Inverness publishes two
newspapers weekly – the "Courier" and the "Advertiser".
"Inverness is a royal burgh of great antiquity, having, it is said, received a charter in 1067 from Malcolm
Canmore; and there are on record four charters in its favour from King William the Lion, besides various
subsequent ones by several of his successors. The great charter of the town, however, was conferred by
James VI, in 1591. The municipal government is vested in a provost, four bailies, a dean of guild, a treasurer,
and fourteen councillors ...
Extracts from the 1881 Census of Balnain, Urquhart & Glenmoriston
MacLEAN Duncan - head - 50 - House Carpenter - Urquhart
MacLEAN Catherine - wife - 40 - Fort William
MacLEAN Mary Ann - daughter - 20 - Gen. Dom. Servant - Glen Urquhart, Balnain
MacLEAN Alexander - son - 16 - Herd Boy Scholar - Glen Urquhart, Balnain
MacLEAN Jessie - daughter - 10 - Scholar - Glen Urquhart, Balnain
MacLEAN James - son - 8 - Scholar - Glen Urquhart, Balnain
MacLEAN Evan - son - 5 - Scholar - Glen Urquhart, Balnain
MacDONALD Mary - mother in law - 86 - Pauper - Badnoch
MacCOLL Catherine - niece - 13 - Scholar - Fort William
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