24/02/2010
From the sparkling granite of Aberdeen city centre and the Baronial turrets of Balmoral Castle, to black houses on North Uist and standing stones on Orkney, the images presented here illustrate not only the variety of landscapes to be found in the north of Scotland, but also the remarkable extent to which the people of the region have, over the centuries, left behind the imprints of their lives in buildings, agriculture and industry. In some pictures we see Edwardian antiquarians making records of standing stones and stone circles, ancient ritual monuments that date back over 4,000 years. In others it is the grand architecture of the Victorian cityscape that fascinates the eyes. All of these aspects of our built heritage – however big or small – tell stories both about our ancestors and the people we are today. Photography captures history and contextualises single moments of time – and part of the delight of viewing historical images is that they often pose as many questions as they answer. When collected together in their thousands – as in the RCAHMS archives – they preserve a unique record of the past, and, in their sometimes teasing opacity, make you want to discover even more about the places where we have lived and worked for generations.
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Inverness Castle and Bridge. General view from opposite side of the River Ness.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 537324
Aberdeen, Union Street, East and West Church of St Nicholas General view.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 679948
Recumbent stone and flankers, from the south. Original negative captioned: 'Midmar Kirk Circle. Recumbent Stone and Pillars viewed from outside circle looking north. July 1902'.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
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View of Fred Coles (to right) and A Macdonald (to left) at Nine Stanes recumbent stone circle. Print card captioned: 'Recumbent stone, pillars, stone setting viewed from inside the circle.' Original negative captioned: 'Garrol Wood Stone Circle excavation. Recumbent Stone and setting with inner circle / Mr F. Coles / Mr A. Macdonald Sept 17th 1904'.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
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View of two of the Stones of Stenness, then an arable field. A figure serves as scale.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
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General view of entrance front of Marischal College.
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 746161
View of Caledonian Canal, Corpach entrance; lock-keepers' houses, store-house, engine-house and paddle-steamer.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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View from SSE showing SSW and ESE fronts of church with part of graveyard in foreground
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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View from SE showing ESE front and part of SSW front of church with part of graveyard in foreground
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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Interior View from ESE showing concourse and timetable information block
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
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Interior View from SSE showing booking hall and offices
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
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Glenfinnan Monument. General view. Copy of postcard, dating from c. 1920. Digital image of D 15456
© Crown Copyright: HES
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View W showing NCO's huts, store and cook house for South Sutor, Cromarty, QF battery during construction phase.
© RCAHMS
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Scanned image of view W showing excavation works during construction for gun No.1 (9.2") at the South Sutor, Cromarty. The brick foundations for the magazine area are visible.
© RCAHMS: Crown Copyright
SC 917875
View SE showing the almost complete latrines, NCO's huts etc situated to the SW of the gun emplacements.
© RCAHMS: Crown Copyright
SC 919798
Historic photograph. General view of The Square which has been dressed up with foliage and banners to celebrate the home coming of the laird. One reads 'Welcome to the Laird of Grant To the Land of his Fathers'.
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View of locomotive (H.R. 460), Forres Railway Station
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
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View of locomotive (H.R. 460), Forres Railway Station
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
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North Uist, Heisker, Ceann Iar. General view of black houses (West Head).
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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View of Corpach Sea Lock and distant view of lock keepers' cottages.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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General View of broch from above the road
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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General view of Dun Dornaigil broch. Photographed by Erskine Beveridge in 1899.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan. General view of monument.
© Courtesy of HES (J H B Fletcher Collection)
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Inverness Castle and Bridge Bought at auction 1978.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
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General view of Inverness Cathedral Bought at auction 1978.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
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Balmoral Castle. General view South obscured by trees. Insc: '504 Balmoral Castle'
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
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General view of Camusnacroise from north east
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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Ardnastang View of thatched cottages between the road and Loch Sunart.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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Hougharry View of blackhouses with man outside.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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Ardnastang View of cottages between the road and Loch Sunart.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
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View looking E on the South Sutor, Cromarty Firth, showing Officer's quarters, NCO's huts, store and cook house for QF battery during construction phase.
© RCAHMS
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View E showing excavations for North Sutor, Cromarty Firth, QF (Quick Firing) gun-emplacement Nos. 3 and 4.
© RCAHMS
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View SW showing excavation works for gun-emplacement No.2. Also visible is a rail mounted steam crane.
© RCAHMS
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Page 31. Digital copy of aerial view of Highland gathering in Memorial Park in Braemar, with Moorfield House at top left, seen from the South South East. PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM NO.91: THE FLYING PHOTOGRAPHER.
© RCAHMS
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Aberdeen, Union Street General view of street scene.
© Courtesy of HES (Francis M Chrystal Collection)
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Aberdeen, Kings Works. Interior, View showing man tapping cupola
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
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Aberdeen, Kings Works. Interior, View showing men pouring small castings
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 399160
Inverness Castle and Bridge. General view from opposite side of the River Ness.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 537324
Aberdeen, Union Street, East and West Church of St Nicholas General view.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 679948
Recumbent stone and flankers, from the south. Original negative captioned: 'Midmar Kirk Circle. Recumbent Stone and Pillars viewed from outside circle looking north. July 1902'.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
SC 681315
View of Fred Coles (to right) and A Macdonald (to left) at Nine Stanes recumbent stone circle. Print card captioned: 'Recumbent stone, pillars, stone setting viewed from inside the circle.' Original negative captioned: 'Garrol Wood Stone Circle excavation. Recumbent Stone and setting with inner circle / Mr F. Coles / Mr A. Macdonald Sept 17th 1904'.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
SC 682252
View of two of the Stones of Stenness, then an arable field. A figure serves as scale.
© Courtesy of HES (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)
SC 696430
General view of entrance front of Marischal College.
© Courtesy of HES (Bedford Lemere and Company Collection)
SC 746161
View of Caledonian Canal, Corpach entrance; lock-keepers' houses, store-house, engine-house and paddle-steamer.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 746786
View from SSE showing SSW and ESE fronts of church with part of graveyard in foreground
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 746787
View from SE showing ESE front and part of SSW front of church with part of graveyard in foreground
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 777530
Interior View from ESE showing concourse and timetable information block
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 777535
Interior View from SSE showing booking hall and offices
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 797424
Glenfinnan Monument. General view. Copy of postcard, dating from c. 1920. Digital image of D 15456
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 893188
View W showing NCO's huts, store and cook house for South Sutor, Cromarty, QF battery during construction phase.
© RCAHMS
SC 910816
Scanned image of view W showing excavation works during construction for gun No.1 (9.2") at the South Sutor, Cromarty. The brick foundations for the magazine area are visible.
© RCAHMS: Crown Copyright
SC 917875
View SE showing the almost complete latrines, NCO's huts etc situated to the SW of the gun emplacements.
© RCAHMS: Crown Copyright
SC 919798
Historic photograph. General view of The Square which has been dressed up with foliage and banners to celebrate the home coming of the laird. One reads 'Welcome to the Laird of Grant To the Land of his Fathers'.
SC 951845
View of locomotive (H.R. 460), Forres Railway Station
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 951846
View of locomotive (H.R. 460), Forres Railway Station
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 1111816
North Uist, Heisker, Ceann Iar. General view of black houses (West Head).
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1112920
View of Corpach Sea Lock and distant view of lock keepers' cottages.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1112983
General View of broch from above the road
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1112985
General view of Dun Dornaigil broch. Photographed by Erskine Beveridge in 1899.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1113308
Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan. General view of monument.
© Courtesy of HES (J H B Fletcher Collection)
SC 1115603
Inverness Castle and Bridge Bought at auction 1978.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115604
General view of Inverness Cathedral Bought at auction 1978.
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115653
Balmoral Castle. General view South obscured by trees. Insc: '504 Balmoral Castle'
© Courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (Thomas Polson Lugton Collection)
SC 1115953
General view of Camusnacroise from north east
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1115961
Ardnastang View of thatched cottages between the road and Loch Sunart.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1115962
Hougharry View of blackhouses with man outside.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1115963
Ardnastang View of cottages between the road and Loch Sunart.
© Courtesy of HES (Erskine Beveridge Collection)
SC 1116235
View looking E on the South Sutor, Cromarty Firth, showing Officer's quarters, NCO's huts, store and cook house for QF battery during construction phase.
© RCAHMS
SC 1116241
View E showing excavations for North Sutor, Cromarty Firth, QF (Quick Firing) gun-emplacement Nos. 3 and 4.
© RCAHMS
SC 1116244
View SW showing excavation works for gun-emplacement No.2. Also visible is a rail mounted steam crane.
© RCAHMS
SC 1119681
Page 31. Digital copy of aerial view of Highland gathering in Memorial Park in Braemar, with Moorfield House at top left, seen from the South South East. PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM NO.91: THE FLYING PHOTOGRAPHER.
© RCAHMS
SC 1160334
Aberdeen, Union Street General view of street scene.
© Courtesy of HES (Francis M Chrystal Collection)
SC 2171798
Aberdeen, Kings Works. Interior, View showing man tapping cupola
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume
SC 2171801
Aberdeen, Kings Works. Interior, View showing men pouring small castings
© HES. Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume