ROSEMARKIE, a parish, in the county of Ross-and-Cromarty, 11
miles(N. N. E.) from Inverness; containing, with the quoad sacra parish
of Fortrose, 17 I9inhabitants. This place is supposed to
have derived its name, signifying in the Gaelic language
" a headland or promontory, and the resort of
mariners," from the elevated situation of its church on the
shore of the Moray Firth. The parish is bounded on
the east by the Firth, and is about six miles in length,
varying from two to three miles in breadth, and comprising
an area of nearly fifteen square miles. Its surface
rises gradually from the shore to a considerable
elevation, and towards the north and south is diversified
with hills of various height, of which the greater number
are arable and in good cultivation. The coast towards
the northern extremity is bold and elevated, and at
Chanonry point projects far into the Firth, and forms a
fine bay, affording good anchorage, and safe shelter for
vessels during strong westerly gales. There are numerous
springs of excellent water; and a small burn
which flows into the bay, to the north of the town, after
rains is much swollen, and in its rapid course makes
some pleasing cascades. In the upper portion of the
parish the soil is a deep clay of great fertility, and in the
lower lands a fine black loam resting upon gravel; the
crops are, grain of all kinds, potatoes, and turnips. The
system of husbandry has been considerably improved
under the auspices of the Black-Isle Farming Society,
but much still remains to be done; the farm houses and
buildings are of inferior order, and the lands but very
partially inclosed. A few sheep of the small native
breed are reared on some of the farms, and more attention
than formerly is now paid to live stock. About
900 acres are in plantations, chiefly of recent growth,
and in a thriving state. The prevailing rocks along the
coast are of the sandstone formation and gneiss, with
veins of white quartz: the sandstone, which is of good
quality for building, is wrought to a considerable extent,
several quarries having been opened. There are some
respectable family mansions in the parish.
The town of Rosemarkie is beautifully situated on the
shore of the Firth. It is a place of great antiquity; it
obtained from Alexander II. a charter conferring on the
inhabitants all the privileges of a royal burgh, and in
1455 was by charter of James II. united with the Chanonry
of Ross under the common name of Fortrose.
There are neither any manufactures nor any trade carried
on here, except for the immediate supply of the parish.
At Chanonry point, where a lighthouse has been built,
and along the coast, valuable salmon-fisheries are established.
Fairs are held in April, June, and November,
for cattle, and for the sale of cotton goods, coarse cloths,
and various other wares. The annual value of real property
in the parish is £3744. Ecclesiastically this place
is within the bounds of the presbytery of Chanonry and
synod of Ross. The minister's stipend is £249. 9. 6.,
with a manse, and a glebe valued at £9 per annum;
patron, the Crown. Rosemarkie church, erected on the
site of the ancient edifice about the year 1S21, is a spacious
and handsome structure in the later English style,
and contains 800 sittings. A church to which an adjacent
district of the parish is annexed quoad sacra, has
been raised in the town of Fortrose; where are also an
episcopal chapel, a place of worship for members of the
Free Church, and one for Baptists. The parochial
school, of which the master's salary was early transferred
to the grammar or burgh school, and afterwards
to the academy at Fortrose, has been re-estabhshed;
and there are three Sabbath schools, all well attended.
The principal antiquities are the ruins of the cathedral
of Ross, in which are interred the remains of the family
of Mackenzie and other families. Among the distinguished
residents of the parish have been. Sir George
Mackenzie, of Rosehaugh, an able statesman; Dr.
George Mackenzie, author of Lives of the most Eminent
Writers of the Scottish Nation; and the late Sir James
Mackintosh, who received the rudiments of his education
at this place. See Fortrose.