CAMPBELTON, a village, partly in the parish of
Pettie, but chiefly in the parish of Ardersier, county
of Inverness, 6 miles (W.) from Nairn, and 10 (N. E.)
from Inverness; containing, with the garrison of Fort
George, 1200 inhabitants, of whom 944 are in the village.
This place, which is indebted for its origin to the
establishment of the garrison, takes its name from the
Campbells, Earls Cawdor, upon whose lands it is built,
on the eastern shore of a bay in the Moray Firth, remarkable
for its picturesque beauty, and frequented as
a bathing quarter. The houses are neat, and there are
numerous well-stored shops, containing wares and merchandise
of all kinds for the supply of the garrison; a
subscription library has been established, and the village
contains several good inns. From the base of a hill
called Cromal or Crombal, which flanks the village on
the east, there issues in a continued jet a strongly chalybeate
spring, having a high character as a tonic, and
which is resorted to by invalids: the summit of the hill
commands a very extensive view, embracing parts of
seven or eight counties. Campbelton proper, or that part
of the village in Ardersier, contains 716 inhabitants;
the back street of the village, which is in the parish of
Pettie, contains 228, making in all 944, exclusive of the
garrison of Fort George. Many of the inhabitants are
employed in the herring-fishery, which is carried on
with spirit and success; not less than sixteen boats, of
twelve tons' burthen, sail to the fishing-stations of
Helmsdale and Burgh-Head, each boat taking during
the season about 200 barrels, valued at thirteen shillings
each. The fishermen of Campbelton are also employed
in the white-fishery off the coast, the fish usually taken
being haddock, cod, skate, whiting, flounders, and occasionally
turbot, halibut, and soles; the produce, after
supplying the parish, is sent to Inverness, for which
purpose, during the summer, there are lightly-built
and fast-sailiug vessels. A small coasting-trade is also
carried on, in which three vessels of 100 tons, belonging
to a family in the village, are employed, chiefly in the
trade with Sunderland. The post-office has a regular
delivery; and facility of communication is afforded by
the great road from Inverness to Aberdeen, and the
military road from Fort George to Perth, which pass
through the village; and by a ferry from Fort George
to Chanonry Point, in the county of Ross. A court for
the recovery of small debts is held every month; and
there is a fair, called the Lammas Market, annvially on
the 12th of August, for lambs, sheep, milch cows, a few
horses, cheese, and various wares, and for the hiring of
servants.
Fort George, in the parish of Ardersier, was erected
soon after the rebellion in the j'ear 1745, with a view
to keep the Highlanders in subjection, being founded in
I74S under the direction of General Wade, and completed
at a cost of more than £160,000. It is situated
on the point of Ardersier, which projects far into the
Firth, and commands the entrance of that channel.
The buildings, which occupy an area of fifteen acres,
form an irregular polygon, defended by six bastions,
each named after some distinguished general of the time,
and mounting, respectively, IS twenty-four pounders,
'25 eighteen, 11 twelve, and 4 six pounders. On three
sides, the ramparts rise almost from the sea, which at
any time may be let into the ditch; and on the land
side, the fortress is defended by a broad ditch, a covered
way and glacis, two lunettes, and a raveline mounting
S twelve-pounders. The north and south curtains are
bomb-proof, and contain each twenty-seven apartments,
fifty-two feet in length and twelve feet wide; the grand
magazine, which is also bomb-proof, will hold 247'2 barrels
of gunpowder, and at the eastern extremity are two
smaller magazines, containing ammunition for immediate
use. The barracks, which are towards the land
point, comprise apartments for a governor, lieutenantgovernor,
fort-major, chaplain, eight field-officers, twentytwo
captains, fifty-six subalterns, and 2090 noncommissioned
officers and privates. There are also a chapel,
brewhouse, bakehouse, and an inn, within the walls.
The fortress is now garrisoned generally by depots of foreign
regiments, and at present contains only about 256
inhabitants.