Kirkhill, Highland Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Kirkhill
Gaelic Name:Cnoc Mhoire
Population Ref:
Static Image Name:Kirkhill Higland.jpg
Static Image Caption:The B9164, the main street running through Kirkhill
Os Grid Reference:NH556453
Map Type:Inverness
Coordinates:57.4754°N -4.4095°W
Unitary Scotland:Highland
Lieutenancy Scotland:Inverness
Constituency Westminster:Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Post Town:Inverness
Postcode District:IV5 7
Postcode Area:IV
Dial Code:01463

Kirkhill (Scottish Gaelic: Cnoc Mhoire, meaning "Big Hill") is a small village and civil parish in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is 10 miles (16 km) west of Inverness and 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Beauly, close to the south opening of the Beauly Firth.[1]

The village of Kirkhill encompasses the historic parish of Wardlaw to its north, the two areas merging in 1618.[2]

Kirkhill also has a village hall and primary school, Kirkhill Primary, with a catchment area including Inchmore, Lentran, Drumchardine, Cabrich, Bunchrew, Clunes and Newtonhill.[3]

Wardlaw Mausoleum

Kirkhill is home to the Wardlaw Mausoleum, built in 1634 as the resting ground for the Frasers of Lovat and used by the family until the early 19th century. In the 1990s, the Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust was formed to repair the building, then in heavy disrepair.[4]

In 1722, the 11th Lord Lovat raised the roof of the mausoleum and constructed a tower overhead. After his execution for the part he played in the Jacobite rebellion, legend had it the Lord Lovat's body was moved in secret, from the Church of St Peter ad Vincula in London to the family mausoleum. However, analysis of his supposed skeleton by the University of Dundee in 2018, declared the bones were of a young woman.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gittings . Bruce . Munro . David . Kirkhill. The Gazetteer for Scotland . School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society . 29 October 2018.
  2. Web site: MHG31356 - Cemetery, St. Mary's Church, Wardlaw - Highland Historic Environment Record. 2020-07-28. her.highland.gov.uk. en-gb.
  3. Web site: Kirkhill Primary school. 2020-07-28. Kirkhill Primary school. en-GB.
  4. Web site: Home. 2020-07-28. Wardlaw Mausoleum. en.
  5. News: Press Association. 2018-01-19. Headless body is not C18th Scottish clan chief, say experts. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-07-28. 0261-3077.