Kirk records to return to north

The records are to transfer from Edinburgh to Inverness

Historical documents from Highland presbyteries and Kirk sessions are to transfer from Edinburgh to a new archive being built in Inverness.

It follows an agreement signed by Highland Council, the National Archives of Scotland and the Church of Scotland.

The papers are from the presbyteries of Inverness, Ross, Sutherland, Lochcarron-Skye and Abernethy.

The Highland Archive Centre at the Bught is in the final stages of construction.

Documents will be preserved in secure and environmentally-controlled conditions in the building, Highland Council said.

Bill Fernie, chairman of the authority's culture and sport committee, said the records were important to the area.

He added: "These archives will be of immense importance to historians in the Highlands, and also to those researching their family history, and it is appropriate that they will be returning to the Highlands during Homecoming Year."

Charmed cows

Previously, Kirk session records from the north have revealed examples of Highlanders using so-called good and bad magic on cattle.

Dr Karen Cullen, of higher education institute UHI, trawled the papers in her research for a lecture - Charmed Cows and Contentious Neighbours.

She found one minister who "dressed up" practical advice on better hygiene as a charm to allay a parishioner's fears.

The practice of charming to either protect or harm livestock was used during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Dr Cullen, programme leader of UHI's undergraduate honours Scottish history degree, delivered her public lecture in Inverness last July.

Documents relating to the Highland Clearances and other papers dating from before the Battle of Culloden are also to be housed in the new archive centre.

Among the collections to be stored will be the Highland photographic archive, containing 150,000 images.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a £4.3m grant towards the cost of the £10.2m project.