Down Memory Lane: The Little Ice Age brought hardship and joy to the north
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The recent snows and frosts seemed fairly remarkable, but were exceedingly tame compared to what Inverness, the Highlands and, indeed, Britain, endured in what became known as The Great Frost of 1895.
In December 1894, an observer in Drumnadrochit reported primroses and daisies in bloom, “with grass growing vigorously”. But by the 30th the Inverness to Wick train was stranded in a snowdrift at Kinbrace, Sutherland.
The deep freeze set in after the new year, causing major disruption with roads and railways blocked and distress being caused by people being unable to work.
But at Loch na Sanais, at Torvean, there was the spectacular sight of a couple of hundred skaters taking full advantage of the ice on the loch. The fact so many locals possessed skates is, in itself, worthy of note, and our picture shows an enjoyable scene, even as the conditions caused major hardship.
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Loch Lomond and Lake Windermere were similarly busy with skaters and even the sea froze, with huge blocks of frozen seawater on the coast.
Loch Na Sanais is an ancient stretch of water, newly reopened to view by the creation of a park and walking paths on the former first nine of Torvean Golf Club. You can now stroll round the peaceful tree-edged loch.
It was originally small but extended significantly when clay deposits were extracted to create the banks for the nearby Caledonian Canal. Ironically, in the 1960s, it is reported that it was reduced in size because so much rubble from Inverness was being dumped in its waters.
In the 1876 Ordnance Survey, Loch na Sanais was recorded as meaning ‘Loch of the Whisper’. A folk tale relates of a young woman who overhears her wealthy father whispering of a plot to kill her boyfriend, and the couple promptly run away to marry.
Similarly, there is Clach na Sanais, near Croy, which apparently means ‘listening stone’ or ‘stone of warning’. It is near the now ruined 13th century Rait Castle where there was local enmity.
In 1442 the Comyns, who had taken the name de Rait, invited their Mackintosh neighbours to a feast in the castle to set aside their differences. But like the ‘Red Wedding’ in Game of Thrones the hosts carried concealed weapons.
The de Rait chief’s daughter, however, loved a young Mackintosh and warned him at the stone. In fierce fighting both clans suffered heavy casualties.
As de Rait’s daughter tried to leap from a window, her father cut off her hands.
The castle was vacated shortly afterwards and her handless ghost is said to roam the ruins, which contain part of the Chapel of St Mary of Rait.
American singer Bonnie Rait visited the ruins in 1990.
Thus, loch and stone, are said to have ‘listening’ legacies. However, Professor WJ Watson reckoned Loch na Sanais’s name actually meant ‘loch of the old meadow’.
In January 1838 the Courier reported:”Last week the curling-stones, brooms and other accompaniments were brought forward and Loch na Sanais, on the road to Dochfour, echoed for the first time to the shouts and noise of ‘the roaring play’. A bonspiel was played between a party of married men on one side and bachelors on the other.
“Magistrates, councillors, lawyers and other citizens mingled in the pastime…and there were several hundreds of spectators.” Mr Wilson, owner of the Caledonian Hotel, provided the curling stones and a coach and horses to transport the curlers.
In 1841 the paper reported that “the game of curling promises to become naturalised”. Numerous stones and brooms had been acquired, rinks formed, and a club set up to play on Loch na Sanais.
For decades it was Inverness’s winter sports hub and, as the photograph, a charming glimpse back in time, shows, seldom more so than in the Great Frost of 1895, which scientists say was the end of the Little Ice Age.
– Sponsored by Ness Castle Lodges.
