Fortrose street names

Look at the street names in any old established part of a village or town and you should find clues for what existed there in centuries past. Fortrose is no exception. Everywhere you turn you will see evidence for its importance as an ecclesiastical centre. Look out for Canonbury Terrace, Precincts Road, Deans Road, and Bishops Road. House names also point to the past – The Priory, The Deanery and Bishop's Ridge.

The cathedral itself was established by Bishop Robert (1214-49) in the 13th century, after the Bishops of Ross moved there from Rosemarkie. Around the central cathedral building were grouped various priests' manses, representing the surrounding parishes. The manses for Cullicudden and Lemlair were near the current St Andrews Episcopal Church at the corner of St Andrews Walk and Academy Street. Those of Contin and Kiltearn were close to modern Union Street.

Another link to the ecclesiastical past is a local landmark known as the 'Bishop's Pot'. It is a deep hole located under the cliff at Seal's Rock (Craig an Ron). When the tide goes out, it sometimes leaves a lobster in the hole – a tasty meal for a bishop!