Inverness historic graveyards study secures funding

Funding has been approved for a study into how three historic graveyards in Inverness city centre could be better preserved.

Highland Council is to work with Inverness City Heritage Trust on proposals to conserve the sites' architecture and archaeology while potentially making them available as green spaces open to residents and visitors.

Councillors have agreed to contribute £20,000 towards a feasibility study.

Greyfriars is thought to be the oldest graveyard, with connections to a 13th Century Catholic religious order called the Black Friars.

Old High burial ground is next to the city's oldest church, while Chapel Yard Cemetery has gravestones that have survived from the 1600s.

During a meeting of the council's city of Inverness committee, councillors raised some concerns about turning the cemeteries into green spaces.

There have been problems with vandalism and anti-social behaviour at Greyfriars and Chapel Yard.

But officials said the plans would see improvements to the sites and make them more attractive to visitors, which councillors agreed would be "good news".

Separately, the committee approved £50,000 to be put towards the cost of repairing railings at the city's Tomnahurich Cemetery.

Greyfriars, also known as Blackfriars, is almost hidden from view by a large 1960s telephone exchange.

The burial ground has connections to Black Friars, a 13th Century Catholic religious order.

It is said to be haunted by a figure dressed in black and is a popular stop for local ghost and history walking tours.

The graveyard's gates are usually locked due to problems with vandalism.

Chapel Yard is the resting place of members of the Forbes and Grant clans, as well as ministers, provosts and surgeons.

A grave from the 1600s is that of Hester Eliot, a great grandniece of Mary Queen of Scots.

Some of the tombs were damaged by Jacobites when they attacked Inverness Castle - a predecessor to the castle that stands today - before the Battle of Culloden in 1745.

The site has grave markers from the 18th Century decorated with skulls and hourglasses.

The Old High burial ground overlooks the River Ness and is on the site of the oldest church in Inverness.

The mound on which the Old High Church was constructed is believed to be the site where Irish missionary St Columba converted King Brude to Christianity in 565.

The saint is also linked to the mythology of the Loch Ness Monster.

An account of the missionary's life thought to have been written in the 7th Century tells of him encountering a strange beast in the River Ness.

The oldest part of Old High Church was used as a prison after Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat at Culloden, and captured Jacobites were executed in the church grounds.

The church, which is now in community ownership, also has a long association with the regiments of the Cameron and Queen's Own Highlanders.