Restoration of ancient stone

The Highland Council and Scottish Canals have restored an ancient stone of historic importance to Inverness.

The Clachnahagaig Stone  is an ancient stone which marks the upper end of the town fishings on the River Ness.

The Inverness Angling Club informed the Council last year that the Stone had been damaged and a large part of it wound up in the River Ness. The Council recovered the Stone from the Ness and twice arranged for the Stone to be restored.  Unfortunately, both times, the Stone was vandalised soon after being reinstalled. 

Scottish Canals helpfully facilitated the restoration by permitting the work on the Canal-side and creating a large clearing around the Stone’s location to increase its visibility. The Council’s Community Services made arrangements for the Stone to be restored and reinstalled at the site, which displays the Stone more prominently and is also intended to discourage any further vandalism. 

The Inverness West Members, Cllrs Alan Duffy, Alex Graham and Graham Ross,  wish to thank everyone involved. Councillor Graham Ross said: “On behalf of Inverness West members, I would like to thank everyone involved in this project to restore a little piece of Inverness history. The Clachnahagaig Stone is now visible for everyone to enjoy and I am sure people will be interested in the story behind it.”

Alan Scott, Secretary of Inverness Angling Club, said: “The club is very pleased to hear that such care was being taken to recover, preserve, re-erect and protect this famous stone which marks the upper boundary of the fishings we lease from the Inverness Common Good. We all appreciate the historical significance of this marker. It is mentioned in The Great Charter, also known as The Golden Charter, granted by James VI to the town of Inverness at Holyrood House on January 1, 1592. The charter conveyed the fishings to the burgh and are held for the common good.”

Russell Thomson, Head of Customer Operations at Scottish Canals, said: “We’re delighted we were able to help improve the setting of the Clachnahagaig Stone on the banks of the Caledonian Canal. Like the waterway it sits alongside, the stone has quite the story to tell and this project will help celebrate and safeguard that rich heritage for future generations to enjoy.”

The location is between Canal and River by the tow path.  Walk along the Canal towpath and pass the open space above the weir at Holm Mills you come to the trees.  Approx. 200 hundred yards past the start of the trees you come to a bench on your left hand side , the stone is beside the bench.

3 Aug 2015