79-497: Tarbat (Gaelic tairbeart , meaning 'a crossing or isthmus') is a civil parish in Highland, Scotland, in the north-east corner of Ross and Cromarty . The parish is a promontory between Dornoch Firth to the north-west and Moray Firth to the east, while to the south it borders the parish of Fearn . The peninsula is relatively flat, the highest point being the hill adjacent to Geanies House which reaches 86 metres (283 feet), on
158-466: A territorial sub-designation ; however, only more recent creations duplicating the original creation require territorial designations . So, for example, there are baronetcies Moore of Colchester, Moore of Hancox, Moore of Kyleburn, and Moore of Moore Lodge. Baronetcies usually descend through heirs male of the body of the grantee , and can rarely be inherited by females or collateral kins , unless created with special remainder , for example: Marking
237-474: A Saltire Azure with an inescutcheon of the Royal Arms of Scotland . From before 1929 to the present it has been customary practice for such baronets to display this badge on its own suspended by the order's ribbon below the shield of arms. The first publication listing all baronetcies ever created was C. J. Parry's Index of Baronetcy Creations (1967). This listed them in alphabetical order, other than
316-675: A day for the upkeep of thirty soldiers for three years (1095 days), thus amounting to £1,095 (equivalent to £277,955 in 2023). , in those days a very large sum. The money was to help fund the Plantation of Ulster . In 1619 James I established the Baronetage of Ireland ; Charles I in 1625 created the Baronetages of Scotland and Nova Scotia . The new baronets were each required to pay 2,000 marks (equivalent to £522,045 in 2023). or to support six colonial settlers for two years. Over
395-862: A gross decline of 19.2% (up to 2017). Extant baronetcies numbered about 1,236 in 2015, and 1,204 as of 2017. Since 1965 only one new baronetcy has been created, for Sir Denis Thatcher on 7 December 1990, husband of a former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher (later Baroness Thatcher); their only son, Sir Mark Thatcher , succeeded as 2nd Baronet upon his father's death in 2003. Seven baronetcies dormant in 1965 have since been revived: Innes baronetcy, of Coxton (1686), Nicolson baronetcy of that Ilk and of Lasswade (1629), Hope baronetcy, of Kirkliston (1698), St John ( later St John-Mildmay) baronetcy, of Farley (1772), Maxwell-Macdonald baronetcy of Pollok (1682), Inglis baronetcy, of Cramond, Edinburgh (1687) and Von Friesendorff baronetcy, of Hirdech, Sweden (1661). The Premier Baronet (of England)
474-669: A hundred of these baronetcies, now familiarly known as Scottish baronetcies, survive to this day. As a result of the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, all future creations were styled baronets of Great Britain . Following the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, new creations were styled as baronets of the United Kingdom . Under royal warrants of 1612 and 1613, certain privileges were accorded to baronets. Firstly, no person or persons should have place between baronets and
553-488: A lower-tier district within the Highland region, covering most but not all of the mainland part of the pre-1975 county. The Ross and Cromarty lieutenancy area , which prior to 1975 had been the county, was redefined in 1975 to be the Ross and Cromarty district plus the neighbouring Skye and Lochalsh district. The registration county and lieutenancy area therefore have slightly different definitions. Notable differences are that
632-511: A place, farm settlement and parish. The Battle of Tarbat took place in the 1480s near Portmahomack, when the clan Ross cornered a raiding party from the clan Mackay. Prior to 1628 Tarbat parish extended from Tarbat Ness to the south of Fearn parish. In that year, the parish of Fearn was established, with the former abbey as the parish church. By 1479 the Tarbat lands were divided into Wester Tarbert and Easter Tarbert. Wester Tarbat belonged to
711-521: A single-tier council area in 1996. The Outer Hebrides parts of the county became part of the Western Isles , which since 1998 has used only the Scots Gaelic version of its name, Na h-Eileanan an Iar . The pre-1975 county boundaries are still used for certain functions, being a registration county. There was a local government district called Ross and Cromarty from 1975 to 1996, which was
790-625: A two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts for most of Scotland. A single-tier structure of island areas was used for Orkney , Shetland and the Western Isles . The mainland of Ross and Cromarty became part of the Highland Region , whilst the Outer Hebrides parts (the landward district of Lewis and burgh of Stornoway ) became part of the Western Isles. The part of Ross and Cromarty which went to
869-623: Is almost 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) wide. The village of Portmahomack , the main settlement in the parish, is sited on the Dornoch Firth 9 miles (14 kilometres) northeast of Tain . Tarbat Ness , the headland of Tarbat separating the Dornoch and Moray Firth coasts, lies three miles (five kilometres) northeast of Portmahomack. It is 15 metres (50 feet) high and the site of Tarbat Ness Lighthouse , which dates from 1830. Just over one mile (1.5 kilometres) west-southwest of Tarbet Ness lighthouse,
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#1732781136570948-506: Is known as Wilkhaven Muir. Situated north of Rockfield on the east coast, Ballone Castle , which was also known as Tarbat castle, was reputedly built by the Earls of Ross, but came into possession of the family of Viscount Tarbat and the Earl of Cromartie. Previously a ruin, it has recently been restored as a private house. The Geanies House, the only mansion house in the parish, is situated on
1027-544: Is recognised by being placed on the Official Roll. With some exceptions granted with special remainder by letters patent, baronetcies descend through the male line. A full list of extant baronets appears in Burke's Peerage and Baronetage , which also published a record of extinct baronetcies. A baronetcy is not a peerage; so baronets, like knights and junior members of peerage families, are commoners and not peers of
1106-434: Is referred to and addressed as, for example, "Sir Joseph" (using his forename). The correct style on an envelope for a baronet who has no other titles is "Sir Joseph Bloggs, Bt." or "Sir Joseph Bloggs, Bart." A formal letter would commence with the salutation "Dear Sir Joseph". The wife of a baronet is addressed and referred to by her married surname, as "Lady Bloggs"; the salutation would be "Dear Lady Bloggs". Her given name
1185-598: Is the holder of a baronetcy , a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown . The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th century ; however, in its current usage it was created by James I of England in 1611 as a means of raising funds for the crown. Baronets rank below barons , but seemingly above all knights grand cross , knights commander and knights bachelor of the British chivalric orders , that are in turn below in chivalric precedence than
1264-530: Is the largest island of the Outer Hebrides and the third largest in the British Isles after Britain and Ireland. Harris is in Inverness-shire . Due to its flatter, more fertile land, Lewis contains three-quarters of the population of the Western Isles, and the largest settlement, Stornoway . The only other island in the Outer Hebrides that is in the county of Ross and Cromarty and was inhabited at
1343-479: Is the site of Castlehaven fort, by a creek of that name (Port-Chasteil is Gaelic). Although there is no building remaining, the foundation of a considerable wall is traceable, which defended the fort on the landward side. The title Baron Castlehaven is named after this fort and is held as a subsidiary title by the Earls of Cromartie. The hamlet of Wilkhaven lies on the east coast 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 metres) southwest of Tarbet Ness lighthouse. The area to its north
1422-601: Is the unofficial title afforded to the current holder of the oldest extant baronetcy in the realm. The Premier Baronet is regarded as the senior member of the Baronetage, and ranks above other baronets (unless they hold a peerage title ) in the United Kingdom Order of Precedence . Sir Nicholas Bacon, 14th Baronet , is the current Premier Baronet; his family's senior title was created by King James I in 1611. The Premier Baronets of Nova Scotia (Scotland) were
1501-540: Is used only when necessary to distinguish between two holders of the same title. For example, if a baronet has died and the title has passed to his son, the widow (the new baronet's mother) will remain "Lady Bloggs" while he (the son) is not married, but if he is or becomes married, his wife becomes "Lady Bloggs" while his mother will be known by the style "Alice, Lady Bloggs". Alternatively, the mother may prefer to be known as "The Dowager Lady Bloggs". A previous wife will also become "Alice, Lady Bloggs" to distinguish her from
1580-488: The 2011 census was Great Bernera , which is linked to Lewis by a bridge. Ross and Cromarty also included some small and now uninhabited islands, including the remote Flannan Isles to the west of Lewis. About 71 kilometres (44 miles) north of the Butt of Lewis lie North Rona and Sula Sgeir , a remote group of islands which were included within Ross and Cromarty. The county also includes numerous smaller islands closer to
1659-592: The Glenelg peninsula which is shared with Inverness-shire. The eastern part ( Easter Ross ) is generally flatter, and consists of towns, villages and farmland bordering the Moray Firth . In the north Dornoch Firth separates the county from Sutherland. In the north-east can be found the hammerhead-shaped Tarbat peninsula; across Cromarty Firth lies the Black Isle (actually a peninsula not an island). To
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#17327811365701738-594: The Gordon baronets of Gordonstoun and Letterfourie until the title's extinction in 1908. Subsequently, the Premier Scottish Baronets are the Innes baronets of that Ilk (cr. 28 May 1625), the present Premier Baronet being Charles Innes-Ker, 11th Duke of Roxburghe . The Premier Baronetcy of Ireland was created for Sir Dominic Sarsfield in 1619, and was held by his successors until the attainder of
1817-457: The Highlands and Islands of Scotland . In modern usage, it is a registration county and a lieutenancy area . Between 1889 and 1975 it was a county . Historically, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire were separate counties, with Cromartyshire comprising a number of disconnected tracts of land scattered across Ross-shire. The two counties shared a sheriff from 1748, and were both included in
1896-708: The Ross and Cromarty constituency from 1832. They were formally united into a single county called Ross and Cromarty in 1889. The mainland part of the county had a coast to the east onto the Moray Firth , and a coast to the west onto the Minch . Much of the mainland is sparsely populated, including parts of the Northwest Highlands mountains. The mainland's principal towns are all on the east coast, including Dingwall (the county town), Alness , Cromarty , Fortrose , Invergordon and Tain . The largest settlement on
1975-611: The Ross, Cromarty and Skye constituency was created to represent the then Ross and Cromarty district and Skye and Lochalsh district. The Kincardine area joined the Caithness and Sutherland constituency . Purge Baronet A baronet ( / ˈ b æ r ə n ɪ t / or / ˈ b æ r ə ˌ n ɛ t / ; abbreviated Bart or Bt ) or the female equivalent, a baronetess ( / ˈ b æ r ə n ɪ t ɪ s / , / ˈ b æ r ə n ɪ t ɛ s / , or / ˌ b æ r ə ˈ n ɛ t ɛ s / ; abbreviation Btss ),
2054-482: The Royal Arms of Scotland , with an Imperial Crown above the escutcheon, and encircled with the motto Fax Mentis Honestae Gloria . This badge may be shown suspended by the ribbon below the escutcheon. Baronets of England and Ireland applied to King Charles I for permission to wear a badge. Although a badge was worn in the 17th century, it was not until 1929 that King George V granted permission for all baronets (other than those of Scotland) to wear badges. A baronet
2133-528: The Scottish crown from 1098, having previously been under Norwegian overlordship. It was initially included within the shire of Inverness following its incorporation into Scotland. By the mid-13th century there were sheriffs based at Cromarty and Dingwall, both within the province of Ross, but each appears to have had only a small area of jurisdiction around those towns, rather than the larger territories usually given to sheriffs. The Sheriff of Inverness
2212-658: The Wick burghs constituency and the Inverness burghs constituency . Constituency boundaries were altered in 1918, by the Representation of the People Act 1918 , and the Ross and Cromarty constituency acquired the boundaries of the county of Ross and Cromarty, including the former parliamentary burghs, but minus Stornoway and Lewis , which became part of a new constituency, the Western Isles constituency . In 1983,
2291-494: The 'mainland' - Cromarty Bridge in the north-west and the Kessock Bridge in the south-west. At the tip of the peninsula a ferry provides access to the Tarbat peninsula. The Skye Bridge links Kyle of Lochalsh to the isle of Skye. Various buses operated by Stagecoach Group link the major towns of the east coast, with the 61 bus connecting Ullapool to Inverness. The latter route is also served by Scottish Citylink in
2370-514: The 1840s as the main courthouse for Ross-shire and had also served as the meeting place for the commissioners. Kenneth Smith Mackenzie, already the lord lieutenant and a major landowner in the county, was also appointed the first convener of the county council. The act also led to a review of boundaries, with exclaves being transferred to a county they actually bordered, and parish and county boundaries being adjusted to eliminate cases where parishes straddled county boundaries. The main exclaves in
2449-420: The 1880s or later. In 1881, 1,244 were Gaelic-speaking out of a population of 1,878, but at the last census in 2011, only 4% had some knowledge of Gaelic. The name Tarbat was first attested in 1226, when Andrew vicar of Arterbert authored a church document. The Ar- prefix is the same as Ard- , a common prefix meaning 'promontory' (Gaelic: airde ). Tarbat is mentioned in the early 16th century referring to
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2528-443: The Baronetage – 146 of England, 63 of Ireland, 119 of Scotland, 133 of Great Britain and 853 of the United Kingdom. The total number of baronetcies today is approximately 1,204, although only some 1,020 are on The Official Roll of the Baronetage . It is unknown whether some baronetcies remain extant and it may be that nobody can prove himself to be the actual heir. Over 200 baronetcies are now held by peers; and others, such as
2607-496: The Bishop of Ross, who later passed it to others. Easter Tarbat was held by the Earl of Ross and passed in 1507 to James Dunbar and family. In 1610 Easter Tarbat, with the adjoining area of Easter Aird, passed to George Monro of Meikle Tarrel, whose combined estate was sold in 1623 to Sir Rorie McKenzie of Coigach. Thus all these lands were united in one family and would later become part of Cromarty-shire. Sir Rorie’s son, John Mackenzie
2686-536: The Black Isle was made an exclave of Nairnshire on account of being owned by the Forbes family. The small shire of Cromarty (which still just covered that town and its immediate vicinity) retained its independence. Cromartyshire was significantly enlarged in the late 17th century to gain numerous separate tracts of land scattered across Ross-shire which were owned by George Mackenzie, Viscount of Tarbat , who owned
2765-501: The English Crown, have all disappeared and should properly be excluded from the 3,482, making the effective number of creations 3,457. A close examination of Parry's publication shows he missed one or two, so there might well have been some more. As of 2000, including baronetcies where succession was dormant or unproven, there was a total of 1,314 baronetcies divided into five classes of creation included on The Official Roll of
2844-540: The English language version of the area's name from Western Isles to Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Scots Gaelic for 'Western Isles'), to be used in both English and Gaelic contexts. The western part of the county of Ross and Cromarty, also known as Wester Ross , is typified by its mountainous Highland scenery, especially the Torridon Hills which includes such peaks as Beinn Eighe and Liathach . The highest point in
2923-469: The Highland region was split between three lower-tier districts . As part of the 1975 reforms, the last lord lieutenant of the county of Ross and Cromarty, Alexander Francis Matheson, became lord lieutenant of the new Ross and Cromarty lieutenancy area , which was defined as the combined area of the new Ross and Cromarty district plus the Skye and Lochalsh district. The Ross and Cromarty District Council
3002-706: The Isle of Lewis had not been in Ross but was included in Ross-shire on account of being owned by Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth , a major landowner in Ross. Conversely, an area north of the River Beauly including Beauly and Kilmorack had been in Ross but was excluded from Ross-shire on account of being owned by Clan Fraser of Lovat , based in Inverness-shire. Likewise the Ferintosh estate on
3081-605: The Knox line, have been made tenuous by internal family disputes. According to the Ministry of Justice , it is not necessary to prove succession to a baronetcy in order to use the title, but a person cannot be referred to as a baronet in any official capacity unless their name is on the Official Roll . There were 1,490 baronetcies extant on 1 January 1965. Since then the number has reduced by 286 through extinction or dormancy:
3160-554: The UK Peerage and Baronetage consist of about 1,200 families (some peers are also baronets), which is roughly less than 0.01% of UK families. The term baronet has medieval origins. Sir Thomas de La More (1322), describing the Battle of Boroughbridge , mentioned that baronets took part, along with barons and knights. Edward III created eight baronets in 1328. The title of baronet was initially conferred upon noblemen who lost
3239-410: The area prior to the act had been the many parts of Cromartyshire scattered across Ross-shire, which were resolved as a result of the two counties merging into one. After the merger, there still remained an exclave of Nairnshire at the Ferintosh estate on the Black Isle , whilst the parish of Urray straddled Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty. Ferintosh was transferred to Ross and Cromarty, and
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3318-543: The badge (Red Hand of Ulster) in their coats of arms either in canton or an escutcheon at their election". Since 1929 such baronets may also display the Red Hand of Ulster on its own as a badge, suspended by a ribbon below the shield of arms. Baronets of Nova Scotia, unlike other baronets, do not use the Baronet's Badge (of Ulster), but have their own badge showing the escutcheon of the arms of Nova Scotia : Argent,
3397-465: The baronetage's origins in the Plantation of Ulster , baronets of England, Ireland, Great Britain or the United Kingdom ( i.e. all except baronets of Nova Scotia ) can display the Red Hand of Ulster ( sinister (left) hand version) as a heraldic badge , being the arms of the ancient kings of Ulster . This badge (or augmentation of honour) is blazoned as follows: Argent a Hand sinister couped at
3476-585: The barony of Cromarty. Following the Jacobite rising of 1745 , the government passed the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746 , returning the appointment of sheriffs to the crown in those cases where they had become hereditary positions, as had been the case for the Sheriff of Cromarty . The scope for a major landowner or clan chief to control the office of sheriff, which had been
3555-474: The commissioners of supply for the two counties were directed to work together on delivering some functions, notably relating to prisons. The county of Ross and Cromarty was created under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 , covering the combined area of the two former counties of Ross-shire and Cromartyshire. The new county came into being on the passing of the act on 26 August 1889, from when
3634-651: The county is Càrn Eighe at 1,183 metres (3,881 feet). The west coast of the mainland onto The Minch and Inner Sound (opposite Skye ), is heavily indented with sea lochs and peninsulas. From north to south the chief of these are the Coigach peninsula, Loch Broom , the Scoraig peninsula, Little Loch Broom , Gruinard Bay, Rubha Mòr peninsula, Loch Ewe , Rua Reidh/Melvaig peninsula, Loch Gairloch , Loch Torridon , Applecross peninsula , Loch Kishorn , Loch Carron , Lochalsh peninsula, Loch Long , Loch Duich and
3713-504: The county was officially called Ross and Cromarty, the names 'Ross County Council' and 'Ross-shire County Council' were both also used for its county council in the media. Ross and Cromarty County Council built itself a new headquarters at County Buildings in Dingwall in 1965. Local government was reformed in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 , which replaced Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts with
3792-548: The current wife of the incumbent baronet. She would not be "Lady Alice Bloggs", a style reserved for the daughters of dukes, marquesses and earls (and now Ladies Companion of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle without higher styles). The children of a baronet are not entitled to the use of any courtesy titles . In history, there have been only four baronetesses: In 1976, Lord Lyon King of Arms stated that, without examining
3871-406: The eastern coast close by the southern border with the parish of Fearn. Here, coastal cliffs rise from the shore to a height of around 200 feet (60 metres). In the west of the parish near Inver is Arboll , an area of scattered farms and the site of a former township or hamlet. Arboll is dissected by Arboll Burn, which forms the community council boundary at this point. At the last census (2011),
3950-459: The first half of the 19th century if the title holder was also a Knight Grand Cross of a Crown order. Baronets of Scotland or Nova Scotia were allowed to augment their armorial bearings with the Arms of Nova Scotia and the privilege of wearing a neck badge signifying "of Nova Scotia", suspended by an orange-tawny ribbon. This consists of an escutcheon argent with a saltire azure, an inescutcheon of
4029-435: The husband's (marital) surname only, this by longstanding courtesy. Wives of baronets are not baronetesses; only women holding baronetcies in their own right are so styled. Unlike knighthoods – which apply to the recipient only – a baronetcy is hereditarily entailed. The eldest son of a baronet who is born in wedlock succeeds to a baronetcy upon his father's death, but will not be officially recognised until his name
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#17327811365704108-576: The last five creations ( Dodds of West Chiltington , Redmayne of Rushcliffe , Pearson of Gressingham , Finlay of Epping and Thatcher of Scotney ). It showed the total number created from 1611 to 1964 to have been 3,482. They include five of Oliver Cromwell , several of which were recreated by Charles II . Twenty-five were created between 1688 and 1784 by James II in exile after his dethronement, by his son James Stuart ("The Old Pretender") and his grandson Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") . These "Jacobite baronetcies" were never accepted by
4187-411: The lowest of the nobiles majores , because their honour, like that of the higher nobility, is both hereditary and created by patent. Comparisons with continental titles and ranks are tenuous due to the British system of primogeniture and because claims to baronetcies must be proven; currently the Official Roll of the Baronetage is overseen by the Ministry of Justice . In practice this means that
4266-457: The major cause of Cromartyshire being separated from Ross-shire, was therefore greatly reduced. From 1748 the government merged the positions of Sheriff of Ross and Sheriff of Cromarty into a single position. Despite sharing a sheriff from 1748, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire remained legally separate counties. They retained separate Commissioners of Supply (established in 1667), and from 1794 each appointed their own lord-lieutenants . From 1860
4345-547: The most senior British chivalric orders of the Garter and the Thistle . Like all British knights, they are addressed as "Sir" (or "Dame" in the case of baronetesses). They are conventionally seen to belong to the lesser nobility, even though William Thoms claims that: The precise quality of this dignity is not yet fully determined, some holding it to be the head of the nobiles minores , while others, again, rank Baronets as
4424-509: The new council areas. The lieutenancy areas continue to be defined as they had been in 1975 despite the abolition of the districts on which they were based. The boundaries of the historic county of Ross and Cromarty (as it was following the 1891 boundary changes) are still used for some limited official purposes connected with land registration, being a registration county . In 1998 the Western Isles Council formally changed
4503-464: The parish east of the parish church, except the church and the Hillton enclave; (ii) Meikle Tarrel on the eastern coast. As a result, 1,160 hectares (2,870 acres) of the parish (over a third), known as the barony of Tarbat, were in the county of Cromarty-shire, before its amalgamation with Ross-shire. Ross and Cromarty Ross and Cromarty ( Scottish Gaelic : Ros agus Cromba ), is an area in
4582-608: The parts of Urray in Inverness-shire were transferred to the Inverness-shire parish of Kilmorack . These boundary changes (and others to eliminate exclaves in parish boundaries) took effect in 1891. Despite the creation of Ross and Cromarty in 1889, the Royal Mail used 'Ross-shire' as the name of the postal county for the mainland part of Ross and Cromarty, including the parts which had been in Cromartyshire. Postal counties were officially discontinued in 1996. Although
4661-476: The patent of every Scottish baronetcy, he was not in a position to confirm that only these four title creations could pass through female lines. As of 2020 , there are no living baronetesses. For a baronetess one should write, for example, "Dame Daisy Smith, Btss" on the envelope. At the head of the letter, one would write "Dear Dame Daisy", and to refer to her, one would say "Dame Daisy" or "Dame Daisy Smith" (never "Dame Smith"). All baronetcies are created with
4740-400: The population of the civil parish was 870. The area of the parish is 2,760 hectares (6,820 acres). Tarbat parish is also a Community Council area (excludes part of the parish next to Inver). Originally Pictish , Norse speakers were settled in Tarbat in the 10th century and the names Arboll and Bindal are of Norse origin. By 12th century, Gaelic predominated and remained predominant until
4819-419: The presentation of statistics. Following the 1891 boundary changes, the county of Ross and Cromarty contained the following civil parishes: The Kyle of Lochalsh railway line traverses the county west–east, terminating at Inverness . The Far North Line goes north–south along the east coast, connecting Inverness in the south with Thurso and Wick in the north. The Black Isle is connected by bridge to
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#17327811365704898-550: The previously separate commissioners of supply for each former county merged into a single body, and the last Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire , Kenneth Smith Mackenzie , became the first Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty . The act also established elected county councils, which came into effect in 1890, taking over most of the functions of the commissioners (which were eventually abolished in 1930). The new Ross and Cromarty County Council held its first official meeting on 8 May 1890 at Dingwall Sheriff Court , which had been built in
4977-464: The privilege of depicting the Arms of Nova Scotia as an augmentation of honour. The former applies to this day for all baronets of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom created subsequently. Like knights, baronets are accorded the style " Sir " before their first name. Baronetesses in their own right use " Dame ", also before their first name, while wives of baronets use " Lady " followed by
5056-472: The realm . Originally, all first baronets were knighted. Baronets also had other rights, including the right to have the eldest son knighted on his 21st birthday. However, at the beginning of George IV 's reign, these rights were eroded by orders-in-council on the ground that sovereigns should not necessarily be bound by acts of their predecessors. Although never having been automatically entitled to heraldic supporters , baronets were allowed them in heredity in
5135-413: The registration county (being the pre-1975 county) had a population of 77,382 at the 2011 census . The lieutenancy area (including Skye but excluding Lewis and Kincardine) had a population of 67,253. Parishes existed from medieval times. From 1845 to 1894 they had parish boards and from 1894 to 1930 they had parish councils. They have had no administrative functions since 1930, but continue to be used for
5214-459: The registration county includes the Isle of Lewis and Kincardine , which are not in the lieutenancy area, whereas the lieutenancy area includes the Isle of Skye , which is not in the registration county. The lieutenancy area is 8,019 square kilometres (3,096 square miles) in extent. The mainland part of Ross and Cromarty broadly corresponds to the ancient province of Ross . This area was claimed by
5293-400: The right of individual summons to Parliament , and was used in this sense in a statute of Richard II . A similar title of lower rank was banneret . Present-day baronets date from 1611 when James I granted letters patent to 200 gentlemen of good birth with an income of at least £1,000 a year (equivalent to £253,840 in 2023). ; in return for the honour, each was required to pay one pound
5372-476: The south-east Beauly Firth forms the border with Inverness-shire. The county contains numerous lochs, some of which have been enlarged to use as reservoirs. The larger inland lochs are: The county of Ross and Cromarty includes the northern parts of the Outer Hebrides , in particular the Isle of Lewis . Lewis is not an island on its own but forms part of the larger island of Lewis and Harris , which
5451-463: The southern border of the parish. The coast along the Dornoch Firth is about eight miles (thirteen kilometres) in length, while the Moray Firth coast is about seven miles (eleven kilometres). The latter coast has a rock-bound front, with progressively higher cliffs south of Rockfield , reaching 100–200 feet (30–60 metres). Along the Dornoch Firth the shore is not steep and near Inver the foreshore
5530-474: The summer, continuing on to Glasgow. Various independent bus companies link the smaller towns of Wester Ross, though online information is limited. A ferry connects Stornoway on Lewis with Ullapool on the mainland, taking about three hours. The county contains one airport - Stornoway - which provides passenger flights to destinations within Scotland as well as London Southend . The name Ross and Cromarty
5609-476: The viscount was made Earl of Cromartie, but the title Viscount Tarbat continued as the courtesy title of the earl’s eldest son. In 1698 Viscount Tarbat procured an Act of Parliament transferring the land he owned as Viscount Tarbat from the county of Ross-shire to that of Cromarty-shire (an earlier Act of 1685 to the same effect, in the reign of the deposed James VII , having been repealed). In Tarbat parish these were: (i) Easter Aird and Easter Tarbat comprising all
5688-681: The west coast of the mainland. Only three were inhabited at 2011, being Dry Island in Loch Gairloch , the Isle of Ewe in Loch Ewe , and Tanera Mòr in Loch Broom . The Isle of Skye and several of its smaller neighbouring islands form part of the Ross and Cromarty lieutenancy area, but they form part of the registration county and historic county of Inverness-shire. The main economic activities in Ross and Cromarty are crofting , fishing and tourism . The parishes which make up
5767-464: The west coast was the village of Ullapool . The county also covered parts of the Outer Hebrides , principally the Isle of Lewis , including the town of Stornoway . The neighbouring counties were Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975. Since then, the mainland has been part of the Highland region, which became
5846-518: The wrist extended in pale Gules . King James I of England established the hereditary Order of Baronets in England on 22 May 1611, in the words of Collins' Peerage (1741): "for the plantation and protection of the whole Kingdom of Ireland, but more especially for the defence and security of the Province of Ulster, and therefore for their distinction those of this order and their descendants may bear
5925-470: The younger sons of peers. Secondly, the right of knighthood was established for the eldest sons of baronets (this was later revoked by George IV in 1827), and thirdly, baronets were allowed to augment their armorial bearings with the Arms of Ulster on an inescutcheon : "in a field Argent, a Hand Geules (or a bloudy hand)". These privileges were extended to baronets of Ireland, and for baronets of Scotland
6004-526: Was created baronet of Tarbat in the County of Ross in 1628. When he died in 1654, at Castle Tarbat (i.e. Ballone Castle), he was succeeded by his son, Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet who was a prominent statesman and judge (including as Secretary of State from 1702 to 1704). In 1685, George Mackenzie was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord MacLeod and Castlehaven and Viscount of Tarbat . In 1703
6083-448: Was based at the former county council's headquarters at County Buildings in Dingwall. Throughout the district's existence from 1975 to 1996, a majority of the seats were held by independent councillors. Further local government reforms in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with single-tier council areas . The former Highland region became one of
6162-663: Was first used for the Ross and Cromarty county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1983. As created in 1832, the constituency merged two former county constituencies : the Ross-shire constituency and the Cromartyshire constituency , and it elected a Member of Parliament to represent the counties of Ross-shire and Cromartyshire , minus their parliamentary burghs , Dingwall , Tain and Fortrose , which were represented as components of
6241-413: Was therefore still responsible for most of Ross. The position of Sheriff of Dingwall did not endure. After a couple of abortive attempts, the rest of Ross was eventually separated from Inverness-shire in 1661, being given its own Sheriff of Ross and becoming Ross-shire. The interests of landowners led to some variations in the 1661 definition of Ross-shire from the old province of Ross. In particular,
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