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Thurso
 
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Highland Council Local Plan For Thurso    

Thurso is a long established town with origins dating back to Viking times when it was an important Norse settlement, the major gateway to mainland Scotland.  It later grew to become a market town and was noted for its trade with Scandinavian and Baltic ports from as early as the 14th century.

The importance of this trade is underlined by the fact that King David 2nd decreed that the Caithness pound weight should be the standard for all Scotland.  In the 17th and 18th centuries Thurso enjoyed a considerable export trade in meal, beef, hides and fish as the local fishing resources became more fully exploited .  In the early 19th century with the growth of the Caithness flagstone industry, Thurso regularly exported cargoes of paving stones throughout Britain and the continent. 

Situated on the Pentland Firth in the beautiful sheltered Thurso Bay it is the most northerly town on the Scottish mainland.  The bay sweeps from Holborn Head in the west to Dunnet Head in the east.  Thurso has a fine harbour and beach and looks out over the Firth to the Orkney Island of Hoy and the famous towering Old Man of Hoy (A stac of rock standing out from the main island).

Thurso River Walk - 29 September 2013

Walk From Ellan Bride, Thurso - 25 August 2013

The Pennyland Mausoleum at Victoria Walk, Thurso


Summer Days

Thurso River Walk 5 April 2002

Pump Station

Thurso River 16 February 2002
New Thurso A - Z Street List

Winter  - by Paul Cannop

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Fountain erected 1894 by 
Son of Sir George Sinclair

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Bridge - Thurso River

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Britsh Legion Building

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13 January 2001 1.00pm

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Bank Of Scotland


Jubilee Pigeons

 

Thurso Bay Raft Race
2003
2002
2000

Daffodils 2003
Ormlie Drive
Farmacres


New Weigh Inn


The Meadow Well


Marine Inn


Thurso Wind Sock!!!


Aerial Views Of Thurso


Royal Hotel

A Short Thurso Walk

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Main road through Thurso


Thurso's Cinema
in Olrig Road

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Thurso War Memorial
1914 - 1918
1939 - 1945


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Sir George Sinclair of Ulbster
28/8/1790 - 9/10/1868
Was MP for the area.

Sir John's Square has an attractive ornamental garden given to the town by Sir Tollemache Sinclair in memory of his grandfather Sir John, a prominent local nobleman whose many achievements included the compilation of the First Statistical Account of Scotland and the pioneering of agricultural reforms in Caithness.  A statue to his memory stands in the middle of the square.

At the junction of Traill Street and Manson's Lane a small round building covers the Meadow Well- in former years the source of the town's main domestic water supply.

Caithness Horizons
Open to the public all year round with a series of features designed to bring to life the history of Thurso.  A collection of the plant and fossil specimens gathered by the remarkable 19th century naturalist Robert Dick.

Old St Peter's Kirk
The church is believed to date from the 12th century or even earlier, although the present structure dates mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries.  Of particular note is the well preserved stone tracery in the window of the south transept (beside the road).

Thurso library.  It is a venue for travelling and locally produced exhibitions, often with items for sale.

Harald's Tower
This is the eighteenth century burial place of the Sinclair's of Ulbster.  The tower reputedly stands on the spot where Harald the Younger fell in the battle of Claredon in 1196.

Snow in Thurso 27 December 2000
Thurso Fayre Christmas Pictures 2 Dec 2000
More Thurso Fayre and Lights Switch On 2 Dec 2000

Click Here for more pictures of Thurso
Down Your Way Page for pictures of where folks live. 
Thurso Raft Race 2000
A Few Thurso Gala Pictures August 2000
Many more Gala Pictures in the Photo Gallery
For schools, churches and all sorts of organisations go to the Community Pages

If you are looking for details of businesses in the Thurso area use the Business Index or use the search engine  which is being regularly updated for our site.

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