Town Centre Tolbooth Tain Ross and Cromarty Highland Region
The centre of Tain is dominated by the massive and imposing tower of its tolbooth. This was first built in 1630 to house court offices and a jail, and to collect tolls and taxes from traders. However in 1656 Cromwell's troops were quartered in Tain, damaging large parts of it and causing most of the resident population to flee. The Royal Burgh of Tain sits on the shores of the Dornoch Firth about 10 miles north east of Invergordon. The town received its Royal Charter in 1066, making it the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland. Tain was the birthplace of St Duthac and his relics were returned after his death in Ireland. A chapel built in his name became a place of pilgrimage and sanctuary. The wife, daughters and sisters of King Robert the Bruce took refuge there in 1307 but ignoring the chapel's sanctuary, the Earl of Ross handed them over to the English. An imposing sight in Tain is the Tollbooth which was built as a prison and safe house for the Burgh Charters and arms. During the Highland clearances of the 19th century the Tollbooth was used as an administration centre.
Size: 3733px × 5620px
Location: Town Centre Tolbooth Tain Ross and Cromarty Highland Region Scotland
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1066, 1630, architechure, architecture, blue, britain, building, built, burgh, centre, charter, church, confirmed, construction, design, distillery, dominant, easter, exempt, explore, glenmorangie, granted, great, highlands, iii, immunity, impressive, interest, king, malcolm, merchants, oldest, places, protection, resident, ross, royal, sanctuary, scotland, scottish, sky, stone, sunshine, tain, taxes, tolbooth, town, traders, travel, types, uk, whiskey
