Former owners of Moravian Press donate original photographs of Forres in late 1800s to Forres Heritage Trust
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A CHANCE conversation in a neighbouring town has led to a trip back in time via a donation of local photographs.
A few weeks ago, while playing at Moray Golf Club, retired Forres architect Tom Duff was informed by the son of Lossiemouth couple Joan and Douglas Grant, former owners of the Moravian Press in Elgin, that they were making old pictures of Forres available.
Tom contacted Ray Mills of Forres Heritage Trust (FHT), who was delighted with the donations and gratefully added them to their archive of 7000.
Mr Mills confirmed two large sepia prints are of the ‘Riding of the Marches’ ceremony in 1898, taken by late 19th century photographer R. Stewart of Elgin.
Since the 15th century, town magistrates and the town council would annually inspect the town’s march stones (boundary stones) to see if there was any encroachment by local landowners. In later years this ceremony was more of a pleasant recreation, mixed with a degree of solemnity and good feeling.
A third picture is of Forres Mechanics FC, North of Scotland Qualifying Cup champions for season 1899-1900, taken at a studio in Aberdeen. While another still is of Forres St Lawrence Cricket Club, North of Scotland League champions in 1903, pictured at Roysvale Park.
Mr Mills said: “The two sporting pictures have a gentleman seated in the centre, wearing an international cap on his head. It was thought that this was perhaps Forres’ famous benefactor Sir Alexander Grant.
“However, research in old Elgin Courant and Forres Gazette archives uncovered that it was in fact another Alexander Grant - the grandfather of Douglas Grant, who had also previously owned the Moravian Press three generations ago.
“At one time, he was captain of both the ‘Cans’ and the ‘Saints’. He received an SFA cap for representing the North of Scotland in inter-county trials, and a cricket cap for representing a North select against Louis Hall’s English team.
“When Alexander left Forres to work in Leith, he was honoured at a presentation in the Town Hall/Mechanics’ Institute by his peers, where he received an inscribed gold Albert watch, with other keepsakes.”
The Courant newspapers used for research were from May, August and October 1894. The Forres Gazettes were dated from February and September 1894. The research was carried out online via the British Newspaper Archives.
Mr Mills explained that there have been many donations to FHT over the years, sometimes just a single photograph, at other times a collection of 500. Most contributors bring them in during FHT’s Historic Photograph Exhibitions at the Tolbooth in May and September.
He said: “We are delighted with the most recent donations! They were delivered with six copies of Alex Fraser’s 1989 ‘A Glimpse of Forres of Yesteryear’, a copy of JB Ritchie’s 1932 ‘The Pageant of Morayland’ and a pen and ink sketch of Forres High Street by J Henderson, published by P. Macdonald, Elgin in 1855.
“A Glimpse of Forres of Yesteryear was compiled by local butcher, and member of Forres Camera Club, Alex Fraser in 1989. It was published by Moravian Press of Elgin and has 52 pages of fantastic history and old photographs of Forres.
“It was followed up in 1996 by a further production called ‘A Closer Look at Forres of Yesteryear’.”
Forres Heritage Trust is officially illuminating the Tolbooth, Mercat Cross and Nelson’s Tower On Saturday, January 13 at 6pm.
