The Highland Archive Centre preserves the official records of The Highland Council and its predecessor authorities, including the former Regional, County, District and Burgh Councils. A summary of our main holdings is outlined below. You can also search our online catalogue for more detailed information.
Local Government Records
- County records for Inverness, Nairn, Ross and Cromarty, and Sutherland (18th century–1975)
- Burgh records for Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Fortrose, Grantown on Spey, Invergordon, Inverness, Kingussie, Nairn and Tain (14th century–1975)
- Highland Regional Council records (1975–1996)
Key Record Series
- Education records from the 1860s, including school logbooks and admission registers for over 300 schools
- Poor relief records (1845–1930)
- Road and transport records, including turnpike trust papers (1804–1890)
- Property valuation rolls (1868–1989)
- Building control and Dean of Guild plans and registers (1890–1975)
- Inverness court records, including High Court and Sheriff Court papers (17th–19th centuries)
- Abridgements of Sasines for several Highland counties (from 1781)
- Police archives (1858–1992)
Privately Deposited Collections
In addition to official records, we hold hundreds of privately deposited collections, including:
- Estate and family papers such as Baillie of Dunain (from 1705) and Munro of Novar (from 1670)
- Business and industrial records, including the Caledonian Canal (from 1800)
- Church records, including kirk session and presbytery records (c.1640 onwards)
- Inverness District Asylum records, including patient and staff registers (from 1863)
- Records of individuals, societies, and community organisations
- Collections relating to the history of tartan
- Maps and plans, including estate maps, Roy’s Military Survey, and Ordnance Survey plans (from the 1860s)
For further details on privately deposited archives, please see our Deposited Index.
Donate to our Archives
The Archive Service preserves, conserves and makes accessible over 700 years of Highland history. There is no charge to visit our Archive Centres and access the collections we hold, but High Life Highland is a charity and we rely on your donations.
