A Timeline of Inverness

By Tim Lambert

Early 12th Century King David makes Inverness a royal burgh

Late 12th Century King William the Lion grants Inverness charters confirming the townspeople’s rights

1220 Inverness is a busy port. There are also many fishermen in the town.

1223 A Dominican friary is founded in Inverness

1411 The Lord of the Isles burns part of Inverness

1429 Inverness is partly burned again

1591 Inverness is still a flourishing port and town. It is granted a new charter called the Golden Charter.

c 1593 Abertarff House is built

1668 Dunbar’s Hospital is built by Provost Alexander Dunbar

1726 Balnain House is built

1732 Citadel Quay is built

1746 Inverness Castle is captured by the Jacobites. Later government forces use mines to destroy the castle.

1775 The first bank opens in Inverness

1789 The Court House is built

1792 Inverness Academy is built

1804 The Royal Northern Infirmary opens

1808 Inverness gains its first newspaper

1817 Thornbush Quay is built

1822 The Caledonian Canal is built

1834 West Church is built

1855 The railway reaches Inverness

1869 St Andrew’s Cathedral is built

1879 Infirmary Bridge is built

1882 The Town House is built

1883 A public library opens in Inverness

1921 Inverness has a population of 21,000. The British cabinet meets in Inverness.

1962 A new Ness Bridge is built

1976 Eden Court Theatre opens

1982 Kessock Bridge is built

2000 Inverness is made a city

2003 The Eastgate Centre is enlarged