Caithness, 1925 - Wick

Caithness, 1925 - Wick

ID: QZP40_CAITHNESS 1925-26_56001_023 DESCRIPTION: From a book of photographs of Caithness, compiled by Herbert Sinclair and published in the mid-1920s. It shows Bridge Street, Wick taken from the Commercial Hotel end window. The photographer comments on the people waiting for a Gymkhana procession and the Merry-Go-Rounds in the background. He mentions that in years past part of the famous Pinder-Ord circus used to visit Wick. The area where the merry-go-rounds were situated is referred to in the photograph as the 'Bleaching Green.' A bleaching green was a grassy area usually near a wash house where the linen would be laid out in the sun to dry and bleach. In this photograph clothing can still be seen hanging out in the sun. This area in Wick is now home to a supermarket car park and riverside walk. A Royal Burgh from 1589, the town of Wick has even more ancient origins, as shown by its name which comes from the Norse 'Vic', the word for bay. It lies on the north east coast of Scotland 19 miles south of John o' Groats. PLACENAME: Wick OLD COUNTY/PARISH: CAITHNESS: Wick CREATOR (AV): Herbert Sinclair DATE OF IMAGE: 1925 PERIOD: 1920s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Caithness 1925 Asset ID: 31858 KEYWORDS: