High Street from the east, Tain

High Street from the east, Tain

ID: QZP40_CARD_1188 DESCRIPTION: A view of the High Street in Tain, looking towards the Royal Hotel at the end of it. The building with the spires to the right of the hotel is the Tolbooth, built between 1706 and 1733 as the administrative centre for the town. On the near right of the photograph, beyond the Post Office, is the Murray Monument, erected in 1879 to the memory of Kenneth Murray of Geanies, a provost of Tain. Located on the southern shores of the Dornoch Firth, Tain claims to be Scotland's oldest royal burgh. The origin of the name 'Tain' is uncertain but the town's Gaelic name 'Baile Dhubhthaich' indicates its links with Duthus or Duthac, an early medieval saint who was born there. According to tradition, Tain was granted its first trading privileges by Malcolm Canmore in 1066. Its privileges were later confirmed by James VI in 1587 and extended by Charles II in 1675. Tain's burgh status meant that its merchants were exempt from paying certain types of taxes and Tain flourished as a market town for the whole surrounding area. Today, Tain remains a thriving town with a population of around 4000. PLACENAME: Tain OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Tain CREATOR (AV): J Valentine & Co. PERIOD: 1950s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 33111 KEYWORDS: