Room 3
Past Life
“Until the now demolished 1961 extension was opened, this was the school library. This room then became Room 36 for the teaching of English”
– Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Some explanatory text here blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Future Life
This room will become a bright and inspiring space for creative industries spaces to flourish. bf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here rbf iywefg fguifgiu fkuhfgvih3 gfukh3ig fbf rek er here r
Rent this Room
Creative or cultural business? Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Sponsor Us
Help us to deliver the largest creative hub in the Highlands! By becoming a supporter of Inverness Creative Academy you will invest in the future of Midmills, the city and the wider Highlands:
- Retaining and attracting talent in the region
- Creating a vibrant city centre where people want to live, work and socialise
- Supporting Scotland’s best new artists in a collaborative, inspiring new home
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
Room 1
“The school secretaries’ office, just inside the front door. Miss McGill worked as a secretary there from 1929 until she retired in 1969. Louise Munro, well known in local drama circles, joined in 1969 and herself retired in the early 2000s.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Sponsor Us
Help us to deliver the largest creative hub in the Highlands!
By becoming a supporter of Inverness Creative Academy you will invest in the future of Midmills, the city and the wider Highlands:
- Retaining and attracting talent in the region
- Creative a vibrant city centre where people want to live, work, and socialise
- Supporting Scotland’s best new artists in a collaborative, inspiring new home.
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
Rent this Room
Creative or cultural business?
Phase 2 will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Room 4
“This was an English room which, until he became Head of Department and moved upstairs, was occupied by Eddie Hutcheon.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Sponsor Us
Help us to deliver the largest creative hub in the Highlands!
By becoming a supporter of Inverness Creative Academy you will invest in the future of Midmills, the city and the wider Highlands:
- Retaining and attracting talent in the region
- Creative a vibrant city centre where people want to live, work, and socialise
- Supporting Scotland’s best new artists in a collaborative, inspiring new home
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
More info here (insert link)
Rent this Room
Creative or cultural business?
Phase 2 will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Register your interest here (insert link)
Staircase
Room 13B
In 1913, the Inverness Royal Academy building was substantially extended with the construction of a new building for the increasingly popular science and art subjects for which the school was becoming renowned. This building was designed by Robert Macbeth and was completed after his death in 1912. This room was originally designed as one large science lab – a key requirement at the time. You can see archive photographs of this space taken by local photographer Andrew Paterson in ‘More Photography’. The room is now divided into two spaces.
“Room 17, a Chemistry lab which had various occupants over the years. It was the epicentre of the Chemistry Department’s contribution to a big Science Fair which was held in 1966. Its last occupant was Margaret Murray who was a pioneer Principal Teacher of Guidance in the 1970s.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
In these rooms is:
Art Department from Inverness College UHI
Room 14
Inverness College was based at Midmills for over 30 years, before moving to its new site at Inverness Campus in August 2015. One of the college’s legacies in the building is the darkroom.
“The new Inverness Darkroom sits almost on the same spot as the first ever ‘teaching’ darkroom in the Highlands, which was created in 1948 by Fred Hardley when it was occupied by Inverness Royal Academy. In turn the Inverness College art department created a modern darkroom in the building around 2003. So, the current darkroom is the 3rd to be built, and we are carrying on a now long established photographic tradition!
It is fitting that Wasps’ Inverness Creative Academy now hosts working artists, a dedicated community of photographers and students from the UHI – carrying on the creative enterprise begun by Fred Hardley in 1948.“
Matt Sillars
“Room 18 was another Chemistry lab. Its occupant for many years was another alliteratively nicknamed staff member – ‘Hairy Hugh’ MacDonald. Hugh could sometimes get a bit confused himself, especially when new methods of naming organic compounds were introduced in the late 1960s. On one occasion a demonstration experiment went badly wrong and when somebody laughed Hugh, who had a heart condition, went crimson and totally apoplectic, invoking serious concern for his health.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
The Inverness Darkroom opened in February 2019 at Inverness Creative Academy and is a community workspace with 8 enlargers and black & white film processing facilities. They run regular workshops and membership of the darkroom is affordable and flexible with options to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
Assemply Hall
This striking room, a double height space featuring exposed beams and beautiful ironwork, was the heart of Ross & Macbeth’s original design of the building. It was the Assembly Hall where all pupils gathered every morning in front of the rector for prayers. One rector, Donald John MacDonald (1944 – 1962), would enter from behind the velvet curtains to give his morning address. Click the ‘Interview’ button to hear more from past pupil Will Maclean.
This room remained the Assembly Hall until 1961; it was turned into the school library when a building extension created a new assembly hall. Partitions were erected around the now-library to enclose the space,and to create corridors to afford access to the various rooms around it.
“It wasn’t uncommon for younger boys standing at the front to faint during “Prayers” and be carried away from the proceedings. This was the biggest space in the school until 1961 and, before the new hall, it was also the setting for the likes of school dances and dramatic productions, with the “stage” being the open space where the two sets of stairs divided to serve the upper floor. It was at Prayers one morning in 1956 that D J MacDonald “arraigned” (his description) some senior boys for placing a false advert for an assistant janitor in the Courier which led to a queue of 70 applicants attending the school at the published time.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
The school’s War Memorials were also located in the Assembly Hall. The WW1 memorial – a large wooden structure with an inscription of the names of 83 soldiers who lost their lives carved into the centre, and the names of all who served painted on its outer wings – cost a substantial £300 in 1921. The Assembly Hall was home to this memorial until 1979, when it was moved to the successive Culduthel buildings.
Sponsor Us
The Assembly Hall has been at the heart of these buildings from the very beginning, and remain so to this day, as Wasps Inverness Creative Academy. Over the decades, this striking Victorian space has played host to robed Rectors of Inverness Royal Academy – who would emerge from velvet curtains to lecture at the podium, primary school nativities on the grand staircase opposite and everything in between. This space truly is a celebration of education, arts and culture in Inverness, and the theatre therein.
Over the years, modern partitioning and alterations have obscured the space and covered the finer details of the building’s interior. To restore this magnificent space to it’s former glory, Wasps is tearing down the ‘70s partitioning, polishing the decorative ironwork, and mending the parquet flooring to create an impressive focal point of Inverness Creative Academy, the brand new creative centre for the Highlands in 2021.
Wasps are thrilled to be leading the next stage of Midmills history, restoring the Assembly Hall for the benefit of generations to come. We have just £500,000 left to raise to complete this remarkable project and you can be part of it. The Assembly Hall is a treasure trove of historic detailing and school-day memories, and there are a range of opportunities to help us deliver this project at a level which suits you.
Join other fantastic supporters including The Foyle Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust and The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, to help us transform Midmills into Inverness Creative Academy, and keep these iconic buildings at the forefront of cultural life in the Highlands.
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
Gym Hall
Gymnasium (1913, Arts and Science Extension)
The Gymnasium Hall is an integral space of any school; this room, part of the 1913 extension, was designed with climbing bars, and ropes which folded out from the walls and locked into the floor. The Gym Hall led to changing rooms at either end, one for the boys and one for girls, and more unusually – it also featured a first floor balcony.
Later, in the ‘60sit was referred to as ‘the boys’ gym’; at this point it also became the venue for the school dances! Click ‘Interview’ to hear past pupils Peggy Mackintosh and Christine Gilsenan talk about their memories of the dances held here.
In the renovation to create Inverness Creative Academy, Wasps first encountered this space as an ordinary looking hall with lowered ceilings, scuffed and painted floors, and various disregarded pieces of college furniture. From old photographs, which you can see by clicking ‘More Photographs’, and some investigative help from the local heritage community, the completed renovation revealed a stunning events space, with high ceilings, exposed beams and feature lighting.
“From 1951 until he retired in 1977, this was the province of Bill Murray, Head of PE, who did a huge amount of extracurricular work in rugby and athletics but had no great liking for football which never featured in his games classes and other staff members took school teams. This gym, as boys’ (but seemingly not girls’) gyms tend to do, had a constant, horrible smell hanging about it which didn’t seem to improve after showers were installed in the adjoining changing rooms.
Bill Murray’s assistants included Alastair “Chunky” Hamilton who succeeded him in 1977 and before that, Inverness sporting legend and Freeman Colin Baillie who had the ability to strike fear into the hearts of even the boldest of Sixth Year boys.
Outside the gym in the mid 60s there used to stand a wooden cupboard where the peripatetic junior member of the Geography Department, later its Head, Robert Preece used to keep his materials. In his early years, Robert was known as “Rupert” and the senior boys used to stick Rupert The Bear cartoons on the cupboard which they also used to turn upside down.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Interview 1 (audio)
A short audio clip from Peggy Mackintosh (known as Peggy MacLeod in school) from the Isle of Raasay near Skye. Her Father was the bootmaker on Raasay and you’ll hear reference to herself as ‘Peggy Shoemaker’ in this clip.
Peggy came to the Academy in 1944 aged only 12 and a half. She had only left Raasay once before to have her appendix removed in Broadford Hospital a few months prior to her departure. She describes her journey to Inverness as ‘difficult’. Her father was by her side and they travelled by boat, then train, it was her first ever train journey.
Balcony
This upper walkway provides an open view of the main assembly space and features detailed iron work railings. Once Phase 2 of the Wasps development is complete this area will become a public gallery space to view artwork.
“Room 14 which was at the top of the left hand divide of the stairs. From it led “The Bridge” which was a linking section across to Room 13 at the other stairhead. This was part of a one way system introduced to reduce traffic problems between periods.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Sponsor Us
Wasps are thrilled to be leading the next stage of Midmills history, restoring the Assembly Hall for the benefit of generations to come. We have just £500,000 left to raise to complete this remarkable project and you can be part of it. The Assembly Hall is a treasure trove of historic detailing and school-day memories, and there are a range of opportunities to help us deliver this project at a level which suits you.
Join other fantastic supporters including The Foyle Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust and The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, to help us transform Midmills into Inverness Creative Academy, and keep these iconic buildings at the forefront of cultural life in the Highlands.
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
More info here (insert link)
Room 37
This small space was once open onto the main gym hall on the first floor, the balcony formed as viewing area and performance stage for bands during the school dance.
It later became toilets and now Wasps have removed the false ceiling and opened it up to on of the most intriguing studio spaces.
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
http://wasps.virtualviser.org/?p=580(opens in a new tab)
In this room is: David Fallows
Corridor
In the historic photograph we have from the Andrew Paterson Collection you can see that this corridor formed a gallery with marble busts on display. Within the original drawing by architect Robert Macbeth there were three light wells surrounded by railings which would have flooded the corridor downstairs with light as well as upper floor windows into the double height gym hall space. These are also visible in the historic photograph as well as one of the overhead cupolas. The three cupolas in this corridor were replaced by Wasps in 2018 as part of the regeneration work.
The corridor was adapted by Inverness College, the light wells were removed and a long room with an unusual sloping wall was included, this is now an artists studio. In 2018 Wasps introduced lift access to this corridor making more of the building accessible.
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
In this room is:
Phoebe Roze (insert link)
https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/creatives/phoebe-roze/
Sharon Scobbie (insert link)
Room 29
“Room 23, the large Music room. Lawrence Rogers – known as Boosey, a reference to the music publisher rather than to drink – became Head of Music in 1941 and continued until Ian Bowman took over in the early 1960s. Boosey was no disciplinarian and tended to be run ragged by pupils. Mild mannered, thick spectacled and another eccentric, he used to cycle to school with his briefcase slung over the bar of his bike.
In the 60s, the other music teacher was Ian Seeley who used to beat out rhythms with spoons on a desk. If you didn’t pay attention, you were likely to get a “taffatiffy” on your head.
By the early 70s, when Anne MacIntyre succeeded Ian Bowman, the school’s copies of Handel’s Messiah were very well worn indeed and were supplemented by The Pirates Of Penzance.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Interview
A short audio clip from Dave Conner (past Inverness Royal Academy pupil) and Robert Preece (past Inverness Royal Academy Geography teacher and now School Archivist) discussing their memories of
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
In this room is: Code Clan (insert link) https://codeclan.com/campuses/highlands/
Room 34
This room was originally for art and called the ‘higher drawing room’ on Robert Macbeth’s architectural plan. In the photographs there is an archive image taken by Andrew Paterson when this extension opened in 1913.
“Room 28 which was the Head of Art’s room, occupied between the late 1920s and the late 1960s by “Jake” Johnstone, followed by Jim Selbie.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
In this room is: John Nicolson (insert link)
https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/creatives/john-nicholson/
Sheena Mitchell (insert link)
https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/creatives/sheena-mitchell/
Cat Meighan, Kirsten Body, Lorna Campbel (Circus collective)
Room 35
This room was originally for art and called the ‘modeling room’ on Robert Macbeth’s architectural plan. It later became a science classroom housing the Head of Biology. The adjoining smaller classroom that Charles mentions below now housed a staircase.
“Room 30, occupied by the Head of Biology Bob Wright, known as “Bobbuck”, followed by Archie Fraser. In between 34 and 35 is a space which accommodated another very small Biology room, Room 29, the last occupant of which was Jenny MacKintosh.“
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
In this room is:
Izzy Thomson
https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/creatives/izzy-thomson/
Yelena Visemirska
https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/creatives/yelena-visemirska/
Martin Irish
Room 23
“Room 8. This small room was used for a variety of purposes, including the teaching of German, Spanish and Russian. Miss Clark was the German teacher for some years.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Sponsor Us – from Claire
Help us to deliver the largest creative hub in the Highlands!
By becoming a supporter of Inverness Creative Academy you will invest in the future of Midmills, the city and the wider Highlands:
- Retaining and attracting talent in the region
- Creative a vibrant city centre where people want to live, work, and socialise
- Supporting Scotland’s best new artists in a collaborative, inspiring new home
Rent this Room
Creative or cultural business?
Phase 2 will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Register your interest here (insert link)
Peach Room
As you walk up the front steps towards Inverness Creative Academy, the large corner rooms you can see at the front of the original building were designed for the Principal teachers. This one, on the left of the building, and affectionately known as “the peach room” by Wasps team, was occupied by the Head of English at Inverness Royal Academy.
Known as ‘Room 7’, it was occupied by Jacob “Fritz” Mowat (1944 – 1968) and later on Eddie Hutcheon from 1968, whose various activities included running football teams and being manager of the successful ‘Television Top of The Form’ team in 1970. Click ‘Interview’ to hear Inverness Royal Academy past pupil Dave Conner and former teacher Robert Preece talk more about Eddie.
“Fritz was a Shetlander and had an almost impenetrable accent, which many took to be German, hence the nickname. He arrived in 1944 and later became the Head of History until the subjects parted in the early 1960s. He was extremely forgetful and quite capable of failing to turn up for a class or to appear in the wrong room. He was also prone to issuing instructions such as “You boy, at the front behind… move to the seat on the left next to the one on the right” and any girl from the Western Isles was always called “Morag”.
In the 1950s, Miss Edith Young was HM Chief Inspector of Schools for the local area and school records hint at a fawning institutional sycophancy towards a woman who was eternally deferred to and was constantly invited to attend prize givings, school dances and just about anything else where she might be humoured. One visit to the school resulted in a less than complimentary report on the English Department. Fritz’s response was to head down to the hostelries of Eastgate to drown his sorrows… before coming back up the hill, standing outside Miss Young’s house in Broadstone Park and lambasting her loud and long from her front gate!”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Interview
A short audio clip from Dave Conner (past Inverness Royal Academy pupil) and Robert Preece (past Inverness Royal Academy Geography teacher and School Archivist) discussing their memories of
Eddie Hutcheon, Head of English from 1968.
Sponsor Us
Want to do something to commemorate your old days in the English department? As Wasps complete Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy there will be opportunities to get involved at a level which suits you – get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and we will work with you to try and make them happen.
To talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
If you’d like a sneak preview of this space, or to relive some memories of school-day hijinks with your ex classmates, supporting Wasps will give you privileged access to one of the most exciting new developments in the Highlands, the great spaces, great company and great art within its walls.
As we complete Phase 2 there will be opportunities to get involved at a gift level which suits you – get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and we will work with you to try and make them happen.
Contact Claire claire@waspsstudios.org.uk to discuss options to support Wasps in completing Inverness Creative Academy.
Rent this Room
Are you a creative or cultural business?
Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Room 3
Past Life
“Until the now demolished 1961 extension was opened, this was the school library. This room then became Room 36 for the teaching of English”
– Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Some explanatory text here blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Future Life
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Rent this Room
Creative or cultural business? Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.
Sponsor Us
Help us to deliver the largest creative hub in the Highlands! By becoming a supporter of Inverness Creative Academy you will invest in the future of Midmills, the city and the wider Highlands:
- Retaining and attracting talent in the region
- Creating a vibrant city centre where people want to live, work and socialise
- Supporting Scotland’s best new artists in a collaborative, inspiring new home
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
ASSEMBLY HALL
PEACH ROOM
GYM HALL
DARKROOM
Map for Mobile and Tablet
Assembly Hall
This striking room, a double height space featuring exposed beams and beautiful ironwork, was the heart of Ross & Macbeth’s original design of the building. It was the Assembly Hall where all pupils gathered every morning in front of the rector for prayers. One rector, Donald John MacDonald (1944 – 1962), would enter from behind the velvet curtains to give his morning address. Click the ‘Interview’ button to hear more from past pupil Will Maclean.
This room remained the Assembly Hall until 1961; it was turned into the school library when a building extension created a new assembly hall. Partitions were erected around the now-library to enclose the space,and to create corridors to afford access to the various rooms around it.
“It wasn’t uncommon for younger boys standing at the front to faint during “Prayers” and be carried away from the proceedings. This was the biggest space in the school until 1961 and, before the new hall, it was also the setting for the likes of school dances and dramatic productions, with the “stage” being the open space where the two sets of stairs divided to serve the upper floor. It was at Prayers one morning in 1956 that D J MacDonald “arraigned” (his description) some senior boys for placing a false advert for an assistant janitor in the Courier which led to a queue of 70 applicants attending the school at the published time.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
The school’s War Memorials were also located in the Assembly Hall. The WW1 memorial – a large wooden structure with an inscription of the names of 83 soldiers who lost their lives carved into the centre, and the names of all who served painted on its outer wings – cost a substantial £300 in 1921. The Assembly Hall was home to this memorial until 1979, when it was moved to the successive Culduthel buildings. See a picture of the memorial by clicking ‘More Photographs’.
Sponsor Us
The Assembly Hall has been at the heart of these buildings from the very beginning, and remain so to this day, as Wasps Inverness Creative Academy. Over the decades, this striking Victorian space has played host to robed Rectors of Inverness Royal Academy – who would emerge from velvet curtains to lecture at the podium, primary school nativities on the grand staircase opposite and everything in between. This space truly is a celebration of education, arts and culture in Inverness, and the theatre therein.
Over the years, modern partitioning and alterations have obscured the space and covered the finer details of the building’s interior. To restore this magnificent space to it’s former glory, Wasps is tearing down the ‘70s partitioning, polishing the decorative ironwork, and mending the parquet flooring to create an impressive focal point of Inverness Creative Academy, the brand new creative centre for the Highlands in 2021.
Wasps are thrilled to be leading the next stage of Midmills history, restoring the Assembly Hall for the benefit of generations to come. We have just £500,000 left to raise to complete this remarkable project and you can be part of it. The Assembly Hall is a treasure trove of historic detailing and school-day memories, and there are a range of opportunities to help us deliver this project at a level which suits you.
Join other fantastic supporters including The Foyle Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust and The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, to help us transform Midmills into Inverness Creative Academy, and keep these iconic buildings at the forefront of cultural life in the Highlands.
You can help to support Wasps in Inverness throughout the year; to talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
Gym Hall
Gymnasium (1913, Arts and Science Extension)
The Gymnasium Hall is an integral space of any school; this room, part of the 1913 extension, was designed with climbing bars, and ropes which folded out from the walls and locked into the floor. The Gym Hall led to changing rooms at either end, one for the boys and one for girls, and more unusually – it also featured a first floor balcony.
Later, in the ‘60sit was referred to as ‘the boys’ gym’; at this point it also became the venue for the school dances! Click ‘Interview’ to hear past pupils Peggy Mackintosh and Christine Gilsenan talk about their memories of the dances held here.
In the renovation to create Inverness Creative Academy, Wasps first encountered this space as an ordinary looking hall with lowered ceilings, scuffed and painted floors, and various disregarded pieces of college furniture. From old photographs, which you can see by clicking ‘More Photographs’, and some investigative help from the local heritage community, the completed renovation revealed a stunning events space, with high ceilings, exposed beams and feature lighting.
“From 1951 until he retired in 1977, this was the province of Bill Murray, Head of PE, who did a huge amount of extracurricular work in rugby and athletics but had no great liking for football which never featured in his games classes and other staff members took school teams. This gym, as boys’ (but seemingly not girls’) gyms tend to do, had a constant, horrible smell hanging about it which didn’t seem to improve after showers were installed in the adjoining changing rooms.
Bill Murray’s assistants included Alastair “Chunky” Hamilton who succeeded him in 1977 and before that, Inverness sporting legend and Freeman Colin Baillie who had the ability to strike fear into the hearts of even the boldest of Sixth Year boys.
Outside the gym in the mid 60s there used to stand a wooden cupboard where the peripatetic junior member of the Geography Department, later its Head, Robert Preece used to keep his materials. In his early years, Robert was known as “Rupert” and the senior boys used to stick Rupert The Bear cartoons on the cupboard which they also used to turn upside down.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Interview 1 (audio)
A short audio clip from Peggy Mackintosh (known as Peggy MacLeod in school) from the Isle of Raasay near Skye. Her Father was the bootmaker on Raasay and you’ll hear reference to herself as ‘Peggy Shoemaker’ in this clip.
Peggy came to the Academy in 1944 aged only 12 and a half. She had only left Raasay once before to have her appendix removed in Broadford Hospital a few months prior to her departure. She describes her journey to Inverness as ‘difficult’. Her father was by her side and they travelled by boat, then train, it was her first ever train journey.
DarkRoom
Inverness College was based at Midmills for over 30 years, before moving to its new site at Inverness Campus in August 2015. One of the college’s legacies in the building is the darkroom.
“The new Inverness Darkroom sits almost on the same spot as the first ever ‘teaching’ darkroom in the Highlands, which was created in 1948 by Fred Hardley when it was occupied by Inverness Royal Academy. In turn the Inverness College art department created a modern darkroom in the building around 2003. So, the current darkroom is the 3rd to be built, and we are carrying on a now long established photographic tradition!
It is fitting that Wasps’ Inverness Creative Academy now hosts working artists, a dedicated community of photographers and students from the UHI – carrying on the creative enterprise begun by Fred Hardley in 1948.“
Matt Sillars
“Room 18 was another Chemistry lab. Its occupant for many years was another alliteratively nicknamed staff member – ‘Hairy Hugh’ MacDonald. Hugh could sometimes get a bit confused himself, especially when new methods of naming organic compounds were introduced in the late 1960s. On one occasion a demonstration experiment went badly wrong and when somebody laughed Hugh, who had a heart condition, went crimson and totally apoplectic, invoking serious concern for his health.”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Meet the Tenant
Wasps are providers of studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creative industries and facilities for communities across Scotland. The first phase of Inverness Creative Academy opened in December 2018, providing affordable studio spaces for around 40 artists and makers.
The Inverness Darkroom opened in February 2019 at Inverness Creative Academy and is a community workspace with 8 enlargers and black & white film processing facilities. They run regular workshops and membership of the darkroom is affordable and flexible with options to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
Peach Room
As you walk up the front steps towards Inverness Creative Academy, the large corner rooms you can see at the front of the original building were designed for the Principal teachers. This one, on the left of the building, and affectionately known as “the peach room” by Wasps team, was occupied by the Head of English at Inverness Royal Academy.
Known as ‘Room 7’, it was occupied by Jacob “Fritz” Mowat (1944 – 1968) and later on Eddie Hutcheon from 1968, whose various activities included running football teams and being manager of the successful ‘Television Top of The Form’ team in 1970. Click ‘Interview’ to hear Inverness Royal Academy past pupil Dave Conner and former teacher Robert Preece talk more about Eddie.
“Fritz was a Shetlander and had an almost impenetrable accent, which many took to be German, hence the nickname. He arrived in 1944 and later became the Head of History until the subjects parted in the early 1960s. He was extremely forgetful and quite capable of failing to turn up for a class or to appear in the wrong room. He was also prone to issuing instructions such as “You boy, at the front behind… move to the seat on the left next to the one on the right” and any girl from the Western Isles was always called “Morag”.
In the 1950s, Miss Edith Young was HM Chief Inspector of Schools for the local area and school records hint at a fawning institutional sycophancy towards a woman who was eternally deferred to and was constantly invited to attend prize givings, school dances and just about anything else where she might be humoured. One visit to the school resulted in a less than complimentary report on the English Department. Fritz’s response was to head down to the hostelries of Eastgate to drown his sorrows… before coming back up the hill, standing outside Miss Young’s house in Broadstone Park and lambasting her loud and long from her front gate!”
Charles Bannerman, Inverness Royal Academy pupil from 1965-71
Interview
A short audio clip from Dave Conner (past Inverness Royal Academy pupil) and Robert Preece (past Inverness Royal Academy Geography teacher and School Archivist) discussing their memories of
Eddie Hutcheon, Head of English from 1968.
Sponsor Us
Want to do something to commemorate your old days in the English department? As Wasps complete Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy there will be opportunities to get involved at a level which suits you – get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and we will work with you to try and make them happen.
To talk about the benefits of working with Wasps to deliver this project, please contact Claire on 07834 116 381 claire@waspsstudios.org.uk
If you’d like a sneak preview of this space, or to relive some memories of school-day hijinks with your ex classmates, supporting Wasps will give you privileged access to one of the most exciting new developments in the Highlands, the great spaces, great company and great art within its walls.
As we complete Phase 2 there will be opportunities to get involved at a gift level which suits you – get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and we will work with you to try and make them happen.
Contact Claire claire@waspsstudios.org.uk to discuss options to support Wasps in completing Inverness Creative Academy.
Rent this Room
Are you a creative or cultural business?
Phase 2 of Inverness Creative Academy will provide 54 workspaces for creative industries and creative social enterprises, along with a public café and gallery/exhibition space. We are not taking formal applications at the moment, however, if you are interested in renting a space with us, we can add your details to our register of interest. Once we announce the application process, those who have registered interest will be the first to hear.