Welcome to the Parish of Rogart

'Rogart is the next station, and we enter the parish by the upper end of Strath Fleet which widens to the eastward, and its slopes, in some place rugged and steep, on others rising gradually, present a variety of pleasing scenery.  The want of woods certainly detracts from the appearance of many parts of this glen, but the cottars' neat and apparently comfortable houses, and the mansion-like residences of the large farmers go far to give the whole district a look of comfort and prosperity.  The men of Rogart are generally considered to be of superior physique and, at the recent review of volunteers at Edinburgh by Her Majesty, it was remarked that the detachment from the county, and especially them men from this parish, presented an appearance that was favourably noticed by all.'  (Tourists' Guide, 1883, Hew Morrison)

This photograph was taken by me from Inchcape looking down the valley

During medieval times in Rogart small scale farming occurred in almost every glen and people lived by a clan or feudal system.  Small townships were found all around and people were subsistence farmers with economies relying on small black cattle - the original Highland cattle.  The Clearances changed this way of life forever in the early and mid 1800s.  People were cleared from the glens to make way for sheep which provided a much more profitable income for landlords.  Today Rogart depends on crofting, farming, sporting estates and tourism for employment and income.  The crofts you see around have been farmed for many years and this traditional low intensity farming is very valuable, both for the environment and local communities economic and social life.  Many of the old crofts are still inhabitated by descendants of original Rogart folks.

Information on this website includes:

• There are two burial grounds in Rogart, St Callan's churchyard and the new cemetery.  Both have been photographed and transcribed and can be seen in the Burial Ground Section.
• In 2002/3 I compiled a large genealogical study of the stones in St Callan's Churchyard. This contains a large amount of family data and is currently on show inside St Callan's.  Those who join my Burial Ground section on this website also receive a copy. 
• Rogart War Memorial has been photographed and names included in our index to the War Memorials of Sutherland.
• We also have a Rogart Parish Project album which contains photographs of people and places. 
• Natives of Sutherland includes people from Rogart
• Emigrants from Rogart
• Maps of Rogart
• My own family - Murray Families in Rhemusaig, Rogart & The Mackenzie's of Torbreck & Acheilidh
• Member's Area - Rogart families being researched

• ROGART, the story of a Sutherland crofting parish, by John Macdonald, published by Rogart Heritage Society ISBN 0 9531724 4 9, from days long gone through to today, this book will keep all those with links to Rogart enthralled. Book available direct from John Macdonald
• The Duke of Sutherland's Memoirs, contains a full list of all those who made a contribution to the Duke's statue in 1834
• The Statistical Accounts of Sutherland
• Ministers & Men of the North - can be read on the internet

WEBSITES OF INTEREST:

• Rogart Community Website

Things to do:

• Send a friend a Sutherland Greetings Card telling them about this website
  

inside St Callan's Church of Scotland, Rogart