Help identifying place name in Cromartyshire

[mead researcher]

Hi on Ross & Cromarty board - I hope I am directing this enquiry to the right area?
We are having difficulty deciphering the area/place in Cromartyshire and hoping someone with local knowledge can help....
We can read Cromarty, Scotland, with Shire written beneath the word Cromarty.
We can't read the first word.
Fingers crossed.
Barb in Australia

[Skoosh]

Barb,  could be something like,  Red-ol.  Cromarty-shire is difficult as it consisted of unconnected packets of land which were later merged with Ross.

Skoosh.

[Rosinish]

Hi Barb,

My guess would be Resolis?

Annie

[isobelw]

Redcastle?
The third letter looks like a 'd' - compare with the one at the end of 'Scotland'
Isobel

[Rosinish]

Hi Barb,

Is it possible you could post more info. please such as names/dates/occupation, what the doc. is etc. to help further as sometimes extra info. is a good help to determine possibilities?

Annie

[Rosinish]

Redcastle?

Isobel

Isobel,

Good call......was in between cooking when I posted so didn't read reply posted.

Annie

[mead researcher]

Thanks for those replies - attaching what is a very old photo to hopefully help with id of word.
No idea of date.
Wondering - if it is Redcastle, would the word be likely to be abbreviated...?
Look forward to further advice.
Barb

[oldfashionedgirl]

Looking at the number of letters and knowing this area through my own research could it be Avoch ?
(Pronounced 'och' as in och aye ! )

[Skoosh]

This guy's obviously not a common five/eight, a laird/merchant/writer/ maybe. You should be able to find him, a site like "Slaves and Highlanders" might be worth a look, also look under Gillanders, north form of Anderson, a notorious Highland factor so called.

How about Arbol/Arboll?

Skoosh.