Dingwall’s english name is derived from the Scandinavian Þingvöllr (field or meeting place of the Thing, or local assembly; and this preserves the Norse connections of the town.  The Thing was the assembly of the free people of a country, province or a hundred (hundare/härad/herred). There were consequently hierarchies of Things, so that the local Things were represented at the higher-level Thing, for a province or land. At the Thing, disputes were solved and political decisions were made. The place for the Thing was often also the place for public religious rites and for commerce.  The Thing met at regular intervals, legislated, elected chieftans and kings, and judged according to the law, which was memorised and recited by the "law speaker" (the judge). The Thing's negotiations were presided over by the law speaker and the chieftain or the king. In reality the Thing was of course dominated by the most influential members of the community, the heads of clans and wealthy families, but in theory one-man one-vote was the rule.  It is asserted that the Thing site in Dingwall was located where the Cromartie Memorial Car Park is now.