Boddam, Aberdeenshire

Boddam, Aberdeenshire

Infobox UK place
official_name= Boddam
local_name=
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
country= Scotland
area_footnotes=
area_total_sq_mi=
area_total_km2 =
population= 1,364 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Boddam Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=boddam&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
est. 1,170 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
os_grid_reference= NK134422
map_type= Scotland
latitude= 57.4702
longitude= -1.7775
post_town= ABERDEEN
postcode_area= AB
postcode_district= AB42
dial_code= 01779
london_distance=
unitary_scotland= Aberdeenshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Aberdeenshire
constituency_westminster= Banff and Buchan
constituency_scottish_parliament= Banff and Buchan
website=

Boddam is a coastal village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is convert|29|mi|km north of Aberdeen and convert|3|mi|km south of Peterhead. Sea cliffs rise to convert|200|ft|m, south of the village: a coastal path leads along these to the Bullers of Buchan.

The adjoining settlement, on the Aberdeen to Peterhead road, was for many years known simply as Stirling: in 2004, it was renamed Stirling Village, to avoid confusion with the newly-granted city of Stirling.

History

There is vicinity evidence of prehistoric man, particularly slightly to the southwest of Boddam where a number of prehistoric monuments including Catto Long Barrow, [C. Michael Hogan (2008) "Catto Long Barrow fieldnotes", Modern Antiquarian [http://letmespeaktothedriver.com/site/11227/catto.html#fieldnotes] ] Silver Cairn and many tumuli are found. In that same vicinity of the Laeca Burn watershed is the point d'appui of historic battles between invading Danes and indigenous Picts.

While human occupation in the vicinity of Boddam is attested to from Neolithic times with the quarrying of flint deposits at the Den of Boddam [ [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/special/flint.asp Aberdeenshire Council - Flint Mines ] ] and in more recent times by the fortified remains near the islet of Dundonnie just south of the modern-day village, for much of the early historical period there is little or no record of habitation in the location of the fishing settlement which grew up later.

Boddam Castle was built in the late 16th century by the Ludquharn branch of the Keith family, whose other strongholds in the area are at Inverugie Castle and Ravenscraig Castle, west of Peterhead.
Sir William Keith, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and Delaware, was born here in 1669. [ [http://www.ushistory.org/graeme/people/williamkeith.htm Graeme Park People: Sir William Keith ] ]

Fishing

Like Peterhead, Boddam grew as a fishing town during the 18th century but until 1831, when the first of two harbours was constructed to the north of the lighthouse, boats had to be hauled onto shore by hand.
A marine villa, known as the Earl's Lodge, was built in 1840 for George Hamilton-Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen (later Prime Minister) and in 1842 he initiated construction of the second harbour situated next to the first, leading to a considerable increase in the local fishing industry and Registered Port status in 1845. By the mid 1840s the population of the expanded and improved village had grown to 526 inhabitants, with 22 haddock boats and 23 larger herring boats working from the harbour for the seasonal fisheries (March to July, and July to September respectively). 12 boats were employed during the winter months in the cod and white fisheries.cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=308 |title=A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-10 |date=1846 |author=Lewis, S. |publisher=S. Lewis & Co., London ] [cite web |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_108/108_332_365.pdf |title=Old Harbours and Landing Places on the East Coast of Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-10 |date=1976 |author=Graham, A. |publisher=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh. 108:332-365 ]

Harbour widening followed in 1878, and by 1881 there were 151 drifters based at Boddam. However, in an ironic twist this very growth led to an inevitable decline as Peterhead lying just to the north benefited from the far greater harbour space available for the continually growing fishing fleet.

Buchan Ness lighthouse

The area around the headland of Buchan Ness was for many centuries the point from which trading and whaling voyages departed across open ocean, bound for Archangel, Greenland and Spitsbergen amongst other destinations. [cite web |url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usebooks/defoe-scotland/letter13-3.html |title= A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain (vol. 3) |accessdate=2007-11-10 |date=1726 |author=Defoe, D. |publisher=G. Strahan, et al. London ]

Over time, many vessels had been run aground in poor weather and in 1819 petitions were sent to the Northern Lighthouse Board to erect a lighthouse in the vicinity. As Engineer to the board, Robert Stevenson decided upon the present location; the granite-built construction being completed in 1825 and the light established in 1827.

The red band was painted in 1907 to help passing ships determine their location and for many years a foghorn (locally known as the Boddam Coo or also as the Boddam Bear, prior to reequipping in 1978) was installed, this being officially turned off in 2000.

The lighthouse is convert|118|ft|m|abbr=on high, flashing a white light every 5 seconds which with the current lamp is visible for convert|28|nmi|km.

Peterhead granite

Quarrying and crafting of high-quality "Peterhead granite" from Stirlinghill above Boddam developed on a commercial scale during the 18th and 19th centuries, being used not only locally but further afield in many public, private and church buildings.

Examples from London include extensive use in Australia House, the former Stock Exchange building, India Office, Covent Garden, the Carlton Club and the original fountains in Trafalgar Square designed by Charles Barry and built by McDonald & Leslie, Aberdeen (one of which is now in Confederation Park, Ottawa and the other in the Wascana Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan following remodelling in 1939). [http://www.peterhead.org.uk/familyheritage/peterhead_institutions.htm] [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40592 Pall Mall, South Side, Past Buildings - The Carlton Club | British History Online ] ] [ [http://www.artfund.org/artwork/2766/a-pair-of-fountains-from-trafalgar-square The Art Fund - A Pair of Fountains from Trafalgar Square ] ] [cite web |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M5MLAAAAYAAJ |title=Curiosities of London: Exhibiting the Most Rare and Remarkable Objects of the Metropolis |accessdate=2007-11-12 |date=1855 |author=Timbs, J. |publisher=David Bogue, London]

The quarry officially closed on 16th June 1956, due to inability to compete on an economic basis for bulk construction requirements, rather than the more traditional architectural usages for which it had become so well known in the 19th century. [http://www.peterhead.org.uk/history/ph_quarry_closure.htm]

Arrival of the railway

Although the railway reached Peterhead via Maud in 1862, it was not until August 1897 when a branch from Ellon to Boddam via Cruden Bay was constructed by the Great North of Scotland Railway Company. [ [http://theatreorgans.com/hammond/keng/kenhtml/Boddam%20To%20Ellon/Longhaven%20To%20Boddam.htm Longhaven To Boddam ] ] The success of the line for both Boddam and Cruden Bay was, however, short-lived and the line was closed to passengers during the Great Depression in 1932; Boddam Station finally being closed to all traffic in 1945. [ [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Boddam_Branch/body.htm Boddam Branch (Great North of Scotland Railway) ] ]

Prior to the arrival of the branch from Ellon, the Government had constructed a line covering the two and a half miles between Peterhead prison and the Stirlinghill quarries in order to obtain granite for construction of the breakwater across Peterhead Bay. At the time, prior to the creation of British Railways in 1948, this was the only state-owned railway in the United Kingdom. [http://www.peterhead.org.uk/history/ph_quarry_railway.htm]

RAF Buchan

Following the opening of the nearby radar station at RAF Buchan in 1952, a domestic camp was opened on the site of the former railway terminus, but as of 2005 this has also closed; the site being sold to a private company. [ [http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2005/Week_37/news/raf_camp_a.asp The Buchan Observer ] ]

Peterhead power station

Adjacent to the north side of the village is Peterhead power station (generating capacity: 2,390MW, limited to 1,550MW) on which construction commenced in May 1973, being brought into operation in 1980. Originally intended as a gas-powered station, it was later converted to burn gas or oil and is currently powered by the entire gas supply of the Miller Field. [ [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst2018.html Overview of Peterhead Power Station ] ]

Sea bass may be caught in the vicinity of the warm water outlets, to which they are attracted.

Present day

Today, Boddam serves largely as a commuter settlement for Aberdeen and Peterhead although an involvement in the fishing industry still continues on a small scale, in particular for lobster.

Despite Boddam and Stirling Village possessing three hotels or inns, tourism in the area is at a low level.

The remains of Boddam Castle lie in a ruinous state, although Earl's Lodge which had previously been gutted in a fire was repaired as a private home in 2006. Information boards for the castle have recently been erected and Clan Keith reunions from America have been invited to visit whilst in the area. [ [http://www.boddam.org.uk/community.htm New Page 1 ] ]

The village has yet retained public facilities such a Post Office, Library, Public Hall and local Primary School. [ [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/our_schools/detail.asp?schoolid=BBOP Aberdeenshire Council - Boddam School ] ]

An innovative carbon capture scheme at the power station which had previous been shelved was brought back onto the agenda in late 2007 with the hope of new jobs for the local populace. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7021860.stm BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Power station's upgrade welcomed ] ]

Monkey

A traditional song relates how a monkey was the only survivor from a local shipwreck and thus the villagers of Boddam could not claim salvage rights as those only applied when all had perished. One version of the first verse thus relates,

:"A ship went out along the coast,"
:"And all the men on board were lost,"
:"Except the monkey, who climbed the mast,"
:"And the Boddamers hinged the monkey O!"
:::::- Traditional [http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/boddamers.html (posted by Caroline Seawright)]

The recently renamed "Noose and Monkey" pub in Aberdeen recalls this event rather than the infamous monkey-hanging stated to have occurred in Hartlepool during the Napoleonic Wars.

The song relating to the latter dates no earlier than the 1850s, from famous Geordie comic singer Ned Corvan who had toured the Scottish Lowlands and may have used the Boddam tale as his basis, perhaps influenced by the intense rivalry between Hartlepool and Old Hartlepool, at the time a separate settlement, to deride the latter.

Indeed, Boddamers for many years after the event were often (and sometimes still are) taunted by the cry "Fa hangit the monkey?!" ("Who hanged the monkey?") from residents of Peterhead. [Citation | last1 = Woolford | first1 = Jack
title = Mythical monkey | newspaper = Independent, The (London) | date = 2000-04-26 | year = 2000 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000426/ai_n14307065
(retrieved from archive 2007-11-11)
] [ [http://portcities.hartlepool.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.69 Port Cities: Traditions and folklore - The Monkey legend ] ] [ [http://portcities.hartlepool.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.69&chapterId=128 Port Cities: Traditions and folklore - The Monkey legend ] ] [ [http://bshistorian.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/monkey-hangers/ Monkey Hangers! « The BS Historian ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.boddam.org.uk/ - Boddam Community Website]
* [http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/buchanness.htm - Buchan Ness Lighthouse (Northern Lighthouse Board website)]
* [http://www.visitpeterhead.org.uk/ - Official Tourist Web Site]
* [http://www.peterheadnetwork.com - Peterhead Area Business Directory]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Boddam — may refer to:;Scotland * Boddam, Aberdeenshire * Boddam, Shetland;Other *Île Boddam, in the Salomon Islands (British Indian Ocean Territory) …   Wikipedia

  • Boddam railway station — was a railway station in Boddam, Aberdeenshire that served as the terminus of a now closed line from Ellon. Services ran to Aberdeen and further afield. [British Railways Atlas.1947. p.38] Former Services References …   Wikipedia

  • Aberdeenshire (historic) — County of Aberdeen Aberdeenshire within Scotland in 1890 Geography Status County (until 1975) …   Wikipedia

  • List of places in Aberdeenshire — Aberdeenshire is split into several different places, council wards and constituencies for the UK and Scottish parliaments, representing Aberdeenshire, Scotland.UK Parliamentary ConstituenciesAberdeenshire s UK Parliamentary Constituencies are:… …   Wikipedia

  • Maud, Aberdeenshire — Maud village, seen from the old station Maud (Gaelic: Am Mòd) is a small town in the Buchan area of the Scottish county of Aberdeenshire. Population 780 (2006 estimate)[1]. Located 13 miles west of Peterhead on the South Ugie Water …   Wikipedia

  • Cornhill, Aberdeenshire — Coordinates: 57°36′43″N 2°41′53″W / 57.612°N 2.6981°W / 57.612; 02.6981 …   Wikipedia

  • Cortes, Aberdeenshire — Coordinates: 57°37′23″N 1°59′28″W / 57.623°N 1.991°W / 57.623; 1.991 …   Wikipedia

  • Newburgh, Aberdeenshire — Dunes adjacent to Newburgh on south bank of Ythan Estuary Newburgh is a coastal village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.[1] The village dates to 1261 AD, when Lord Sinclair wanted to establi …   Wikipedia

  • Crathie, Aberdeenshire — Crathie School in 2007 Crathie (Scottish Gaelic: Craichidh) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It stands on the north bank of the River Dee. Abergeldie Castle is a mile away. It was built around 1550 and had nineteenth century additions. It …   Wikipedia

  • Netherley, Aberdeenshire — The Old Netherley School Netherley, Scotland is a village in Aberdeenshire, situated approximately five miles northwest of Stonehaven.[1] Netherley is located in the Mounth area of the Grampian …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”