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Fraserburgh (Scots: The Broch or Faithlie; Scottish Gaelic: A' Bhruaich) is a parish and burgh (until 1975) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2011 Census at 13,100. It lies at the far northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, about 40 miles (64 km) north of Aberdeen, and 17 miles (27 km) north of Peterhead. It is the biggest shellfish port in Scotland and one of the largest in Europe, landing over 5,450 tonnes in 2016. Fraserburgh is also a major port for fish of the open sea (i.e. pelagic fish).
[edit] History[edit] 16th and 17th century: OriginsThe town or "burgh" was named after the Fraser family that bought the lands of Philorth in 1504 and thereafter improved the area through investment over the next century. Fraserburgh became a burgh of barony in 1546. By 1570, the Fraser family had built Fraserburgh Castle at Kinnaird Head and a year later a church was built for the area. By the 1590s, the area (now known as Faithlie) had developed a small harbour. In 1592, Faithlie was renamed Fraserburgh by a charter of the Crown under King James VI (later James I of England). Sir Alexander Fraser was given permission to improve and govern the town as Lord Saltoun. At present, this title is still in existence and is held by Flora Fraser, 20th Lady Saltoun and head of Clan Fraser. The Royal Charter also gave permission to build a college and university in Fraserburgh allowing the Lord Saltoun to appoint a rector, a principal, a sub-principal, and all the professors for teaching the different sciences. In 1601, Fraserburgh became a burgh of regality or "royal burgh". [edit] 18th and 19th century: Further growth and developmentFraserburgh's population boomed in the early 19th century, from 2,271 in 1811 to 2,954 by 1831. This was primarily put down to the growth in herring fishing, which intensified in 1815. The herring season also brought with it an additional 1200 people working in the parish. Contemporary accounts mention the increase in general wealth brought by this increased trade spurring a change in dress and diet as well as a considerable amount of new houses being built in the town. No less than £30,000 was spent developing the harbour between 1807 and 1840 by which time the harbour could hold eight vessels of 45–155 tons and 220 boats of the herring fishery. [Ref: "The Statistical Account on the Parish of Fraserburgh" (January 1840)], see Research tips below] [edit] 20th and 21th centuryFraserburgh continues to be a major white fish port and busy commercial harbour. The harbour boasts a state-of-the-art six berth slipway facility, storm gates, a large drydock, and fully refrigerated fish market facilities.
[edit] The Fraser familySir Alexander Fraser, on whose lands Fraserburgh was built, obtained a charter to do so from James VI, erecting it into a "burgh of regality", named, in compliment to its superior, Fraserburgh, by which appellation, also, the parish has since been designated. Sir Alexander, by marriage with the daughter of George, the seventh Baron Saltoun, succeeded to the title as tenth baron; and his descendant, the present Lord Saltoun, who is also hereditary provost of the burgh, is principal proprietor of the parish. [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (1851) - copyright Mel Lockie 2016] (available on GENUKI) The Wikipedia article Saltoun lists the holders of the title from 1400. [edit] The town of FraserburghThe town, which is situated on the south side of Kinnaird Head, a bold promontory projecting into the German Ocean, near the entrance of the Moray Firth, consists of several spacious and well-formed streets, intersecting each other at right angles. The houses are substantially built, and generally of handsome appearance, and many of the more modern class are spacious; the streets are well paved, and the inhabitants amply supplied with water. In the centre of the town is the Cross, erected by Sir Alexander Fraser, an elegant hexagonal structure of nine receding stages, diminishing from an area of 500 feet at the base to twenty-three feet on the platform, from which rises a pillar twelve feet high, ornamented with the bearings of the Frasers, surmounted by the British arms. [ibid.] [edit] Fraserburgh parishFraserburgh parish (as opposed to the burgh), is bounded on the north by the Moray Firth, and on the east by the bay of Fraserburgh, and is about eight miles in length, and three and a half in average breadth, but is divided into two nearly equal parts by an intervening portion of the parish of Rathen, more than a mile in breadth. It contains 11,000 acres, of which, with the exception of about eighty acres, the whole is arable. The surface near the eastern coast is low and sandy, and towards the north flat and rocky, with the exception of the lofty promontory of Kinnaird Head. From the shore the land rises gradually to the interior, and to the south are several hills, of which that of Mormond, covered with moss and heath, has an elevation of 810 feet above the level of the sea. The river Philorth, which has its source in the higher districts, and in its way receives some tributary streams, forms a boundary between this parish and Rathen, and falls into the bay of Fraserburgh. In some parts the soil is sandy and light, and in others clay, and loam alternated with gravel, and interspersed with moorland and moss: the crops are, grain of all kinds, with beans, peas, potatoes, and turnips. The system of husbandry has greatly improved: the farms vary from fifty to 300 acres in extent; the lands are partly inclosed and under good cultivation, and shell-sand, sea-weed, and bone-dust are the chief manures. The cattle are of the native breed, intermixed with various others, and of late years some of the Teeswater have been introduced: large numbers are shipped from the port to the London market, where they obtain a high price. The annual value of real property in the parish is £10,145. [ibid.] Further online histories of Fraserburgh include
[edit] Population Growth
Populations 1801-1951 from A Vision of Britain through Time (http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk).
[edit] Research TipsThere was formerly a note on this page that the parish was linked to the Presbytery of Deer, Synod of Aberdeen, Scotland. It would appear that since 1975 the organization of the presbyteries and synods has been revised. Readers are reminded that the Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in nature while in England the Church of England is Episcopalian. (See Wikipedia. )
This site is extremely easy to use. There are charges for parish register entries and censuses. The charges are reasonable and payable by online transfer.
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