Building record MAB30268 - PETERHEAD

Medieval core and Burgh of Peterhead.

Medieval core and Burgh of Peterhead. Peterhead may have been settled as early as the late 6th century, when St. Columba's monks are thought to have founded a subordinate settlement to Deer near the mouth of the Ugie river (the settlement originally called Perterugie) which may have been dedicated to St. Peter. Peterhead was created a Burgh of Barony by Royal Charter in 1587 at the instigation of the Earl Marischal (Keith). This was supplemented 6 years later when a feu contract was drawn up between the Earl Marischal and 14 town feuars. The original feu plots appear to have been in a crescent around the shore to the North of Longate. The first reference to a harbour is also around this time. An early castle or fortified house is thought to have been located at the west end of Longate, before a second castle was built on Keith Island as part of the agreement of the 1593 charter which involved a duty to protect the town. Fishing has been a prominent part of the economy from the early 19th century, initially whaling, later seal hunting and herring fishing.

Period Notes
Medieval core; harbour and barony founded 1587; by 1680 it had become one of the best fishings on the northern coast; Broad Street developed in the 18thC; 1775 toolbooth was gifted to town but new town hall replaced in in the following years.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 24/07/87 supplement (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

turner-simpson, A, 1982, Scottish Burgh Survey: Historic Peterhead (Bibliographic reference). SAB1979.

gray, marshall & associates, 2005, PETERHEAD OUTSTANDING CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL (Bibliographic reference). SAB2604.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 19/01/88 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

Oct 16 1997 , 9 images, 9 images (Ground Photograph). SAB36472.

Record last edited

Dec 1 2023 3:31PM