year

Event

-55

The coast of Buchan was inhabited by a clan of Celts known as the Zaizoloi, who were chiefly fisherman supplemented by agriculture an hunting. Living in hut circles of earth houses, around sheltered bays or shallow estuaries, there are signs of a community near the Kirkburn on the links. It is also possible that the hill on the links is an early Pictish community. (The Romans called the Celts Picts.)

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The ancient name of the parish of Peterhead was Peter Ugie (Latin Inverugy Petri) and is found in old charters. Formerly of much greater extent than at present, it extended westward for a distance of about nine miles, and included, till 1620, the parish of Longside, formerly called Western Ugie. Peterhead grew out of the small fishing port of Keith Inch. Keith Inch, as it is now, was in fact 2 islands, Keith Inch and Greenhill. It is now only used by the oil and fishing industries and no longer has any residents.

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Cairn Catto (about 4 miles SW of Peterhead) has a number of prehistoric cairns and burial chambers.

1181

After building a palace in Aberdeen the builders built a watch tower on the north side of the Ugie mouth until Ravenscraig castle was built for Le Neym, a descendant of a Norman family, who had been given the lands of St Fergus and the title of Lord of Buchan.

1250

An Abbey was erected on the Windmill Brae. All that remains of it is the Abbot's Well in the garden of Windmill House. It is believed that a new Church was erected on the links at the same time on thee site of the previous church.

1458

The family, which took its name from the town of Keith (Moray), has been hereditary Great Marischals of Scotland from the 12th Century. The line were created Earl Marischals in 1458 by King James II (1430-60) as reward for support against the Black Douglasses.

1551

Robert Keith, second son of the fourth Earl Marischal, became postulant abbot in commendam of the Abbey of Deer at the age of 15. He then granted his nephew, who would become the 5th Earl, a long lease of the abbey lands, including Peterhead.

1560

In 1560, the parish of Peterugie was acquired from the Abbey of Deer by the Keiths Earls Marischal of Scotland, and renamed Peterhead. The fishing village of Keith Inch (Caikinche) situated on an island was presumably also incorporated into Peterhead at about this time. At about this time, the Peterugie settlement was being eroded and people were moving to Almanytjie.

1573

The first reference to the port of Peterhead was by Aberdeen Town Council in 1573 complaining that Peterhead was taking away some of its rightful trade. This may have referred to the harbour at Almanythie Creek, used from prehistoric times. Almanythie (old man's haven) failed to provide safe anchorage during stormy weather. Alternatively, this could have referred to the bays between the headland and the island now called Keith Inch, which did provide a weather shelter except when the gales were from the east.

1585

The Fish House was built on the banks of the River Ugie in 1585 for the George Keith, Fifth Earl Marischal, for keeping game and fish. Still standing, it has been used by salmon fishermen for over 100 years, and is now owned by Ugie Salmon Fishing's who "have mastered to perfection the arts of catching, preparing and smoking the Scottish Salmon. The closely guarded skills and knowledge of our forefathers have been handed down from generation to generation."

1593

Peterhead, the most easterly town in Scotland, became a Royal Burgh in 1593 granted by James VI. Apart from a short period as a fashionable 18th-century spa, Peterhead is best known for its fishing heritage: in the 19th century as the chief British whaling centre; herring for most part of the 20th century and in the latter part this gave way in favour of whitefish to supply local fish-processing plants.

1593

There were 33 families in Peterhead which would give a rough population of 200 people. Typical family size was 6 children.

1593

Peterhead's first harbour was begun in 1593, when the forth Earl Marischall (George) financed the building of a bulwark of oak timbers and boulders to protect Port Henry harbour. This bulwark stood the test of time until its demolition in 1870.

1600

The Ugie Salmon fishhouse at the mouth of the Ugie was built by the 4th Earl Marischal. This 400 year old salmon house is the oldest surviving building in Peterhead. It is also the oldest working premises in Scotland.

1616

The Earl Marischal completed the 350 feet bulwark extension to Port Henry harbour. This was of rough undressed granite, from the quarry between the Gaedle and the Ive, and lasted for over 200 years.

1644

500 of Cromwell's men were encamped on Keith Inch with their headquarters in the castle.F10

1645

Bubonic plague was rife with some 300 people dying, including many of Cromwell's garrison on Keith Inch. As a result of this, Peterhead's first hospital was built on the most northern part of Ive Park. This consisted of 8 wooden shacks, next to which was the cemetary. Tradition is that a servant of Robert Walker was the first to die at what is now Bruce the Ironmonger in Chapel Street. The plague huts remained in isolation until January 1775.

1660

The first feus were given off on Keith Inch.

1696

James Francis Edward Keith was born at Inverugie, better known for his services as a military commander under Frederick II of Prussia. As a Scottish Jacobite, he was forced into exile for his activities on behalf of the Stuart pretender to the British throne (1715 and 1719). After serving for a time in the Spanish army and in Russia (1728), he distinguished himself in the War of the Polish Succession and in campaigns against the Ottoman Turks and Sweden. He entered the Prussian service in 1747 where he was made a field marshal by Frederick the Great. During the Seven Years' War, he commanded Prussian forces at the siege of Prague (1757) and successfully defended Leipzig against the Austrians. He was killed in the Battle of Hochkirch on October 14th 1758. In 1868 a monument donated by William I of Prussia was erected to Keith's memory in the Broadgate of Peterhead.

1706

St. Peter's Churchyard, South Road was created

1715

James Stuart, the Old Pretender, arrived at Peterhead on December 22, 1715 as part of the '15 Jacobite rebellion. He stayed 6 weeks in Scotland before being persuaded by the Earl of Mar to leave and escape capture.

1715

The town was sold to the York Buildings, or Fishery Company of Scotland.

1715

The castle on Keith Inch was bought by the Arbuthnutts who built a new house.

1726

On the break up of the York Buildings, or Fishery Company of Scotland, the town was sold to the Merchant Maiden’s Hospital in Edinburgh.

1739

The channel between Peterhead and Keith Inch was filled in with stones creating a causeway.

1750

In the period between 1750 and 1815, Peterhead was renowned as a fashionable spa and watering place. One of the more well known spa points was the 'wine well', now completely removed as part of the Merchant's Quay development. This and the associated hotel industry prevented any expansion of Peterhead as a fishing port as the flowers of Scottish nobility did not deem the smell conducive to their taking the airs and waters of the spa.

1758

James Francis Edward Keith was born at Inverugie, better known for his services as a military commander under Frederick II of Prussia. As a Scottish Jacobite, he was forced into exile for his activities on behalf of the Stuart pretender to the British throne (1715 and 1719). After serving for a time in the Spanish army and in Russia (1728), he distinguished himself in the War of the Polish Succession and in campaigns against the Ottoman Turks and Sweden. He entered the Prussian service in 1747 where he was made a field marshal by Frederick the Great. During the Seven Years' War, he commanded Prussian forces at the siege of Prague (1757) and successfully defended Leipzig against the Austrians. He was killed in the Battle of Hochkirch on October 14th 1758. In 1868 a monument donated by William I of Prussia was erected to Keith's memory in the Broadgate of Peterhead.

1773

Peterhead's South harbour dates to around 1773, 15 years before whaling began from the port and soon became the leading whale port in Britain lasting for over a hundred years.

1773

The South Harbour was built by the engineer John Smeaton who also designed the Eddystone lighthouse.

1775

Bubonic plague was rife with some 300 people dying, including many of Cromwell's garrison on Keith Inch. As a result of this, Peterhead's first hospital was built on the most northern part of Ive Park. This consisted of 8 wooden shacks, next to which was the cemetary. Tradition is that a servant of Robert Walker was the first to die at what is now Bruce the Ironmonger in Chapel Street. The plague huts remained in isolation until January 1775.

1788

In 1788, whale fishing commenced when the port's first whaler, the "Robert" sailed to the Greenland waters. Whaling became such an important occupation for vessels from Peterhead that for a time in the mid-nineteenth century it was the base-port for more than half of Britain's whaling fleet. But eventually the whaling industry petered out because of over-fishing.

1800

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were two rope-works in Peterhead, employing from 12 to 18 hands each. In winter the works were full; during the summer months many of the hands were away northwards with the whalers. The principal firm was known as the Peterhead Rope-Work, the buildings of which, converted into a byre, stood at right angles to the South Turnpike. It was founded about 1800 and changed hands several times before it became defunct. First, a company with Colonel Hutchison as manager; then Colonel Hutchison himself, afterwards joined by his son; then, his son alone; then, Messrs William Baxter, David Gray, and Robert Walker; and finally about 1880 Messrs George Forrest and George Rennie. Rope-twining in Peterhead, distinct from rope-making, dates its decay from the decline of the Peterhead whale and seal fishing, and the rise of Belfast and other ports where yarn could be manufactured cheaper. In 1873, the firms of Messrs Donald Maclean and Son was constituted by the erection

1812

The Diamond, a whale ship, sailed for the Davis Straits in 1812 and was eventually lost in the ice in 1819. The Diamond was the subject of a folk song.

1814

Buchanhaven (now part of Peterhead) was founded in 1814 as a fishing village mostly for line fishing.

1818

The Kirkburn Mills were established in 1818 by the brothers, Thomas and Joshua Smith, who hailed from Ossett, Yorkshire. In 1959 Kirkburn mills was destroyed entirely by fire and meant the complete rebuilding of the premises. The Kirburn Mill, or "oo mull" as it is known, is the only vertical woollen mill in Scotland.

1818

1818 saw the start of the building of the North Harbour after designs by Thomas Telford, who else did the Caledonian canal and the bridge over the Menai Straits.

1827

The lighthouse at Boddam was built by Robert Stevenson. Robert Stevenson was the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, better known for writing classics such as Treasure Island, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Kidnapped..

1832

In 1832 there were 21 sail boats fishing out of Peterhead although all were registered in Boddam where the Baron Baillie of Peterhead owned the estate of Boddam. At that time, Peterhead had 3 fishcurers: John and Alexander Leslie; William and James Simpson; Keith Turner.

1832

1832 was a turning point in the history of Peterhead as a fishing port. Wick, which at that point was the premier fishing port, had an outbreak of cholera, which sent both boats and curers south looking for temporary port. Fraserburgh refused them enter, whereas Peterhead allowed them in after a medical examination. The fishcurers from the south followed with barrels and salt and the fishcuring industry in Peterhead took off.

1836

There were 260 boats in the Peterhead herring fleet.

1840

In 1840, William Penny, a whaling master from Peterhead, Scotland, with the help of a young Inuk, Eenoolooapik, rediscovered the entrance to Cumberland Sound, lost since Davis last entered it over two centuries earlier; it proved to be rich in bowhead whales.

1841

Peterhead Golf Club was formed. The first course consisted of 4 holes and was played on the Links.

1843

William Niven, one of three distinguished mathematical brothers, was born in Peterhead in 1843. After graduating from Aberdeen University, he went on to study at the Trinity College (Cambridge) where he graduated third in his class with 1st Class Honours and the following year was elected to a fellowship at Trinity College. From there he took up an appointment as professor at Woolwich, where he worked on gunnery and ballistics. Returning to Cambridge, he became a firm friend of Maxwell, helping to edit the second edition of Maxwell's Electricity and Magnetism, when Maxwell died. Niven's principal direction of study was of spherical and ellipsoidal harmonics. Appointed to a chair at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich in 1882, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in the same year. An active member and staunch supporter of the London Mathematical Society, he served as its President from 1908 until 1910. He died on 29th May 1917.

1850

On 21st August 1850, a canal was opened between the South and North Harbours. Keith Inch became again an island!

1850

Peterhead herring fleet consisted of 400 boats.

1850

As part of the herring migration, Peterhead population was swelled during the summer (mid July to start of September) by up to 5,000 fisher-folk. There were more than 300 herring boats and 40 curers.

1853

David Hawthorn Cardno was born in Peterhead in 1853. Stowing away at the age of 13, David made his first arctic whaling trip and went on to spend the whole of his whole working life at sea as fisherman and sailor. During the early 1900s, he managed the whaling stations at Blacklead and Kekerten on Baffin Island and it was there during his long stay that he wrote an account of his life at sea and living with the Inuit community of Cumberland Sound, Baffin. As an artist, his paintings give an eyewitness accounts of his colourful career. The book "A Whaler's Tale" tells the story of his life at sea.

1857

Peterhead whaler "Innuit" first sailed in 1857 but was wrecked in 1859. Possibly gave its name to the town of Inuvik in Canada.

1858

The Formartine and Buchan Railway Act was passed approving the building of the railway line to Peterhead with a branch line from Mintlaw to Fraserburgh.

1861

The railway from Dyce to Mintlaw was opened, operated by the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR).

1862

The railway from Mintlaw to Peterhead was opened.

1868

James Francis Edward Keith was born at Inverugie, better known for his services as a military commander under Frederick II of Prussia. As a Scottish Jacobite, he was forced into exile for his activities on behalf of the Stuart pretender to the British throne (1715 and 1719). After serving for a time in the Spanish army and in Russia (1728), he distinguished himself in the War of the Polish Succession and in campaigns against the Ottoman Turks and Sweden. He entered the Prussian service in 1747 where he was made a field marshal by Frederick the Great. During the Seven Years' War, he commanded Prussian forces at the siege of Prague (1757) and successfully defended Leipzig against the Austrians. He was killed in the Battle of Hochkirch on October 14th 1758. In 1868 a monument donated by William I of Prussia was erected to Keith's memory in the Broadgate of Peterhead.

1869

First burial in Constitution Street Cemetery

1878

In 1878, Port Henry Harbour was incorporated into the North Harbour.

1886

In 1886, an Act was passed empowering the Admiralty to undertake the building of a Harbour of Refuge breakwater in Peterhead bay, and for the Prison Commissioners to construct Scotland's first (and only) Convict Prison. The building of the prison outside the town of Peterhead, beside Invernettie, adjacent to the Admiralty development at Salthousehead, was to cost £5,000 for the land and an estimated construction cost between £30,000 and £40,000. In keeping with the practice of the time, the contractor built the first block of cells, the perimeter wall, and the necessary ancillary buildings of the prison. The convicts, who arrived in August 1888, were then engaged on the completion of the rest of the prison, and on the building of staff quarters. Railway lines were laid between the Admiralty yard, the Breakwater, and the Quarry, which was opened at Stirlinghill, around two and half miles distant from the prison.

1888

Peterhead prison was opened. In 1886 a Parliamentary Act empowered both the Admiralty to undertake the Harbour of Refuge Breakwater Project, and the Prison Commissioners to construct Scotland's first (and only) Convict Prison. The passage of the 1886 HARBOUR OF REFUGE ACT allowed the building of a prison outside the town of Peterhead, beside Invernettie, adjacent to the Admiralty development at Salthousehead. Messrs D Macandrew & Co. of Aberdeen were informed in Oct.1886 that they had been awarded the contract for the erection of the prison. With the land purchased for £5,000 the cost of construction was estimated between £30,000 and £40,000. In keeping with the practice of the time, the contractor built the first block of cells, the perimeter wall, and the necessary ancillary buildings of the prison. The convicts, who arrived in August 1888, were then engaged on the completion of the rest of the prison, and on the building of staff quarters. Railway lines were laid between the Admiralty yard, the Bre

1888

Messrs D Macandrew & Co. of Aberdeen were informed in Oct.1886 that they had been awarded the contract for the erection of Peterhead prison. With the land purchased for £5,000 the cost of construction was estimated between £30,000 and £40,000. In keeping with the practice of the time, the contractor built the first block of cells, the perimeter wall, and the necessary ancillary buildings of the prison. The convicts, who arrived in August 1888, were then engaged on the completion of the rest of the prison, and on the building of staff quarters.

1890

By 1890, the practice of fishcurers engaging boats to fish for them exclusively was terminated and fish auctions were introduced.

1891

With the assistance of Peterhead's Feuars Managers an area of ground was made available from the 14 acres at Raemoss Park. This new enclosed facility was named Recreation Park and was opened by Dunfermline born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on August 1891. This was to become the home of Peterhead Football Club.

1892

The Peterhead Golf Clun moved from the Links and set up a 9 hole course at Craigewen. The course was laid out by Willie Park, a professional who had twice won the Open Championship. Access to the course was by ferry across the Ugie. Peterhead had to wait until 1923 when more land was leased for an additional course of 18 holes. This was laid out by Laurie Auchterlonie of Saint Andrews.

1893

The last whaler returned to Peterhead. For more on whaling, see http://www.nefa.net/archive/sailwhale/risefall.htm.

1893

In 1893, the Peterhead Harbour Trustees built over Cormack’s slip in the South Harbour, a wooden fish hall in which to auction the fish landed at Peterhead. Costing a little over £78, it had already repaid itself by 1896.

1893

C1815 there were only 50 to 60 coopers in Peterhead; in 1896, with 74 master fishcurers having an average of six coopers each, there were as many as 444 hands employed in the trade, without taking into account those engaged in the Barrel Factory. There is a very large trade in barrel staves, and for the year ending 29th February 1896, 5,160,690 superficial feet were imported into Peterhead from Norway and Sweden. Comparatively few "made" barrels were formerly imported; and the year 1893 was signalised by a riot in the town of the arrival of a vessel laden with foreign-made barrels. The vessel was not allowed to discharge its cargo, and for some days a rabble held the street. They had to take the staves from abroad, but would have nothing to do with coopered barrels. From From J. T. Findlay's History of Peterhead, 1933

1907

In 1907 the South Harbour was extended and the fish hall had to be relocated.

1907

In 1907, the old auction hall was demolished as part of the South Harbour extension and a new auction hall built at the corner of Farmer’s Lane and Bridge Street.

1907

1907 saw the pinnacle of the herring industry when 291,713 crans of herring were landed by 420 boats for an average of 695 cran per boat.

1917

William Niven, one of three distinguished mathematical brothers, was born in Peterhead in 1843. After graduating from Aberdeen University, he went on to study at the Trinity College (Cambridge) where he graduated third in his class with 1st Class Honours and the following year was elected to a fellowship at Trinity College. From there he took up an appointment as professor at Woolwich, where he worked on gunnery and ballistics. Returning to Cambridge, he became a firm friend of Maxwell, helping to edit the second edition of Maxwell's Electricity and Magnetism, when Maxwell died. Niven's principal direction of study was of spherical and ellipsoidal harmonics. Appointed to a chair at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich in 1882, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in the same year. An active member and staunch supporter of the London Mathematical Society, he served as its President from 1908 until 1910. He died on 29th May 1917.

1931

Peterhead FC joined the Highland League

1932

In 1932, there were 120 steam drifters belonging to Peterhead, with a further 44 fishing out of Peterhead.

1937

In 1937, Seager Evans took over Glenugie distillery at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire

1938

The Peterhead Unit Navy League Sea Cadet Corps No 269 opened in Jan/Feb 1938 under the command of Lt Alexander Birnie RNR who was a communications officer in Aberdeen at the wireless college. Lt Birnie was later to become the 1st Commanding Officer of Aberdeen SCC Unit T.S. Scylla.

1941

The 13 Group of the RAF was stationed at Longside. This group operated as Night Fighters

1942

The Royal Canadian Air Force 416 Squadron was formed on November 18, 1941 at Peterhead. The Squadron was equipped with Spitfire IIs and declared operational on January 11, 1942.

1945

Boddam railway branch closed.

1947

Peterhead harbour train line closed.

1954

First burial in Balmoor Cemetery

1959

In 1959 Kirkburn mills was destroyed entirely by fire and meant the complete rebuilding of the premises. The Kirburn Mill, or "oo mull" as it is known, is the only vertical woollen mill in Scotland. The Kirkburn Mills were established in 1818 by the brothers, Thomas and Joshua Smith, who hailed from Ossett, Yorkshire.

1963

Parliament was told the Peterhead breakwater project would be completed by 1911, however it wouldn't be until 1963 that a party of prisoners, working under Officer Mason George Stephen, completed the granite work on the roundel of the North arm of the breakwater. The civilian workers of the Admiralty had laid the last cast concrete/granite block in 1956

1964

The last regular passenger train left Peterhead.

1970

The last freight train left Peterhead.

1970

Oil was discovered in the North Sea in October 1970 about 100 miles North East of Peterhead.

1973

Peterhead Power Station was built starting in May 1973 and cost £230 million. Initially configured with two 660 megawatt generators cooled by saewater and designed to run on oil or gas, the first was brought into operation in 1980 and the second in 1982. As a result of a sharp increase in oil prices, a change was made to waste gases piped directly from the Brent Field. By 1984, oil was again economic and by 1989 the site was extended to 1550 megawatts by adding a 230 megawatt gas-fired station. This was run on the entire gas output of the Miller Field.

1975

The first oil was piped ashore from the North Sea at Peterhead.

1975

With the reorganisation of local government, Peterhead lost its status as a burgh.

1978

Peterhead Community Council was formed after the reorganisation of local government.

1981

The trackbed of the railway was purchased by Grampian Regional Council and mostly leased to the Buchan Countryside Group.

1987

The Buchan Countryside Group open the first part of the Formartine and Buchan Way using the old railway track. This was later completed enabling ramblers to walk from Peterhead all the way to Dyce, via Maud junction.

1992

The Albert Quay part of Peterhead Harbour was opened officially in 1992 by the then Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Douglas Hurd providing 340 metres of deep water berthing.

1995

First burial in Peterhead Grange

1997

Peterhead's popular radio station "Waves FM" went live on St Nicholas day in 1997.

1999

The Peterhead harbour was further expanded by the construction of new North and West quays (Merchants Quay). These were built on the site of the Wine Well which has now fully disappeared.

2000

Peterhead was granted its Coat of Arms by the Lord Lyon, Sir Malcolm Innes. The crown above the shield indicates that this is a community. The shield has a top section of 6 vertical bars alternating in yellow and red, and a green bottom half. The motto is 'Veritas vincit'. Legend has it that the forebears of Marshall Keith were not sufficiently important to have a coat of arms but, having fought bravely alongside Robert Bruce, was rewarded when Bruce dipped his fingers into his own bloody wounds and drew three bloodied fingers down the Keith's shield so we have the three red downward strokes

2000

The Boddam foghorn was switched off.

2000

Peterhead FC joined the Scottish league division 3.

2000

Peterhead Community Council was presented with a coat of arms. After a street procession led by a detachment of Lonach Highlanders from Stratdon with pikes to guard the Letters Patent, Charles Burnett (Ross Herald of Arms at the Court of the Royal Lyon) proclaimed the Arms. A new town flag was then raised.

This was still in existence in 1796.