Inverallochy
Encyclopedia
The villages of Inverallochy (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Aileachaidh) and Cairnbulg (from the Gaelic càrn builg meaning 'gap cairn') lie some four miles east of Fraserburgh
, in North East Scotland
.
Cairnbulg Castle, one of The Nine Castles of Knuckle
, originally dated to the 13th century and parts of the current construction are believed to date to an early period but whereas the land of Inverallochy was granted by Earl Alexander to Jordan Comyn in 1277, there is no indication that the now-ruined Inverallochy Castle
was built at such an early date.
Cairnbulg Castle was a stronghold of the Comyns
, but was given by Robert the Bruce
to the Earls of Ross in 1316 following the Harrying of Buchan
,
then passed to the Frasers from 1375 until 1666. The current construction is a late 19th century re-build following a century of abandonment and dereliction.
Well established fishing communities were in place in the area by the early 16th century, but after an epidemic of cholera
in the 1860s wiped out the "collections of huts next to which fishing boats were dragged out of reach of the tide", planned fishing settlements were recreated at Inverallochy and the twinned village Cairnbulg. As a result of this planning, within twenty years over 200 boats were based here, although in recent years this has dwindled back to almost none as larger, commercial operations became focused on the nearby ports of Fraserburgh
and Peterhead
.
Owing to the close proximity of the villages to one another, the name Invercairn has in recent years become used on a local basis to represent both.
People may visit Inverallochy to see Maggie's Hoosie, a preserved 19th century fisherwife's cottage. It features "old-time" streets with higgilty piggilty paths, beaches and Cairnbulg harbour, built in the 1920s as a single pier. This was further developed in the early 80s using WW2 tank traps to create an enclosed harbour basin. The facility is currently being re-developed with the help of a Lottery grant to deepen the facility and add pontoon berthing for 20 more berths.
Inverallochy School was established in 1841 as a 36 × 20 feet building that seated 88 scholars. Increased attendance demanded further funding in 1866 to seat 130 scholars and 240 in 1872. It finally reopened in 1965 after a substantial extension to include eight new classrooms, general purpose room, a school meal scullery, an assembly hall–gymnasium and art room. The eight old classrooms were turned into homecraft rooms with housewifery area, science rooms and library.
In 1951, a local profoundly deaf lad, James Duthie, fondly known as Dummy Jim set off alone for the Arctic Circle on his bicycle. A feature film - partly shot in the area - and based on Duthie's journal 'I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle' (first published in 1955) is due to be released in 2011.
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
, in North East Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Cairnbulg Castle, one of The Nine Castles of Knuckle
The Nine Castles of Knuckle
The Nine Castles of Knuckle are a group of ancient castles found in the extinct area of "Knuckle", which today would be located on the very far corner of the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire in the Buchan area of Scotland.- External links :...
, originally dated to the 13th century and parts of the current construction are believed to date to an early period but whereas the land of Inverallochy was granted by Earl Alexander to Jordan Comyn in 1277, there is no indication that the now-ruined Inverallochy Castle
Inverallochy Castle
Inverallochy Castle is a ruined castle near the village of Inverallochy in the Buchan area of north-east Scotland.The ruins lie a half-mile south of Cairnbulg Castle near Fraserburgh. Walls surrounding an inner courtyard remain, along with one partly collapsed tower...
was built at such an early date.
Cairnbulg Castle was a stronghold of the Comyns
John Comyn, Earl of Buchan
John Comyn was Earl of Buchan and an important member of Clan Comyn during the early 14th century. He was a chief opponent of Robert the Bruce in the civil war that paralleled the War of Scottish Independence. He should not be confused with the better known John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, who...
, but was given by Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
to the Earls of Ross in 1316 following the Harrying of Buchan
Harrying of Buchan
The Harrying of Buchan, also known as the Herschip or Rape of Buchan, took place in 1308 during the Wars of Scottish Independence...
,
then passed to the Frasers from 1375 until 1666. The current construction is a late 19th century re-build following a century of abandonment and dereliction.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
in the 1860s wiped out the "collections of huts next to which fishing boats were dragged out of reach of the tide", planned fishing settlements were recreated at Inverallochy and the twinned village Cairnbulg. As a result of this planning, within twenty years over 200 boats were based here, although in recent years this has dwindled back to almost none as larger, commercial operations became focused on the nearby ports of Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
and Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
.
Owing to the close proximity of the villages to one another, the name Invercairn has in recent years become used on a local basis to represent both.
Attractions
Inverallochy is most renowned for its 18-hole links golf course, which looks out over the North Sea from every hole. Although it can be described as "short" at 5375 yards, it is considered a "challenge for any level of golfer" due to dependency on the wind direction and strength.People may visit Inverallochy to see Maggie's Hoosie, a preserved 19th century fisherwife's cottage. It features "old-time" streets with higgilty piggilty paths, beaches and Cairnbulg harbour, built in the 1920s as a single pier. This was further developed in the early 80s using WW2 tank traps to create an enclosed harbour basin. The facility is currently being re-developed with the help of a Lottery grant to deepen the facility and add pontoon berthing for 20 more berths.
Inverallochy School was established in 1841 as a 36 × 20 feet building that seated 88 scholars. Increased attendance demanded further funding in 1866 to seat 130 scholars and 240 in 1872. It finally reopened in 1965 after a substantial extension to include eight new classrooms, general purpose room, a school meal scullery, an assembly hall–gymnasium and art room. The eight old classrooms were turned into homecraft rooms with housewifery area, science rooms and library.
In 1951, a local profoundly deaf lad, James Duthie, fondly known as Dummy Jim set off alone for the Arctic Circle on his bicycle. A feature film - partly shot in the area - and based on Duthie's journal 'I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle' (first published in 1955) is due to be released in 2011.