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| Portsoy is a small town with a population of around 2000. It was created a burgh of barony on the 13th of November in 1550 and is situated on the North East coast of Scotland approx. 54 miles North West of Aberdeen. Portsoy is steeped in maritime history and is well known for its yearly Traditional Small Boat Festival, which attracts in excess of 20,000 visitors. The Tennents Lager commercial, which was based on the film "Whisky Galore", was filmed on location in Portsoy and around it's two harbours. What we in Portsoy call the 'New Harbour', was built by the Earl of Seafield in 1825. |  Click on picture to enlarge |
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This was one of the main harbours on the Banffshire coast engaged in herring fishery.
This harbour was damaged during a storm on January 7th 1839 and further
damage was caused by a gale on the 30th of the same month. This meant that
extensive rebuilding had to be done. It has stood the test of wind and
wave reasonably well since then but, in recent years, repairs have been
necessary including the strengthening of the high breakwater. It was
acquired by Portsoy Town Council (now Aberdeenshire Council) in 1932.
Portsoy is also famous for its marble. Portsoy Marble was very much
appreciated for its beauty and was used in the construction of parts of
the chimney in Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles. The herring boom brought further prosperity to Portsoy. At its peak, the herring fleet totaled 57 boats, mostly Drifters. Towards the end of the 19th century the Portsoy fishing fleet moved to the larger harbours of Macduff and Buckie. Today, Portsoy's harbours are primarily used by pleasure craft and small inshore creel boats catching lobster and crab. | |