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The Town House was built in 1788 with later
additions. In front of the Town House is a
Statue of Field Marshal James Keith, a
Jacobite from the Peterhead area that fled to
Russia where he became a Field Marshal in the
Prussian Army. Keith was killed at the Battle
of Hochkirchen in 1758.
Peterhead Harbour is east of Broad Street.
This is where the Town evolved, around Fishing
from the 1580s. The Harbour was extended in the
1770s and 1820s for Fishing and Whaling,
becoming one of the largest Fishing Ports in
Europe.
The Whaling Industry ended at Peterhead in
1893 after Shale Oil
production expanded around the UK. Shale Oil
from Crushed Rock was less expensive to produce
than Whale Oil.
Peterhead Prison
Museum is on the south side of Peterhead on
South Road. This Prison opened
around 1888 to serve as Scotland's only Convict
Prison, for Hard Labour, Scotland's toughest
Prison. A new Prison was completed in 2013,
leading to the Old Prison being used as a
Museum.
Peterhead History
1300s - Clan Keith gained land in the
Aberdeen and Peterhead area for their support
of King Robert the Bruce during the First War
of Scottish Independence. They also
gained the title Earl Marischal.
1382 - the Keith's gained control of
Dunnottar Castle, 54 miles south of
Peterhead.
The Keith's continued to support descendants
of Robert the Bruce, the Stuart Kings, leading
to high profile positions.
1593 - George Keith,
5th Earl Marischal, had the first Harbour built
at Peterhead for Fishing and Trade.
1700s - Peterhead supported the Jacobite's, with Money and Weapons
landed at the Harbour from France. The Jacobite
supporting James Keith,
had to flee Scotland after the Jacobite's were
defeated by Government Forces. Keith ended up
in Russia where he became a Field Marshal in
the Prussian Army.
1788 - the first Whaling Ship
began operating out of Peterhead named the
Robert, hunting in the waters around
Greenland. The Oil and Fat from the Whales was
used for Lighting, Soap, and in the Textile
Industry.
The Meat from the Whales was either dumped
at Sea, or used for Animal Feed, as it was hard
to preserve and few People would eat it.
1798 - the first Horse drawn Mail Coaches
began running between Edinburgh and Peterhead,
using new Roads and Bridges, also carrying
Passengers.
1800s - the Herring industry was booming
with around 600 Sail Fishing Boats based at
Peterhead catching vast amounts of Fish, with
record catches around the late 1800s. Herring
are an Oily Fish, easily caught as they swim in
Shoals close to the surface.
1841 - Peterhead Golf Club
was founded on the north side of the Town.
1862 - Peterhead Railway Station opened, at
a time vast quantities of Fish were being
distributed around the UK.
1865 - a Lifeboat Station was established at
Peterhead.
1888 - Peterhead Convict Prison was opened
as Scotland's toughest Prison.
1892 to 1912 - the South Breakwater at the
Harbour was constructed by Convicts from
Peterhead Prison.
1893 - the last Peterhead based Whaling Ship
was taken out of service, mainly due to less
expensive Shale Oil being produced from Crushed
Rock. Peterhead Whaling Ships caught over 5,600
Whales in 105 years.
1895 - the first Cars were imported into
Scotland.
1900s early - powered Fishing Boats began
entering service, allowing Fishing further out
into the North Sea with larger nets.
1930s - Diesel engine Trucks began
operating, taking trade from the Railways.
1950s - Over Fishing led to the decline of
the Herring Industry, with many Fishing Boats
taken out of service. Quotas were also
introduced to allow Fish Stocks to recover.
1970 - Peterhead Railway Station was closed.
By this time, most of the Fish from Peterhead
was being transported around the UK and Europe
in Refrigerated Trucks.
1970s - Peterhead is used to service the
North Sea Oil and Gas Industry.
1980s - Peterhead had become one of the
largest Ports in Europe for White Fish, with
most White Fish caught at the bottom of the
Sea, such as Cod and Haddock. Most of the Cod
is sold in England, most of the Haddock sold in
Scotland.
Modern Trucks and New Roads, allows the
Refrigerated Trucks carrying Fish to travel the
580 miles from Peterhead to London in about 12
hours.
2013 - a new Prison was opened at Peterhead,
leading to the Old Prison being used as a
Museum.
2018 - a new Fish Market opened at
Peterhead.
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