Peterhead

Infobox UK place
official_name= Peterhead
local_name=
gaelic_name= Ceann Phàdraig, Inbhir Ùigidh
scots_name= Peterheid
country= Scotland
population= approximately 19,000
os_grid_reference= NK135465
latitude= 57.5091
longitude= -1.7832
post_town= Peterhead
postcode_area= AB
postcode_district= AB42
dial_code= 01779
constituency_westminster= Banff and Buchan
london_distance=
edinburgh_distance=
unitary_scotland= Aberdeenshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Aberdeenshire
constituency_scottish_parliament= Banff and Buchan
website=

Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's largest settlement, having a population of approximately 19,000. Peterhead sits at the easternmost point in mainland Scotland. Peterhead is often referred to as 'The Blue Toon' and people who were born there as Blue Tooners. More correctly they are called Bloomogganners, supposedly from the blue worsted stockings that the fishermen originally wore. In May 2007, the Peterhead Football Club adopted as its fan song "The Blue Toon Tune".

History

Peterhead was founded by the Keith Earls Marischal in 1587, and was developed as a planned settlement. In 1593 the construction of Peterhead's first harbour, Port Henry, encouraged the growth of Peterhead as a fishing port and established a base for trade. A lifeboat station was first established in 1865. [ [http://www.peterheadlifeboat.co.uk/History.htm Brief History of Peterhead Lifeboat Station] www.peterheadlifeboat.co.uk, accessed July 15th, 2008] Since early times Peterhead has received a portion of its water supply from Morris Wells. [C. Michael Hogan (2008) "Catto Long Barrow fieldnotes", Modern Antiquarian [http://letmespeaktothedriver.com/site/11227/catto.html#fieldnotes] ] In Peterhead prison was opened in 1888, gaining a reputation as one of Scotland's toughest prisons. A new phase of growth was initiated in the 1970s with Peterhead becoming a major oil industry service centre, and the completion of the nearby St Fergus gas terminal. At this time, considerable land holdings were allocated for industrial development.

In recent times, the town has suffered from several high profile company closures and is facing a number of pressures, including Common Fisheries Policy reforms. However, it retains a relatively diverse economy, including food processing, textiles, service industries and, still importantly, fishing. (Over 90,000 tonnes of fish, with a value of around £60m are now landed at Peterhead, which is still also base to over 550 fishermen.) Peterhead Bay Authority plan to extend the northern breakwater as a stimulus to the town's economic development. In addition, to assist with business diversification and town centre environmental improvements, the 'Peterhead Project' initiative under the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership brings together the Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Communities Scotland, commerce and community representatives.

Until April 2005, the Royal Air Force station RAF Buchan was located near the town.

Education

Peterhead Academy

Peterhead Academy houses around 1400 pupils and the school is split up into 8 houses (Arbuthnot, Buchan, Craigewan, Grange, Marschall, Ravenscraig, Slains and Ugie), with all the names associated with areas of the town. The school has pupils coming from surrounding villages such as Boddam, Cruden Bay, Hatton, Inverugie, Rora and St Fergus.

Primary schools

Peterhead has seven primary schools (Clerkhill, Buchanhaven, Meethill, Dales Park, Central, Burnhaven, Anna Ritchie), Clerkhill being the largest.

Transport

Peterhead has a number of in-town and out-of-town bus services.

Peterhead once had two railway stations Peterhead railway station and Peterhead Docks railway station, but both are now closed.

Economy

Company/Organisation Activity
*Woodgroup Pressure Control
*Score Europe & Score Energy, Engineering
*Scottish Prison Service (HM Peterhead Prison), Prison Services
*ASCO Plc, Oil Services
*Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd, Oil Company
*ASDA (Walmart), Retailing
*Morrisons Supermarket Plc, Retailing
*Smiths of Peterhead Ltd, Woollen Manufacturing
*Fresh Catch Ltd, Fish Processing
*Forman Fish Ltd, Fish Processing
*Taylor Crane Company Ltd, Crane Hire
*Waterside Inn (Swallow Hotels), Hotel Services
*Macrae Foods Ltd, Fish Processing
*Barchester Healthcare Ltd (Kirkburn Court Nursing Home), Nursing Home Services
*Community Media Ltd, Printing and Publishing
*Strachans Ltd, Grocery Wholesale
*Ken Cassells Ltd, Fish Processing
*The Palace Hotel (Peterhead) Ltd, Hotel Services
*Alexander Buchan Ltd, Fish Processing
*Dales Engineering Ltd, Steel Fabrication
*Precision Powertrain (UK) Ltd, Transmission Manufacturing
*Stagecoach Bluebird, Bus Services
*Department of Social Security, Government Benefits Office
*Aberdeenshire Council, Local Government Services
*Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Health Services
*Peterhead Box Company Ltd, Box Factory
*Natural Skincare Factory, Healthcare Products

Definition based on more than 70 employees.Source: Various

Tourism

The harbours, maritime and built heritage are the town's principal tourism assets. Recent initiatives include investments in the Peterhead Bay area, which have included the berthing of cruise ships in the harbour. A number of projects are planned under the auspices of the Peterhead Project initiative, including tourism strategy development, enhancement of existing attractions, measures to improve the town's physical attractiveness, and improved marketing and promotion.

port

Peterhead F.C. are a Scottish Football League side who currently play in the Second Division.

Twin town

* Ålesund, Norway

References

ee also

* List of Provosts of Peterhead
* Clerkhill

External links

* [http://www.visitpeterhead.org.uk Peterhead's Official Website]
* [http://www.peterheadonline.com The unofficial guide to Peterhead]
* [http://www.peterheadscottishweek.org Peterhead Scottish Week - Annual gala in town]
* [http://www.buddingrose.co.uk Budding Rose - A Peterhead Trawler]
* [http://www.werain.co.uk Photographs and forum live webcams showing life in a rural garden]
* [http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/dialects/nis.html Listen to recordings of a speaker of Peterhead Scots]
* [http://www.peterheadnetwork.com Peterhead Business Directory]
* [http://www.peterheadnews.com Peterhead News Site]
* [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Local Authority Covering Peterhead Area]