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Описание: Buckie – A Fishing Town on the Moray Firth
Early Origins

Buckie developed from a group of small fishing hamlets, including Buckpool, Nether Buckie, Easter Buckie, and Seatown. These gradually merged during the 18th and 19th centuries into the larger town we know today.

The area had fishing activity for centuries, but until the 1700s it was mostly small-scale, with open boats drawn up on the beaches.

19th-Century Growth

The 19th century was transformative. The herring industry expanded dramatically, and Buckie grew into one of the largest fishing ports in Scotland.

The construction of proper harbours was key:

Buckpool Harbour was built in the 1850s but soon became inadequate.

Cluny Harbour, financed by the Gordon family of Cluny, opened in 1877. It was expanded in the 1880s and 1906 to handle the booming herring fleet.

At its peak, hundreds of herring drifters operated from Buckie, employing thousands of fishermen and fisherwomen (the women played a vital role gutting and curing fish for export).

Shipbuilding Tradition

Buckie became known for shipbuilding, with firms such as Herd & Mackenzie and Jones Buckie Slip & Shipyard producing fishing vessels and later steel-hulled boats.

These yards supplied not only the local fleet but fishing communities across Scotland.

Culture & Community

Buckie’s growth created a bustling town, with a strong identity tied to the sea. The Scots language dialect spoken in Buckie reflects its fishing heritage and community spirit.

The town has also had a strong religious life, with several churches built in the 19th century to serve its growing population.

20th Century Changes

The decline of the herring industry in the mid-20th century hit Buckie hard, as it did many Moray Firth towns.

However, Buckie adapted:

It remained an important white-fish and shellfish port.

The harbour supported offshore oil and gas vessels in the North Sea from the 1970s onwards.

In recent decades, it has been involved with renewable energy support as well.

Modern Buckie

Today, Buckie retains its fishing heritage while also serving as a local service centre for Moray.

The harbour remains active with fishing boats, commercial vessels, and some leisure craft.

The town still takes pride in its maritime past, with strong community ties to the sea that continue to shape its identity.

✨ Summary:
Buckie grew from small fishing hamlets into a major herring port by the late 19th century, thanks to Cluny Harbour and a thriving shipbuilding industry. Though the herring boom declined, Buckie adapted to new industries and remains one of Scotland’s most important fishing towns, with a proud seafaring heritage.