St Fergus
| St Fergus Gaelic: Peit Fhearghais | |
| Aberdeenshire, Banffshire | |
|---|---|
 St Fergus Kirk | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NK0978852012 |
| Location: | 57°33’30"N, 1°50’11"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,030 |
| Post town: | Peterhead |
| Postcode: | AB42 |
| Dialling code: | 01779 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Aberdeenshire |
St Fergus is a village and parish that forms a detached part of Banffshire locally situate in Aberdeenshire. St Fergus lies a mile from the North Sea coast and three miles north-west of Peterhead. As you cross the "chain brigg" over the river Ugie at Balmoor House you enter the Parish of St Fergus. On the left in the trees are the remains of Inverugie Castle and further up river are the remains of Ravenscraig Castle. The village referred to above is the "New Village" which has a kirk (church) built in 1763. The church for this parish previously stood in the old kirkyard near the sea shore (Now St Fergus Cemetery) this is located about two miles eastward, on the St Fergus Links and is still used as a burial ground. Prior to the change in site of the church the parish was known as Longley and at a still more remote period Inverugie.
St Fergus is the landfall site for the FLAGS, Frigg, Vesterled, Miller, SAGE and Fulmar gas pipelines and a number of gas plants are located there. These include the St Fergus Gas Plant and a British Gas plant. The St Fergus Gas Plant opened in 1982 and it receives and processes around 15% of the United Kingdom gas demand from some 20 fields.
History
There is considerable evidence of local habitation by prehistoric man in and around St Fergus. Somewhat to the southwest lies the Catto Long Barrow and a number of tumuli.[1] Somewhat to the east lies the Longman Hill long barrow.
The beach area was classed as a risk during WW2 as a possible landing area for a German invasion, A number of pillboxes and anti-tank blocks were placed along the coast, these formed part of the Rattray stop line. Antitank ditches are still visible today. A minefield was laid on St Fergus links and Craigwan sands. On 30 November 1941, 11-year-old John Paul, 12-year-old James Reekie and Corporal Ronald Cumbley of the Royal Engineers were killed by a landmine, two other soldiers were also injured. On 26 March 1946, Lance Corporal Reginald Wallis and Corporal John Wood, of 11 Bomb Disposal company were killed whilst clearing landmines from the area.
Line notes
- ↑ C. Michael, Hogan, 2008
Sources
- C. Michael Hogan (2008) Catto Long Barrow fieldnotes, The Modern Antiquarian