Fraserburgh drydock meets the requirements of larger classes of fishing vessels and supply boats.

Fraserburgh drydock meets the requirements of larger classes of fishing vessels and supply boats.

Early 16th century   Sir William Fraser, sixth laird of Philorth, purchased  the lands of Faithlie.

1542   Alexander Fraser, seventh laird of Philorth, received  from King James V a charter of the whole fishings  opposite his lands, and in 1546 he constructed a  convenient harbour. As a result, he received a royal  charter erecting Faithlie into a burgh of barony.

9 March 1576   Sir Alexander Fraser, eighth laird of Philorth, laid  the first stone of a new harbour. This harbour was  bounded by a north breakwater, where the North  Pier is today, and a south pier, which forms the  landward leg of the middle jetty.

1588  Sir Alexander Fraser, eighth laird of Philorth, obtained a charter erecting Faithlie into a free port  and burgh of barony.

1592  Sir Alexander Fraser, eighth laird of Philorth, obtained a grant of novodamus, creating Faithlie  a burgh of regality with a free port, and ordaining  that it should henceforth be called the Burgh and  Port de Fraser. Thus the port of Fraserburgh was  born.

1809-1810  New North Pier completed.

1815-1817  The start of the herring-curing industry in Fraserburgh saw bumper landings of herring through the port.

Midwater trawlers berthed in Balaclava basin.

Midwater trawlers berthed in Balaclava basin.

1818   The construction of the South Pier was started, and  the first direct local harbour authority, as constituted  by an act of parliament, met for the first time – the  first Fraserburgh harbour commissioners.

1850  Construction began of a new north breakwater later  named Balaclava Pier (after the Crimean War).

By 1873  The prosperity generated by the boom in the herring fishery combined with the coming of the railway in 1865 made further enlargement of  the harbour a matter of urgency.

23 October, 1875  The foundation stone of a new breakwater was laid  by Lord Saltoun.

Whitefish laid out ready for auction in one of Fraserburgh’s two modern fishmarkets.

Whitefish laid out ready for auction in one of Fraserburgh’s two modern fishmarkets.

1875-1887  Extensive improvements made to the Balaclava and  North harbours, including the provision of a lifeboat  slip.

1879  First election of harbour commissioners, with Lord  Saltoun’s factor as chair of the harbour board until  1892.

c. 1881-1902 Construction of the fishmarket at South Pier.

1892-1975   After the passing of the Burgh Police Act in 1892, the chairman of the commissioners was the provost  of Fraserburgh until

town councils disappeared in  1975.

1894-1896  Balaclava harbour deepened.

1908  Start of construction of the Faithlie harbour, with  storm gates across the entrance. These were swept  away shortly after completion in 1914.

The new Blacksands Quay provides an extensive area for net repairs.

The new Blacksands Quay provides an extensive area for net repairs.

By 1931  Slipway at Faithlie basin had been built.

1959  Fishmarket built on Walker Quay at Faithlie basin.

1963  Opening of reconstructed Faithlie basin.

1977  Balaclava harbour deepened for the second time,  along with the main entrance channel.

1981  Slipway at Faithlie basin replaced by a new hydraulic slipway.

1987  New fishmarket built on Finlayson Quay alongside  existing one on Walker Quay.

1989  Original fishmarket at Walker Quay replaced with a  new one.

1992  Deepening of inner Balaclava, and building of  Queen Elizabeth II drydock.

Fraserburgh’s modern shiplift and six-berth refit facility attracts a wide range of local and visiting vessels.

Fraserburgh’s modern shiplift and six-berth refit facility attracts a wide range of local and visiting vessels.

1997  Main channel and Balaclava harbour deepened.

2000  Six-berth shiplift constructed at Faithlie basin.

2002-2003  Deepening of approaches to Fraserburgh harbour.

2012  Deepening of North harbour and creation of Blacksands Quay.

2018  Master plan exercise undertaken by commissioners, and selection of Fraserburgh as  preferred port for Moray offshore wind project  (MOWEL).

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