Burghead

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Burghead
OS grid reference:	NJ115695
Population:	1640 (Census 2001)
Council area:	Moray
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Police force:	Grampian
Lieutenancy area:	Moray
Former county:	Moray
Post town:	Elgin
Postal:	IV30
Telephone:	01343
Scottish Parliament:	Moray
UK Parliament:	Moray
European Parliament:	Scotland

Burghead (Scottish Gaelic: Tòrr an Dùin or Ceann Bhuirgh) is a burgh in Moray, Scotland, and a former fishing and trading port. The present town was built between 1805 and 1809 destroying in the process more than half of the site of an important Pictish hill fort. General Roy’s map shows the defences as they existed in the 18th century but he wrongly attributed them to the Romans. The fort was probably a major Pictish centre and was where the carved slabs depicting bulls had been found; they are known as the Burghead Bulls. A chambered well of some considerable antiquity was discovered in 1809.

Near Burghead there is a large radio transmitter owned by National Grid Wireless used for Long Wave and Medium Wave broadcasting, the Burghead transmitting station.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Iron age fort 1.2 Chambered well 1.3 Burning the clavie 2 Education 2.1 Primary 2.2 Secondary 3 Politics 3.1 National/Scottish government 3.2 Local government 4 External links 5 References and footnotes

[edit] History

[edit] Iron age fort

This vitrified fort lies on top a headland which commands extensive views of the Moray Firth. Originally believed to be Ptolemy's 'Ptoroton' and the 'Torffness' of the Orkneyinga Saga it is now known to be of Pictish origin. It encloses 3 hectares and is three times as large as any other fort of the same period in Scotland. Six striking carved slabs known as the Burghead Bulls were discovered during excavations. Four of the originals are held locally and one each in the Royal Museum, Edinburgh, and in the British Museum, London. Much of the fort was destroyed during the re-building of the village from 1805-09 and the Doorie Hill (see below), which marked the junction of the citadel and the bailey, is the only remaining piece of the southern ramparts. Lengths of the eastern and northern ramparts are also still visible.^[1][2][3]

[edit] Chambered well

The Burghead Well, which lies within the perimeter of the promontory fort, was discovered in 1809. It consists of a flight of stone steps leading down to a chamber containing a tank fed by springs. There is a frieze in the upper walls, a pedestal in the southeast corner and a sunken basin in the northwest corner. The chamber is 11 feet high, and 11 feet across with a 4 foot wide ledge around the edge, and the tank is 4 feet deep. The discovery was made during excavations for a possible municipal water supply after an elderly fisherman recalled a tradition of a well in the vicinity. Various additions such as re-cutting the steps and deepening the tank were undertaken, but the flow of water proved to be insufficient for the proposed new function. At the time of discovery it was assumed that both the fort and well were of Roman antiquity and it was described as a 'Roman bath'. Later in the 19th century it was suggested that it was an early Christian baptistery possibly associated with the cult of St Ethan. Known locally as the 'Bailey Well', it is unique in Scotland and its origins remain obscure. It is almost certainly of Dark Age provenance and clearly had some ceremonial significance.^[1][2][4] It is possible that its main purpose was as a water supply for the fort and may suggest a Pictish interest in water spirits.^[3]

[edit] Burning the clavie

Burghead celebrates New Year on the 11th of January with a pagan fire festival called the burning of the clavie. This is a throwback to the use of the Julian calendar and Scotland's change-over to the use of the Gregorian calendar in the year 1600 and is known as the 'Auld Yuil' [al il] (Old Yule). (The rest of the UK did not start using the Gregorian calendar until the year 1752).^[5] On 20 January 1689 the young men of the village were rebuked by the church courts for "having made a burning clavie, paying it superstitious worship, and blessing the boats after the old heathen custom."^[6] The tradition nonetheless survives. The Clavie is a barrel which is filled with old bits of tar and wood. It is nailed onto a pole with a specially forged nail. Ten men, traditionally fishermen, take turns to carry the burning Clavie clockwise round the streets presenting bits of smouldering embers to householders to bring them good luck for the following year. The Clavie is then put onto the stone altar upon Doorie Hill (the pillar upon which which was not constructed until the 19th century).^[1] More fuel is added before the blazing embers are scattered down the hillside as people scramble for the glowing cinders for good luck.

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary

Burghead Primary School

[edit] Secondary

On leaving Burghead Primary School Transport is available to two schools in nearby towns. Students therefore have a choice to go to either Lossiemouth High School or Elgin Academy.

[edit] Politics

[edit] National/Scottish government

Burghead is part of the Moray Constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which returns a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons, at Westminster.

Burghead is part of the Moray constituency of the Scottish Parliament which has slightly different boundaries to the Westminster constituency. The constituency returns a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) to Holyrood and is part of the Highlands and Islands electoral region.

[edit] Local government

Burghead is represented at The Moray Council by the Burgsea ward. This seat is held by an independent (Eric McGillivray).

[edit] External links

• Census data
• grid reference NJ115695
• Panorama from Burghead Pier (QuickTime required)

[edit] References and footnotes

Coordinates: 57.70655° N 3.48679° W