Broughty Ferry

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Broughty Ferry
Scottish Gaelic: Bruach Tatha
Scots: Brochtie
Broughty Ferry (Scotland)
Broughty Ferry

Broughty Ferry shown within Scotland
Population 13,155
OS grid reference NO465309
Council area City of Dundee
Lieutenancy area Dundee
Constituent country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town DUNDEE
Postcode district DD5
Dialling code 01382
Police Tayside
Fire Tayside
Ambulance Scottish
European Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Dundee East
Scottish Parliament Dundee East
North East Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland

Coordinates: 56°28′02″N 2°52′12″W / 56.46718, -2.86991

Broughty Ferry (Gaelic: Bruach Tatha, Scots: Brochtie) is a suburb on the eastern edge of the City of Dundee, situated on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland. "The Ferry" was formerly an independent burgh from 1864 until it was absorbed into the Royal burgh of Dundee in 1913.

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[edit] Etymology

The name Broughty Ferry may derive from Bruach Tatha meaning "Taybank" in Scottish Gaelic. A piece of folk etymology holds that the name derives from the Lowland Scots broch, meaning some form of fortification, with the 'ty' being a shortening of the name of the River Tay, and Ferry being added later in recognition of the town's role as a ferry port. However, this is unlikely, as the word order would probably be "Tay Broch", rather than "Broch Tay".

[edit] History

Evidence exists of a human settlement in pre-historic times, later developing into a prosperous fishing and whaling village, before becoming home to jute barons who had their factories in Dundee. At this time it was known as the 'richest square mile in Europe'

In 1495 Broughty Castle was built and remained in use as a major defensive structure until 1932 playing a role in the Anglo-Scottish Wars and the English Civil War. The castle stands on a shallow tip projecting into the Firth, alongside two beaches, one of sand, the other of pebbles.

Prior to the construction of the first Tay Rail Bridge in 1878, a ferry linked the Edinburgh to Aberdeen railway line between Tayport and Broughty Ferry, until the construction of the rail bridge made it redundant.

In December 1959 the town's lifeboat, The Lifeboat Mona, was lost with all hands attempting to rescue a floundering lightship.

Broughty castle.
Broughty castle.

[edit] Education

There are four schools located in Broughty Ferry, two of which are historical buildings, the primary school, Eastern, and Grove Academy, secondary school. However a new building for Grove Academy is currently under construction, and the old historical building will be sold off for flats. In 2007, Grove Academy became the first ever Scottish state school to win the English-Speaking Union International Schools Mace tournament beating the champions of England, Ireland and Wales in a debate in the House of Lords.

There are another two modern primary schools: Barnhill and Forthill. All three primary schools are feeder schools to Grove Academy, and some children who live in the Barnhill area also have the option to go to Monifieth High School.

[edit] Facilities

Broughty Ferry has a renovated park at the beachfront includes a number of facilities, such as crazy golf and children's go-karts. On New Year's Day there is a tradition of swimming between the piers of the harbour. A limited train service is available from the railway station.

[edit] Sport

Broughty Ferry is home to the junior football club Broughty Athletic F.C.

It also hosts one of the largest youth football organizations in Dundee, Ferry Athletic.

The majority of sports activity go on in Dawson Park which boasts a number of fields and facilities. The park has five football pitches, a rugby union pitch, an american football pitch and several athletics facilities.

In 2006, a new all-weather pitch with floodlights was opened. This is used by the nearby school, Grove Academy, and also by local sports clubs including Ferry Athletic.

[edit] External links

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