South Queensferry

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For other places with the same name, see Queensferry (disambiguation).
South Queensferry seen from the Forth Road Bridge.
South Queensferry seen from the Forth Road Bridge.
Jublilee Clock Tower, South Queensferry.
Jublilee Clock Tower, South Queensferry.

Queensferry (often referred to as South Queensferry to distinguish it from North Queensferry), originally a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, is now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the northwest of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8 miles (13 km) from Edinburgh Airport. The town's population is around 12,000 people. The older Scottish Gaelic name is Cas Chaolais meaning "The Steep Sided Straits", but a translation of the English is now more frequently used.

The town is named after Saint Margaret of Scotland who used to cross the firth by ferry from "Queen's Ferry" to visit her chapel in Edinburgh Castle. She died in 1093 and made her final journey by ferry to Dunfermline Abbey. Her son, David I of Scotland, awarded the ferry rights to the abbey.

There had been ferries at South Queensferry until 1964 when the Forth Road Bridge was opened. Ferry services continue to run from the harbour to the islands within the Firth of Forth, including Inchcolm.



Contents

[edit] Local Traditions

[edit] The Ferry Fair

A local fair dates from the 12th century. The modern form, dating from the 1930s, takes place each August and includes the crowning of a local school-girl as the Ferry Fair Queen, a procession of floats, pipe bands, and competitive events such as the Boundary Race. The Fair also has a dedicated radio station, Jubilee FM, which in May 2007 was awarded a licence to evolve into a full Public Service Community Station for North and South Queensferry this year. For more information on the Ferry Fair Festival please visit http://www.ferryfair.co.uk

[edit] The Burry Man

The Burry Man takes a rest supported by his two attendants.
The Burry Man takes a rest supported by his two attendants.

South Queensferry hosts the strange annual procession of the Burry Man during the Ferry Fair. This unique pagan-like cultural event is over three hundred years old, but its true origins are unknown. The name "Burry Man" likely derives from the - the hooked fruits from the Burdock plant - which serve as the central feature of his dress, although it has also been suggested as a corruption of "Burgh Man", since the town was formerly a royal burgh.

A local man is covered from head-to-toe in sticky burrs which adhere to undergarments covering his entire body, leaving only the shoes, hands and two eyeholes exposed. On top of this layer he wears a sash, flowers and a floral hat and he grasps two staves. His ability to bend his arms or sit down is very restricted during the long day and his progress is a slow walk with frequent pauses. Two attendants in ordinary clothes assist him throughout the ordeal, helping him hold the staves, guiding his route, and fortifying him with whisky sipped through a straw, whilst enthusiastic children go from door-to-door collecting money on his behalf. The key landmarks on the tour are the Provost's office and each pub in the village.

[edit] The Loony Dook

The name "Loony dook" is a combination of "Loony" (short for "lunatic") and "dook", a Lowland Scots term meaning "dunk". A recently instituted event whereby people dive into the freezing waters of Firth of Forth on New Year's Day often in fancy dress. In recent years the event has attracted many people from all over the world, including many people visiting Edinburgh to celebrate New Year.

[edit] Brass Band

Queensferry has a community brass band that evolved from being a school brass band to a youth band and finally to its present status as a competing adult band. It came third in the 2006 Scottish Brass Band Championships 4th section contest [1]and fourth in 2007[2]. In addition to competing, it takes part in many community events including the Ferry Fair. In addition to this there is a school brass band that has won the Community section of the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships in Both 2005 and 2006. [3], [4]

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] On the High St.

  • St Mary's Episcopal Church. This is the town's oldest building, dating from 1441. It is Scotland's only surviving church of the Carmelite order of friars.
  • Black Castle - Built in 1626. When the original owner, a sea-captain, was lost at sea, his maid was accused of paying a beggar-woman to cast a spell. Both women were burned for witchcraft.
  • Plewlands House - A 17th century mansion in the centre of the village, managed by the National Trust for Scotland since 1953.
  • The Tollbooth - On the High St. dating from the 1600s, with clock-tower built in 1720.

The Hawes Inn in South Queensferry features in Robert Louis Stevenson's book Kidnapped. Opposite here you can catch the ferry to Inchcolm.

[edit] Wining and Dining

There are a large selection of pubs, bars and restaurants within Queensferry. The High Street is home to the Ferry Tap, Anchor Inn, Stagshead Hotel (The Stag), Orocco Pier (formerly Queensferry Arms)and the Boathouse among others.


[edit] Stately homes

[edit] Commercial development

In recent years in Queensferry there has been commercial development of the Ferrymuir area of the town. What was formerly fields bordering the A90 road into Edinburgh now houses a large Tesco, Frankie and Benny's New York Italian Diner, a Burger King and the luxury Dakota hotel, which recently won several awards for its high standards and customer service. Further into the town, beside the Coop (Scotmid) grocery store in The Loan Centre, many other shops are open: Chilli Waves Tandoori Takeaway, Bikes 2 Bikes Clothing and Bamboo Chinese Sit-In / Takeaway.

[edit] Schools

South Queensferry is home to three primary schools (Echline Primary, Queensferry Primary and St. Margarets Primary) and one secondary school (Queensferry High School).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 55°59′15″N, 3°24′0″W