St Fergus

This article is about the village. For the Irish bishop, see Saint Fergus.
Modern housing in St Fergus

St Fergus (Scottish Gaelic: Peit Fhearghais) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly in the county of Banffshire. St Fergus lies a mile from the North Sea coast and three miles northwest 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 2 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 operated by Royal Dutch Shell and a British Gas plant. In 1982 opened St Fergus Gas Plant, which receives and processes around 15% of the United Kingdom gas demand from some 20 fields, is owned and operated by Total.

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, 2 other soldiers were also injured. On 26 March 1946, Lance Corporal Reginald Wallis age 26 and Corporal John Wood , age 23, of 11 Bomb Disposal company were killed whilst clearing landmines from the area. Cpl Wood stepped on the mine detonating it.

During mine clearing operations by 11th coy Bomb Disposal, a British Empire Medal was awarded to Sgt Robert Husband. Sgt Husband assisted a platoon officer deal with mines that had fallen down a cliff when rough weather caused a bank of sand to collapse.

Line notes

  1. ↑ C. Michael, Hogan, 2008

Sources

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Coordinates: 57°33′30″N 1°50′11″W / 57.55833°N 1.83639°W / 57.55833; -1.83639

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