Cullen, Moray
Cullen
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West view over Cullen | |
Location within Moray | |
Population | 1,390 (mid-2020 est.)[1] |
OS grid reference | NJ512672 |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BUCKIE |
Postcode district | AB56 |
Dialling code | 01542 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Cullen (
The village is noted for
History
Cullen has a long history, remarkably well-documented thanks to the survival of a number of sources. These are summarised in two key books: the Annals of Cullen by W Crammond (1904) and the Church Annals of Cullen by W Robertson (1938). The first deals primarily with the civil governance and the latter with church governance up to the
Writing in around 139–161,
The church was founded as a chapel by
The organs of the wife of
Robert Burns stayed overnight at what was then the old town of Cullen in 1787 during his tour of the Highlands. Travelling from the west to the east he remarked that up to this point, "the country is sadly poor and unimproved".[13] The old town of Cullen was demolished in 1822 and its remains are next to
The central market cross in the town square originally stood in the old town. During the building of the new town it was temporarily erected at the top of the ancient fort structure that guards the entrance to the Cullen Burn (stream), known as the Castle Hill. This resulted in the present layout of the village, a generous cross shape of two major streets, Seafield Street and Grant Street, with a central town square and "the Seatown" sandwiched on the false beach between the mouth of the Cullen Burn and the harbour. In the previous layout the town was spread along a road above and parallel to the Cullen Burn, running between the Castle Hill and Cullen House, the Seatown being at the mouth of the Burn where boats used to be pulled up onto the beach. The most prominent building in the new town is Cullen Town Hall which was completed in 1823.[16]
The fishing industry developed quickly in the 1880s and the harbour was crammed with large sailing fishing boats, these giving way to steam drifters at the start of the 20th century. The industry became centralised on larger harbours, the boats became larger diesel-engined designs that required non-tidal access. The site of Cullen railway station was redeveloped after the station closed in 1968.[17]
The main part of Cullen House dates from 1543. An east wing was added in 1711, and there were alterations by David Bryce in 1858. The House and estate buildings were converted into 14 dwellings in 1983 by Kit Martin. Prior to the use of Cullen House by the Earls of Seafield, the castle of Findlater, now a ruin, on a rocky coastal outcrop approximately 2 miles (3 kilometres) to the east, was the Earl's seat.[18]
Features
The village now has a population of 1,327.[2][3] Cullen is noticeably busier in summer than winter due to the number of holiday homes owned. The village has an impressive beach and golf course, and the Crannoch wood which offers good views of the area. The 1,086-foot (331-metre)
Cullen was the setting for Doris Davidson's romantic novel The Three Kings, named after the three rocks at the east end of Cullen beach. The local writer
See also
- Boards Of Canadamusic group
References
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ a b United Kingdom Census 2001
- ^ a b Cullen census data Archived 7 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 1-899874-26-7
- ^ a b Presbytery of Moray Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Bruce prayers cash reinstated". The Herald. 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan (2008) Longman Hill, Modern Antiquarian
- ^ "Cullen Burgh". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ William Cramond The Annals of Cullen, 1904
- ^ Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History 1922; p. 470
- ^ W. CRAMOND; NOTES ON TUMULI IN CULLEN DISTRICT; AND NOTICE OF THE DISCOVERY OF TWO URNS AT FOULFORD, NEAR CULLEN (1897) Retrieved 29-12-2010 Archived 11 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland; or, Dictionary of Scottish topography". Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ^ Journal of Robert Burns's Tour of the Highlands p17 Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 January 2011
- ^ Wolfgang Nedobity Lord Findlater and his impact on continental landscaping (2009) Retrieved 25 December 2010
- ^ "The Seatown of Cullen". Grantken.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cullen Town Hall and Seafield Arms Hotel, 15, 17, and 19 Seafield Street and The Square, excluding both 2-storey and attic wings adjoining north elevation of hotel, Cullen (LB23743)". Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Findlater Castle (SM2846)". Retrieved 8 March 2019.