Pennan

Pennan (Scots: Peenan)[1] is a small village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland,[2] consisting of a small harbour and a single row of homes, including a hotel. It is on the north-facing coast and is about one hour's drive from Aberdeen. It was formerly known as St Magnus Haven or Auchmedden.[3]

Pennan
Pennan
Pennan is located in Aberdeenshire
Pennan
Pennan
Location within Aberdeenshire
OS grid referenceNJ845655
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townFRASERBURGH
Postcode districtAB43
Dialling code01346
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Etymology

The name Pennan was recorded in 1587 as Pennand.[4] It is possibly derived from the Brittonic element *pen meaning "head, end, promontory" (Welsh pen).[4][5]

Area history
Pennan portrayed the fictional village of Ferness in Local Hero — the red telephone box is visible
Aerial view of Pennan village

Pennan seems to have come into existence as a fishing village in the 18th century. The people of Pennan were dependent on the sea. Most families had small boats for their own personal use. Where the men would catch the fish, it was usually down to the women and children to try to sell it to clients in the country. Until the 1930s, the population of the village seems to have come under three main surnames - Watt, Gatt and West. In the last 50 years, most of the native families have moved out and most of the houses have been bought as holiday homes.

Pennan became famous in the 1980s for being used as one of the main locations for the film Local Hero, and representing the fictional village of Ferness.[3] Film enthusiasts have come from all over the world to make a phone call in the red telephone box in the village. The phone box featured in the film was a prop. The genuine telephone box, a few yards away, was hidden from view during filming by a prop shed. The Pennan phone box (+44 (0)1346 6210) has been a listed building since 1989.[6]

Landslips, especially one in 2007, have been damaging the village.[7] In 2009 a 25-foot crack appeared on the cliff side, sparking calls for the village to be evacuated.[7]

This part of Aberdeenshire was inhabited by prehistoric peoples since at least the Bronze Age. One of the most ancient extant monuments is the long barrow at Longman Hill.[8]

The nearby harled early-19th-century farmhouse of Mains of Auchmedden "recall the palace of the Bairds of Auchmedden, demolished in the late 18th century". Some of its materials was possibly reused in New Pitsligo.[3]

Stone lifting enthusiasts can now enjoy the opportunity to lift the Millshore Stone 125 kilograms (276 lb) which is a natural lifting stone, thought to be made of granite. It can be easily found next to Mill of Nethermill which is the bay immediately west of Pennan.

Footnotes
  1. The Online Scots Dictionary
  2. UK Ordnance Survey, 2004
  3. McKean, Charles (1990). Banff & Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publications Ltd. p. 118. ISBN 185158-231-2.
  4. Driscoll, Stephen T.; Geddes, Jane; Hall, Mark A., eds. (2011). Pictish Progress: New Studies on Northern Britain in the Early Middle Ages. Leiden: Brill. p. 93. ISBN 9789004187597.
  5. Watson, Adam (2013). Place names in much of north-east Scotland. Paragon Publishing. p. 327. ISBN 9781782220695. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "Pennan, Telephone Kiosk, Opposite Pennan Inn (Category C Listed Building) (LB2760)". Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. "Landslide villagers set to leave". BBC News. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  8. C.M.Hogan, 2008

References
  • United Kingdom Ordnance Survey Map (2004) Landranger, 1:50000 scale
  • C.Michael Hogan (2008) Longman Hill, Modern Antiquarian
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