Category: Disasters

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Disasters Folklore Supernatural

Swallowed by the sand

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In August 1413, a 9-day windstorm smothered the village of Forvie under massive sand dunes, leaving only the kirk visible. Eventually abandoned, Forvie was said to have been cursed by three sisters who were sent off to die in a leaky boat in 1391.

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Yf evyr maidenis malysone
Did licht upon drie lande
Lay nocht be funde of Forvy’s glebys,
Bot thystle, bente, and sande.

(translated)
If ever maidens accursed,
Do alight upon dry land,
Let nothing be found in Forvie’s fields,
But thistles, marram, and sand!

The Curse of Forvie
References

Anderson, W. (1873) Howes o’ Buchan: being notes, local, historical, and antiquarian, regarding the various places of interest along the route of the Buchan Railway. Sentinel Office, Peterhead pp.96-97

Sherriffs, E. (2017) Life in medieval Forvie. Foveran Community Newsletter. Issue 148. pp. 26-27

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Animals Disasters

Fishy windfall

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On 15th Jan 1739, a deadly hurricane hit central Scotland. At Loch Leven winds drove pike and perch by the “horseload” onto the fields that were sold for a penny per hundred. 229 yr later (to the day) was the Great Storm of 1968 which killed 50+ people.

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Disasters People

Stonehaven Skipper’s Silver Watch

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Fisherman, William Christie and 3 of his crew were drowned off Stonehaven in Jan. 1885. Their bodies were never found. 3 years later, another fisherman hooked William’s silver watch by a single link in its chain and presented it to William’s widow Christina.

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Stonehaven Harbour, 1890. Source: https://www.stunningstonehaven.co.uk/looking-back-stonehaven-harbour/
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This picture (below) of fisherfolk at Stonehaven was taken about his time. Also here’s the entry for his boat (The Mary) and the crew in the register of deaths at sea. The cause of death is given as “swamping of boat”

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https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1773579
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Entries in the register of deaths at sea for William Christie and the 3 other fisherman who died after the Mary was swamped.
References

Aberdeen Evening Express. 26th January 1885. pg. 4
Aberdeen Evening Express. 18th February 1888. pg. 2
1885 CHRISTIE, WILLIAM (Statutory registers Deaths 022/MR 98)

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Animals Disasters Food and Drink Words

GONIEL

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n. Mutton from dead sheep.

On the 21st January 1794, a sudden storm hit the Solway Firth area causing major floods. The toll, found at low tide on the Beds of Esk was:

1840 sheep
9 cattle
3 horses
3 people
45 dogs
180 hares
and innumerable smaller animals.

It was remembered as the Goniel Blast.

References

Dictionary of the Scots Language. https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/goniel

Hyslop, J.D. and R. Hyslop (1912) Langholm as it was : a history of Langholm and Eskdale from the earliest times. John Menzies & Co, Edinburgh, pg. 850

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Disasters Rural Life

“Blown Down Trees Blown Up Again”

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It must’ve been gey blowy out in Strathspey in December 1879…

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Disasters

Crinan Canal Disaster

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In 1859, a reservoir on the Crinan Canal burst sending debris and destruction in both directions. One man was swept from Dunardry to Loch Gilp and Crinan was flooded. A “Mr. Thomas Cook” wrote to the Times downplaying the damage, saying tourism not affected.

(and yes, it was *that* Thomas Cook). He was following Victoria on her tour through Scotland and was probably trying to set up trips on the canal as package holidays.

I also found that Crinan also almost had *two* canals. One was planned from Crinan Ferry to Loch Awe, but it never materialised. Probs not new and interesting to folk in Crinan, but was news to me. 🙂

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Disasters

Rowboats in the aisles

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In September 1421, the Tyne flooded so badly that “a great many houses were entirely defaced” in Haddington. The waters were still high on the Feast of St Ninian (16th Sept) so parishioners had to row boats into the church to pray.

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Disasters

Great Govan Flood of 1454

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On the 25th and 26th November 1454, the entire town of Govan was put “in ane flote” by “ane richt gret spait”. Every inhabitant had to sit on the roofs of their “houssis, bernis, and millis” as the flood took them sailing down the Clyde.

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Disasters Rural Life

Portpatrick Fireballs

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In March 1931, a “fireball” crashed into the farm of Knock and Maize near Portpatrick destroying a pigsty and chicken coop and set fire to an enginehouse. Five years later, during a December storm, a massive fireball crashed in the sea two miles off the harbour.

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Disasters

Forth Rail Bridge “christened”

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On 21st May 1909, the Swedish barque “Topic” was being tugged up the Forth to Grangemouth when it collided with the span of the Rail Bridge. It was the first accident of its kind since the bridge was completed. The ship lost its royal sail masts (in red).