HISTORY

Of the

Village

St. Combs Old Railway

One of the remotest branches in Scotland, the Fraserburgh- St Combs Light Railway, opened in 1903. It was well used, as there was no bus equal bus service. Eventually steam yielded to diesel. The last train journey from St Combs took place on May 1^st 1965.

‘Fareweel oor trainie, we shed a tear. The Beeching axe has fallen here.’ Dr Beeching was held responsible for the closures of many railways at that time. It was a very sad day for many of the villagers who went home that night with a heavy heart as the 62-year reign of the St Combs Trainie had come to an end.

This is the beach at St.Combs

Here is the Kitty Loch and new shore at St.Combs

This is High Street, St Combs and it is the main road into the village.

Finnish Vessel Anna Aground at St Combs

On Monday 7^th December 1959 the doomed Finnish Vessel “Anna” ran aground on the beach of St Combs. Twenty-four hours later the 60 year old captain Johan Vuoria was persuaded to come ashore and was pulled to safety by breeches buoy to join the rest of his crew. You can still see the wreck of the Anna as you walk along an extremely beautiful beach.

The Walk

Originated in the 19^th century. Initially it was a Temperance Parade, held on Auld Eel (2^nd of Jan), with every member of the band having to sign the temperance pledge. The Abstinence Society of St Combs joined the Society League in 1860-61. (Abstaining from alcohol.) Nowadays it’s an annual walk rather than a Temperance Walk and is well attended. Every year we march through the streets of St Combs with a partner. After walking through the village we board the buses and set out for Inverallochy and Cairnbulg. The band which consists of flutes, drums and triangles, can be heard a long way off.

Inverallochy Castle

Some of Inverallochy Castle can still be seen today as you travel the St Combs – Fraserburgh Road (B9033). It was built as a present for the architect who built The Abbey of Deer beside Aden Park in Mintlaw. There used to be a loch and a bridge around it but they have long since disappeared. The stones for the gateway to the estate can still be seen built into the wall in the village beside Millburn Avenue. In the background of the picture Cairnbulg Castle can be seen off in the distance.