Antique Buckie barometer makes return to home port after years languishing in Moray Council storage
An old part of a fishing town’s maritime history has returned to its home port after years marooned in a storage room.
There was a warm-welcome at Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre Ltd for the original barometer which once enjoyed pride of place at the former Buckpool Harbour, the site now being filled in.
The antique - which is reckoned to be at least 150 years old - has lain in storage at the Falconer Museum in Forres after being removed from Buckie.
Along with two recently-discovered framed certificates relating to Buckie RNLI lifeboat from years ago, the barometer will now take pride of place in the heritage centre instead of gathering dust unseen.
The moving force behind the return of the items was Fochabers-Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae, who was born in Buckie and has strong family links with the fishing industry.
It was a task that took some years and no little determination to achieve.
He said: “Since being elected a councillor I've heard about this mythical Buckie barometer and I've always been told [by the council] ‘Never mention it, don't bring it up, don't ask about it’ and that obviously made me very curious as to where it was and why it was where it was.
“At the end of the last council I asked them again and was told to go away. Into this new council I thought ‘Well, I'll have another shot at it’ and was firmly told no, but we had a change in some of the staffing in the council, including a new chief executive, so I tried again.
“I'm very pleased that the new chief executive was very much of the opinion that things should be returned to the communities that they relate to where possible.
“I'd asked about the barometer, but when they were looking for it they found the RNLI certificates and they said ‘Well, do you want these as well?’ and I said that if they're related to Buckie, yes please.
“My family comes from Buckie, I was born in Buckie. If it wasn't for the fishing industry I wouldn't be where I am today. Both the Macrae side and the Murray sides of my family were very active in fishing in the town.
“It's taken some time but it's nice to keep those links alive by returning mementos and memories of the olden days of the harbour back to the town where they belong.”
Councillor Macrae did not rule out other gems from Buckie and other communities being unearthed from the forgotten depths of storage.
He added: “It’s certainly opened the mind as to what else might be out there.
“I think it warrants investigation as the Forres museum looks to reopen again.
“Maybe there’ll be a greater opportunity for communities to actually see what is there from back in the day.”
Heritage Centre Bill Farquhar said: “We’re delighted to have the barometer and certificates back here in Buckie.
“It’s also nice to see so many of the volunteers turning out for this, especially in the winter.”
Mr Farquhar went on to explain that the 1847 Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act regulated the supply of tide and weather gauges to be provided at all harbours, including the one at Buckpool which was completed in 1857.
The lack of good harbours and safety equipment had also been criticised in a report by Captain John Washington RN following severe storms on the east coast in 1848 which saw many fishermen lose their lives. His conclusions also aimed criticisms at boat design, particularly the use of open boats, leading to the production of fully-decked vessels.