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| The account below is the best that we have on the historical background of the
village. We've split it into two parts for convenience. |
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| (The name Plockton comes from the Gaelic word ploc —
meaning a lumpish promontory, and the English word town — Plocktown.) |
| Before the 19th century, there are no records of many people having lived on the
site where Plockton now stands. It is, however, possible that a small crofting community
of three or four families did exist. |
| The first mentions of Plockton can be traced back to 1787 and1794 when the Earl
of Seaforth's factor talks about the need to lay out or plan a village on the Plockton
peninsula. |
| In the publication The Highlands and Hebrides in 1786,
John Knox, one of the founders of the British Fishery Society, mentions the Bay
of Ploc as a suitable site for a new fishery centre. He also refers to the difficulty
of obtaining a supply of fresh water on the Ploc peninsula. |
| In 1798, the estate which included the Ploc promontory was put up for sale and
it was eventually bought by Sir Hugh Innes. |
| In 1801, the new owner drew up plans for a planned village and these plans were
largely implemented over the next twenty years. In fact, by 1841, there were 537
residents in the village of Plocktown. This is still the largest number of people
who have ever been permanent residents in the village at one time. |
| The reason for this increase in population was due to the rise of the fishing
industry and in 1841 Plocktown is referred to as, 'a thriving fishing centre with
two schools'. Some of the vessels berthed in Plockton at this time were capable
of trading with places on the Clyde coast. |
| By means of these sloops and smacks, the fishermen were able to transport their
herring to Greenock and Glasgow, where they were able to realise the highest market
price. These trips south also meant that the inhabitants of Plockton were able to
trade with the more varied and cosmopolitan markets of urban Scotland. |
| Despite a generous harvest from the sea, the land in Plockton at this time was
not considered to be of very good quality. A letter of the time says, 'The excellent
quality of Highland Milk is well known but it is not to be expected from cows on
such poor feeding as can be found in Plocktown'. |
| Between 1850 and 1880, Plockton reached its peak in population
and maritime activity. Sir Alexander Matheson had taken over as proprietor and once
he had built his mansion home at Duncraig Castle, he carried out afforestation work
to the area. He also brought forward the extension of the Highland Rail line to
Stromeferry, built a new school in Plockton (it is still used today) and contributed
in many ways to the general improvement of the village. |
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