Royal Burgh of Nairn: Fishertown 1220 – 1975: Society St/Park St

The town of Nairn was founded by Royal Charter in 1220 and Fishertown is one of the oldest parts of Nairn left.

Fishertown lies between the A96 trunk road and the sea. For generations of families who made their living from the sea the maze of narrow streets provides was home. Today it is a charming contrast to the larger houses in the west end of Nairn. The area remains largely unchanged, although many houses have been upgraded and the outhouses used for curing fish and storing nets in the past have been converted to meet the needs of modern-day living.

The fishing fleet based here expanded when Thomas Telford completed the harbor; more than 90 boats were based here by the late 1890s. But the Russian revolution of 1917 resulted in a sharp fall in demand for herring, starting a gradual decline in the number of boats. Better facilities at larger east coast ports saw the Nairn fleet continue to decline, even after the opening of a new harbour basin in 1932. With renovation and the provision of pontoons in the 1980s, however, the basin was given a new lease of life for small fishing boats and pleasure craft.

One of Scotland’s earliest Benevolent societies, the Nairn Fisherman’s Society in Fishertown was founded in 1767 to care for the Widows and Ophans created by the hazards of fishing. Income came from Quarterpennies (subscriptions) and from the hire of the Mortcloth, the shroud required for funerals. Land was obtained for housing, smoking sheds, net stores and shops such as grocers, bakers and ships chandlers.

The current population of Nairn is around 11,000 people and the town offers a wonderful and varied range of shops, restaurants, take-aways, bars, social activities, sports and recreation. There are also Folk –nights and ceilidhs, as well as an annual Books & Arts Festival, International Jazz festival & Highland Games.

Nairn is also ideal as a touring centre being close to the Grampian Mountains, Aviemore Skifield & the new Funicular railway, Cawdor Castle (MacBeth) and Brodie Castle, The Findhorn Foundation, The Culloden Battle-site, Inverness City, Speyside Whisky Trail, historic Cromarty & the Black Isle.

Boat trips into the Moray Firth to see the unique most northerly colony of dolphins run from the Harbour, one of the only two UK colonies of Dolphins. Opposite Fishertown across the Firth lies the entrance to Cromarty Firth and the ancient town of Cromarty, on the tip of the Black Isle, a Royal Port that traded with France in the 10th Century.
From the Nairn river mouth it is possible to walk or cycle for miles along the beach eastwards to Culbin forest and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds nature reserve.