Broughty Ferry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broughty Ferry
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 Broughty Ferry
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| Population | 13,155 |
| OS grid reference | NO465309 |
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| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNDEE |
| Postcode district | DD5 |
| Dialling code | 01382 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
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Broughty Ferry (/ˈbrɒti/) is a lively suburb of Dundee, Scotland. It is located about four miles east of the city centre. You can find it on the north bank of the Firth of Tay.
Broughty Ferry was a separate town, called a burgh, from 1864 until 1913. Then, it became part of Dundee. Long ago, it was a busy village known for fishing and whaling. In the 1800s, rich business owners, called 'jute barons', built their fancy homes here. Because of this, Broughty Ferry was once known as the "richest square mile in Europe."
Today, it is part of the Dundee City council area. It has good road and rail links. Broughty Ferry railway station is in the middle of town. The A930 road runs near its main shops. Many bus routes connect Broughty Ferry to nearby areas and central Dundee.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Broughty might come from Bruach Tatha. This is a Scottish Gaelic phrase meaning "Taybank." The "Ferry" part was added later. This happened when a regular ferry service started in the 1800s. This ferry crossed to Fife. Even after the ferry stopped, the name "Broughty Ferry" stayed.
A Look Back in Time
People have lived in Broughty Ferry since ancient times. It grew from a fishing village into a wealthy area. This was thanks to the jute barons from Dundee. In the 1800s, it was called the 'richest square mile in Europe'.
Broughty Castle's Story
Broughty Castle was built in 1495. It was an important defense building until 1932. The castle played a role in old wars between Scotland and England. It stands on a small piece of land reaching into the Firth of Tay. There are two beaches next to it, one sandy and one with pebbles. The government bought and fixed up the castle in the 1860s.
Old Buildings and Railways
Broughty Ferry has two very old and important churches. St Stephen's Church and St Luke's Church were built in the 1800s. St Stephen's has beautiful stained glass windows. These were made by Edward Burne-Jones.
Broughty Ferry railway station is also very old. Its buildings from 1838 are still used today. This makes it the oldest working railway station in Scotland. Before the first Tay Rail Bridge was built in 1878, a train ferry linked Broughty Ferry to Tayport. This ferry carried trains across the river. Broughty Ferry officially became part of Dundee in 1913.
Brave Animals and People
During World War II, a pigeon from Broughty Ferry became famous. Its name was Winkie. In 1943, Winkie won the Dickin Medal. This award is for animals that show great bravery. Winkie delivered a message that helped rescue a lost air crew.
In 1959, the town's lifeboat, the RNLB Mona, was lost. All its crew members died. They were trying to rescue a ship in trouble.
Architecture and Homes
Broughty Ferry was a small village in the 1400s. Some of its original 18th-century houses are still standing. You can find them near the harbour. In the 1800s, the town grew a lot. New streets were planned in a grid pattern. Many 19th-century houses from this time still exist.
Dundee became famous for "Jute, Jam & Journalism". The jute industry made many people rich. These wealthy jute barons built huge, fancy houses. They built them on the hills above Dundee and in Broughty Ferry. This changed Broughty Ferry from a fishing village into a fashionable place. Some of these large homes have been turned into hotels, care homes, or apartments today.
Schools in Broughty Ferry
There are three primary schools in Broughty Ferry:
- Eastern Primary School
- Forthill Primary School
- Barnhill Primary School
Eastern Primary School's old building is now flats. The primary school children now learn in the old Grove building. Grove Academy is the local high school. A new building for Grove Academy opened in 2009. The primary schools in Broughty Ferry send their students to Grove Academy.
Fun Things to Do
Broughty Ferry is a popular place to visit. It has free parking near the beach. The sandy blue flag beach is very clean. Lifeguards work there in the summer. You can often see dolphins swimming in the Tay from the beach!
Next to the beach is Castle Green park. This park has a newly updated play area. It has fun climbing frames with a sea theme. The paddling pool and water features are popular when it's warm. You can also ride go-karts and play crazy golf. The last hole of the golf course is special. The ball rolls along a model of the Tay Bridge.
The harbour is protected by Broughty Castle. It's home to Scotland's oldest "New Year's Dook." This is a tradition where people swim in the cold water on New Year's Day.
The railway station offers train services. You can easily travel to Dundee and Edinburgh. Or you can go north to Arbroath, Carnoustie, and Aberdeen.
Culture and Traditions
New Year's Day Dook
The "dook" is a yearly event. People dress in fancy dress costumes and jump into the harbour water. This is a very old tradition. It is now organized by the Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association (YAABA). The Dook has never been cancelled, no matter the weather. In 1989, people even had to break the ice with pickaxes!
The Dook is the first big event of the year in Broughty Ferry. It is the largest New Year's Dook in eastern Scotland. Over 300 people brave the icy water. About 3,000 spectators come to watch them.
In 2000, a team swam from Tayport to Broughty Ferry on New Year's Day. The water was only 2°C that day. Most swimmers could only stay in the cold water for three minutes at a time. They completed the crossing in 45 minutes.
Media Connections
The funny character Bob Servant lives in Broughty Ferry. He is from books and BBC shows written by Neil Forsyth.
Sports and Activities
Broughty Ferry has two bowls clubs: Broughty BC and Broughty Castle BC. Their outdoor season is from April to September.
Most sports happen at Dawson Park. This park has many fields and facilities. It has five football pitches and a rugby union pitch. There's also an American football pitch and tennis courts. You can find several athletics facilities too. Dundee's professional football teams sometimes train here. A new all-weather pitch with lights opened in 2006. Grove Academy uses it for sports.
Broughty Athletic F.C. plays football at Whitton Park. They play in a regional league against teams from other areas.
The Forthill Community Sports Club is a large sports area. It was bought in 1880. Today, it is home to:
- Panmure Rugby FC (started in 1880)
- Forthill Cricket Club, which hosts Forfarshire Cricket Club
- Forthill Squash Club
- Forthill Tennis Club, with six clay courts.
Broughty Ferry also has another tennis club, Broughty Ferry Tennis Club. It is open all year. It has six all-weather courts with lights.
Cadet Forces
Young people in Broughty Ferry can join cadet groups.
Air Training Corps
The 1232 (City of Dundee) Squadron is part of the Air Training Corps. It is based in Gardyne Place. Cadets here can learn to fly small planes. They also do field exercises and shooting competitions. The squadron is very active. Cadets meet twice a week and take part in weekend events.
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is a youth group that is almost 150 years old. The Broughty Ferry group used to be called Grove Black Watch. It has now moved to nearby Monifieth.
Famous People from Broughty Ferry
Many interesting people have connections to Broughty Ferry.
- Sportspeople: Famous footballers Frank Munro and Peter Lorimer. Also, former Scottish rugby captain Sir George Cunningham.
- Musicians: Roger Ball from the Average White Band. Gary Clark from the band Danny Wilson.
- Other Notable Individuals: The scientist Thomas Dick. Victoria Cross winner Hugh Malcolm. Mary H. J. Henderson, a leader of women's groups in Dundee. Cartoonists Dudley D. Watkins and Leo Baxendale, who drew for The Beano and The Dandy. The actor Barry Keoghan moved here in 2022.
Bus Services
Several bus companies operate in Broughty Ferry. These include Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach Strathtay, and Moffat & Williamson. Buses travel to many places. These include Ninewells, Dundee, Whitfield, Douglas, Arbroath, and Monikie.
Images for kids
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Broughty Ferry Beach
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Broughty Castle
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An 18th-century house in Broughty Ferry
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Old houses on Fisher Street
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The Fisherman's Tavern
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Orchar Park, a great place to relax
