Welcome To
Benholm & Johnshaven Heritage Society
Benholm & Johnshaven Heritage Society
Jist a kirn o hooses
On a rocky coast
Higglety piggetty scattered
Naev wonder fowk get lost
Streets that rin roon corners
Hodden ooto sicht
An affa place tae bide in
Very dark an dreich at night
Everybody beddit lang afore eleyven
Noo that’s fat ye get fan ye ging tae Johnshaven
By Douglas Donald
SOME JOHNSHAVEN WORDS
Pleengs or Pleengies - gulls
Solan - gannet
Log or Loag - lugworms
Rampers - ragworm
Rotticks - dead men’s fingers
Pawpes - red beadlet anaemone
This work that created this website and our booklet was delivered by Ceilidhmakers [Christine Kydd, Ewan McVicar, Andy Shanks] and funded by a Capacity Grant, Creative Economy (Place) from Aberdeenshire Council.
OUR PROJECT
Quo the haddie tae the fluke, “Fat gars yer mouie crook?”
“Ma mouie’s no been aven, sin I cam by Johnshaven”.
This is a famous old rhyme that recalls in the Doric Johnshaven’s fishing past.
Benholm & Johnshaven Heritage Society and the Young At Heart Club collected and published in a new booklet and this website more old and newer rhymes that people of Johnshaven, Benholm and places around remembered.
Not just children’s rhymes and games,
but those about
* places * weather
local characters and more.
Not just about fishing and the sea,
but farming * the land
and old customs.
In the Doric and in plain English.
Local folk helped by sharing memories, and by volunteering to ask other present or former Johnshaven folk to contribute.
We will also asked Johnshaven Primary pupils to help by sharing rhymes they know now.
Website text researched by Sheena Blackhall and Ewan McVicar,
images by Johnshaven Museum and Andy Shanks.
JOHNSHAVEN HERITAGE HUB MUSEUM
Come and learn about the very hard lives of those who have lived in this village from as far back as the 17th century. It needed strong people to survive the harsh winters and its remote location. The impact of the railway was significant. Come to our Museum, The Old Lifeboat Shed which stored the Village Lifeboat and was used to rescue those getting into difficulties in the sea for many years. Browse for yourself or let our members share the fascinating history of the last few hundred years with you. We describe the lives of fishermen, the folks who worked in the mill, the men pressganged into the Napoleonic Wars, one minute on the harbour working and the next on a ship bound to fight for their sovereign and maybe never to be seen again. The appearance of the railway meant a life less remote and contact with nearby towns. From time to time we become the Exhibition Centre for Local Artists and Photography from the pupils of a local school in early spring. We have DVDs describing our heritage and photographs showing the village buildings then and now. Maybe listen to some of the old shanties from a CD? Situated on our beautiful harbour and next to The Anchor, where you can get a very tasty bite to eat. Open weekends 1 pm to 4 pm.
