Severus, accordingly, desiring to subjugate the whole of it, invaded Caledonia – Cassius Dio – Carpow lies on the south bank of the Tay Estuary, just east of its confluence with the Earn. Roman remains were noted here in the eighteenth century, but it was not until 1961-2 that a formal investigation of the site […]
History along the Tay – Carpow Read More »
Nothing worthy of observation, the very ruins being almost eaten up by time – Daniel Defoe – The vast majority of present day visitors to Balmerino Abbey would strongly dispute this assertion. This Cistercian monastery was founded in 1229 by the widowed queen of William the Lyon, then destroyed during the Reformation. A Spanish Chestnut
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Ballinbreich Castle Positioned on the south bank of the river Tay in Fife, Ballinbreich Estate became the property through marriage of the Leslie family around 1312, although records show that as early as 1160 the land originally belonged to Orm, son of Hugh of Abernethy. The name Ballinbreich is derived from an ancient Celtic name and is
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Three Thousand Years of Transport across the Tay Although the fares that the ferrymen could charge were regulated, the ferries themselves were not and ran haphazardly both in timing and in safety. This was all to change after the morning of Sunday 28th May 1815 when a pinnace (a small rowing and sail boat), overloaded
Ferries across the Tay Read More »
Fortress Guarding the Tay Broughty Castle has defended the entrance of the Tay for over 500 years, has been involved with Russia once, France twice, and two monarchs who lost their heads (Mary Queen of Scots and King Charles I). It was mirrored across the Tay by a Z-plan castle at Tayport which would have
Dundee Riverside Airport The River Tay Estuary has had a long-standing aviation history. The Royal Naval Air Service first opened a seaplane base at Stannergate, Dundee in 1914 to patrol the East coast of Scotland. The base operated until 1919 and was re-activated between 1940-44. In 1938 the Short Mayo composite aircraft, “Maia-Mercury” (a seaplane
The River near Perth Birds In spring and summer, the Tay is home to Sand Martins which nest in holes in the walls of the riverbank, busily darting around in search of insects. Grey Wagtails can be glimpsed on the riverbank. Dippers are small dumpy birds, with a characteristic bobbing movement, commonly seen around the
Wildlife on the Tay Read More »
Feature image courtesy of Gareth James. Opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 18th August 1966, the Tay Road Bridge crosses the Tay estuary linking Newport in north east Fife with the City of Dundee. Designed by William Fairhurst and built by the Muir of Ord-based construction company Duncan Logan Ltd (Contractors), the bridge
Eighteen hundred years ago the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus would have been a magnificent and terrifying sight as he sailed down on the River Tay. Born in Libya, in North Africa, he found Scotland cold and wet, as did his troops who moaned about the weather, particularly “the water”. In 208 Severus travelled to Britain,
The wreck of the steamer Dalhousie The story of the River Tay’s worst recorded shipwreck began late on the evening of a storm-lashed Thursday, 24 November 1864. The Dundee-bound steamer London was crossing St Andrews Bay when her crew spotted a blue light, then a recognised distress signal, among the breakers off Tentsmuir. A strong
We at Taymara fully understand that the thought of going to sea, perhaps for the first time, on one of our boats may be ever so slightly scary. This booklet, designed in particular for children and families dealing with severe chronic illness or disability, may help to put you at your ease. In addition to
Information for children and families travelling with Taymara Read More »
The Bosun’s Locker is the title of a short illustrated booklet introducing you to boats and boating. The Boatswain, or Bosun for short, is a ship’s officer in charge of equipment and crew. The word was originally Old English, dating from at least as far back as the 1400s. In modern day ships the main
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In 1821, as shown in John Wood’s Town Atlas, Dundee’s docks extended from roughly where RRS Discovery is now berthed to the site of the Apex Hotel. The present day commercial Port of Dundee (used by working ships and oil rigs) runs from the old inner dock entrance, which is next to the eastern end
Heritage on and around the Tay The Tay Seekers project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will support young people whose curiosity about the wealth of heritage assets in and around the River Tay has been primed by respite river trips provided by Taymara’s Time for Life project, run for children stressed and otherwise affected
Tay Seekers – Taymara Heritage Experience Read More »
London, May 24 [1701]. Yesterday Captain Kidd, and three other Pirates, were Executed at Execution-Dock, at Low- water Mark. London, May 27 [1701]. Captain Kidd is to be Hanged in Chains at Tilbury Point. Post Boy (newspaper) Captain William Kidd was born in Dundee in 1654. His father was John Kidd, who was a seaman,
Captain Kidd: pirate from Dundee Read More »
The Tay is the United Kingdom’s greatest river in terms of outflow. Rising on the slopes of Ben Lui, it finally reaches the open sea east of Buddon Ness and Tentsmuir Point. It gives rise to a wealth of contemporary buildings and other features, all of which depend to some extent on the river and its immediate surroundings.
Improving Lives Tay’gether: modern day surroundings Read More »
If you want to know more about our services to disadvantaged groups, send us an email at ahoythere@taymara.org
