Brora

Brora (Scottish Gaelic: Brùra) is a village in the east of Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland.

Brora
  • Scottish Gaelic: Brùra

Harbour Road, Brora
Brora
Location within the Sutherland area
Population1,140 [1] (2001 census)
est. 1,160[2] (2006)
OS grid referenceNC906039
Civil parish
  • Clyne
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBRORA
Postcode districtKW9
Dialling code01408
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Clock Tower War Memorial, dedicated 1922
Brora River from Brora Bridge

Origin of the name

The name Brora is derived from ancient Norse, meaning 'river with a bridge.'[3]

History

Brora is a small industrial village, having at one time a coal pit, boat building, salt pans, fish curing, lemonade factory, the new Clynelish Distillery (as well as the old Clynelish distillery which is now called the Brora distillery [4]), wool mill, bricks and a stone quarry. The white sandstone in the Clynelish quarry belongs to the Brora Formation, of the Callovian and Oxfordian stages (formerly Middle Oolite) of the Mid-Late Jurassic. Stone from the quarry was used in the construction of London Bridge, Liverpool Cathedral and Dunrobin Castle. When in operation, the coalmine was the most northerly coalmine in the UK. Brora was the first place in the north of Scotland to have electricity thanks to its wool industry. This distinction gave rise to the local nickname of "Electric City" at the time. Brora also houses a baronial style clock tower which is a war memorial.

Transport

The village is situated where the A9 road and the Far North Line bridge the River Brora. The village is served by a railway station. Buses operate about every two hours Mondays-Saturdays and infrequently on Sundays from Brora to Golspie, Dornoch, Tain and Inverness in the south and Helmsdale, Berriedale, Dunbeath, Halkirk, Thurso, Wick, and Scrabster in the north. These are on routes X98, and X99 and are operated by Stagecoach in the Highlands.

Education

An education is available for primary school children in Brora Primary School in Johnstone Place. The building was formerly Brora High School, that included the primary department. Although the school opened in 1962, the secondary department closed in 1985. It includes a playgroup, nursery and Primaries 1 to 7. Older children are taken by school transportation to the nearby Golspie High School.[5]

Sport

Brora Rangers F.C. were founded in 1879 and have been members of the Highland Football League since 1962. They moved to their present stadium, Dudgeon Park, in 1922. Amongst the local amenities are an 18-hole links golf course designed by James Braid in 1923 for sum of £23, bowling and tennis facilities.

Government listening station

To the south-east of the village is the former Brora Y Station which operated as a Government listening station between 1940 and 1986.[6]

Notable people from Brora

References
  1. "Comparative Population Profile: Brora Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 29 April 2001. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  2. "Statistics". Scottish Government. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009.
  3. Field, John (1984). Discovering Place Names. Shire Publications. ISBN 978-0852637029.
  4. "Brora". The Wiskey Guide. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009.
  5. "Golspie High School Catchment Area Map - Rezzio". 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  6. "How Cheltenham entered America's backyard". New Scientist. 5 April 1984. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  7. "Megan Boyd". www.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
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