Old Portknockie, Findochty and Portessie, by Douglas G. Lockhart

From the introduction: The villages in this book are closely linked to developments in the fishing industry between the seventeenth and the early twentieth century. Portknockie is the oldest, having been established by fishermen from Cullen in 1677. Findochty was founded in 1716 by fishermen from Fraserburgh and Portessie dates from 1727 when fishermen from Findhorn settled there. These communities are situated in the former County of Banff (now Moray) along a four­mile stretch of the shores of the Moray Firth with much of this land on the extensive Seafield estate. Portknockie, Findochty and Portessie share many similar features, with housing in the older areas following the gable end to the sea layout while in the Victorian era new dwellings were built in plots within a grid pattern of parallel streets. In the early years of the twentieth century housing has spilled on to land above the brae in Portessie and along arterial roads in Findochty and Portknockie. Completing the picture are extensive areas of peripheral council housing dating from the inter-war and immediate post-World War 11 era....