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Aberdeen is often thought to be a cold, grey city that is heavily reliant on the oil industry for its welfare but by taking a closer look you can find the hidden treasures of the granite city.
Footdee – known to the locals as “Fittie” – is a small village at the east end of Aberdeen’s harbour. Orginally a fishing village, Footdee has roots in medieval times although it was originally a touch further north – the first recorded reference to Fittie was in 1398. However, with the increase in prominence of the harbour the village moved closer to the port.
Its name is often thought to come from “Foot of the Dee” but modern historians now believe it to be a corruption of a former dedication to Saint Fothan.
The village was designed by Aberdeen architect John Smith and is arranged in two squares of houses, each with their front doors pointing inward to protect against the harsh winds of the North Sea. Back in the day, the buildings would have housed fishermen and their families though with the reduction of fishing in the area the houses have generally become homes for everyday families.
Previously, the squares would have been full of fishwives gossiping while fixing nets for their husbands or drying and untangling equipment for the next trip out to sea. The buzz of activity has certainly died down but the village – with its diminuitive houses – is still one of the most picturesque spots in Aberdeen and it fittingly has one of the best seafood restaurants in the city.
As well as gossiping fishwives, another thing absent from Footdee is chickens. Because of the trouble residents were having with poultry ruining their thatch roofs, a court order was obtained banning residents from keeping poultry as pets. Any hens or similar birds found in Footdee were ordered to be killed instantly.
Footdee is mainly a residential area although with its close proximity to the city it has all the amenities it needs nearby. Reaching Footdee is relatively easy; flights to Aberdeen land in Dyce and are a short bus or taxi trip away from the city centre. From there, people wishing to visit Footdee can either catch a bus or take a short stroll down to the harbour.
A special time to visit is around New Year as the village undertakes the tradition of burning old boats on the old Hogmanay date of 11 January. As the boats burn, villagers cry ‘Burn the boat’ and the embers would be taken round the houses in the village to help ward of evil spirits and witches that caused shipwrecks.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Footdee: the Jewel of Aberdeen
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