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St. Abbs is a small fishing village located on
the southeast coast of Scotland, in the committee area of Berwickshire,
Scottish Borders region.
The village was originally known as Coldingham Shore, the name was
changed in the 1890's to St. Abbs. The new name was derived from St
Abb's Head, a rocky promontory located to the north of the village,
itself named after St. Aebbe.
St. Abbs is a popular site for Scuba Divers. The sea around the village
is unusually clear, in contrast to the more silt-laden coastal waters
further to the north or south. These clear waters and the spectacular
underwater scenery resulted in Britain's first Voluntary Marine Reserve
being established at St. Abbs. The Marine Reserve was established on 18
August 1984 by David Bellamy.
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St. Abbs was originally called Coldingham Shore.
Prior to any buildings the fishermen who worked their boats from the
beach resided at Fisher's Brae in Coldingham. These fishermen had to
carry their fishing gear the one and a half miles down a path. The path
is now known as the Creel Path, Creel is the local name for a Lobster
pot.
The first building in St. Abbs was constructed about the middle of the
18th century followed later by a row of 5 cottages. This first row of
houses where constructed in a traditional Scottish style with a central
fire and a wide chimney. The walls where constructed of "Clat and Clay"
a framework of wood interlaced with straw and daubed over with moist
clay.
By 1832 it is recorded that the inhabitants of the Shore comprised
sixteen families, who with twenty others residing in Coldingham,
obtained their livelihood by fishing. In addition to these, thirty
people proceeded annually to the North for the Herring fishing, which
gave employment for fourteen boats from the village.
The village was renamed at the end of the 19th century by the then
Laird Mr Andrew Usher, to its present title St. Abbs.
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