Portknockie is a cliff-top village overlooking the Moray Firth in NE Scotland, midway between Aberdeen and Inverness. Early settlement at this location is suggested by the remains of Iron Age and Pictish fortifications that have been found on a promontory that shelters the harbour known as the Green Castle. The village was founded in 1677 and it became a significant herring fishing port during the nineteenth century.

At the height of the herring fishing boom about 100 sailing boats crowded its harbour, many of them being of the famous Zulu design. Between 1883 and 1905 some of these boats were being built in the village. The present harbour features date from 1890 and, as late as 1929, it was still being used by up to 58 steam drifters. Today, Portknockie's fishing fleet comprises ten modern boats, which land their fish at Scotland's east and west coast ports with just five smaller boats locally landing creels and mackerel.

Villagers and visitors are invited to gather on Patrol Road overlooking the Hythie for 2.00pm on Saturday 27th June when Mrs Shona Idle, our school Head Teacher, will unveil the Portknockie Homecoming 2009 Mosaic.  This is the outcome of four months of intense work by local artist, Geoff Roberts, and many of our residents to create Portknockie’s first major piece of permanent, public art.   

The idea to commission a piece of art to commemorate the Year of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 was first raised in this paper last autumn.  It has proved to be a project that caught the imagination of the community.  People have been so helpful and many have got involved in the project in a practical sense, indeed a part of many of you forms much of the Mosaic.  The design is inspired by the past and present stories of the village and the themes of the Homecoming and the blend of images portrayed in the finished mosaic is set out deliberately to challenge and make the viewer think. The final design of the Mosaic was discussed in school with the children and the end result reflects many of their ideas. 

This has been a special community-embracing collaboration and our Mosaic will create a splendid added attraction to the Moray coastline.   Villagers and friends of Portknockie have been very generous in funding the project and considerable encouragement came from awards gained from the Arts Council for Moray and the Homecoming Community Grant (Moray Council and EU Leader fund)