As early as AD83 the crews of Agricola's galleys are said to have reported the presence of a pictish settlement on the site of Broughty Ferry. Since then the land has been owned by a number of families, including Mr Hallyburton of Balgillo in 1657, and Mr Hunter of Burnside in 1666.

Mr Hunter's family owned the land for 200 years and it was Colonel Hunter, a descendant of the family, who was responsilble for a lot of the present street layout of Broughty Ferry.

The Fort Bar, 1794 - present
1794	Alexander Deans & Son - Brewery in Fort St.
1829	Alexander Deans Jnr is known to be running a bakery in Fort Street as part of the brewery.
1837	William Skirving Vinter - connection with brewery.
1846	William Gray buys brewery business from Alexander Deans Snr.
1858	William Gray described as a brewer and spirit dealer
1908	William Gray has expanded into 52, 54, 58 and 60 Fort Street.
1927	William Gray discontinues brewing.
1961	Sidney H. Chaplin becomes proprietor.
1963	William H. Davidson's home address is No. 56 Fort Street.
1980	John and Carol Black take over the Fort Bar.

Today, everyone knows Fort Street, but how many folk can tell you the full name is Fort Aboukir Street. The colonel was a great admirer of Lord Nelson and, as a mark of respect, named Fort Aboukir Street after an important victory during the Napoleonic Wars where Lord Nelson captured the fort. The name is clearly seen on an early street map of Broughty dated 1801. Synonomous with Fort Street is the Fort Bar and this well known hostelry has a history that is as interesting as the rest of the Ferry.

A man named Alexander Deans is recorded as running a brewery in Fort Street as long ago as 1794 but it is possible that the business was begun earlier than that. His son, Alexander Jnr, was a baker and ran a bake house that was attached to the brewery. This was common practice at the time in order to secure supplies of yeast.

Records show that Alexander Deans Jnr married a Mary Arkley who had a brother David, a farmer at Tealing. This connection would help ensure supplies of corn and barley for the brewery.William Gray bought the brewery in 1845 and his family ran the business until 1960-61. Alexander Jnr continued to run the bakery until he died on July 4th, 1865.

The Grays had two sons and a daughter, and possibly another child aswell. The elder son John was a brewer like his father, but Baxter Gray was best remembered as Provost of Broughty Ferry (1898-1907). He lived in "Springbank", Hill Street.

Since the 1790s there have been many changes to the original building. During the first world war the cellars were reinforced as an air-raid shelter and relics of the past have been unearthed. Between 1961 and 1981 the Fort changed hands twice, the owners being Sidney Chaplin and William Davidson. Over the 10 years since 1981, John and Carol Black have continued an ongoing policy of expansion that has made the Fort one of the most popular and best known public houses in Broughty Ferry and Dundee.