Building record MAB23668 - OLD SOUTH BREAKWATER, ABERDEEN HARBOUR

Inner South Breakwater, depicted on the OS 1st edition map which shows a mooring post and capstan at the north end.

Inner South Breakwater, depicted on the OS 1st edition map which shows a mooring post and capstan at the north end. Its length had been reduced by the time of the 2nd edition on which it is annotated as 'Old South Breakwater'. The first south breakwater was proposed by Thomas Telford and constructed 1812-15 under the direction of the harbour board's engineer John Gibb. It helped protect the north pier and reduced the susceptibility of the harbour to silting and heavy weather. This breakwater was part of the great schemes of harbour development in Aberdeen that swept away the restrictive and tidal medieval harbour and replaced it, gradually, with the modern harbour plan that in large measure survives to this day. Aberdeen's harbour was prone to becoming silted: moreover only very small vessels could access the inner quay area, while larger ships were restricted to enter as far only as the Fittie area. As shipping expanded in volume by the early 19th century there was a need for major changes. Some measures had already been adopted over the preceding centuries. In the early nineteenth century Thomas Telford proposed a broad and expensive programme of improvements to deal with this problem and create a modern harbour suited to a large volume of trade. Telford's improvements included the construction of the first part of the North Pier, to deal with the problem of silting. His schemes suffered owing to a lack of finances, especially during 1817-25. However progress was made and before 1840 a number of changes had been effected including the construction of the South Breakwater in order to render the new quay areas (named Waterloo, Trinity and Regent Quays) less susceptible to the tidal influences of the North sea. Many harbour entrance improvements were carried out 1869-70 by Dyce Cay (who succeeded Gibb as the resident engineer), the measures including extending the north pier and construction a new south breakwater (NJ90NE0022) to the east.

Period Notes
Built 1812-15, by harbour engineer John Gibb in consultation with Thomas Telford.

ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL, , TORRY COASTAL TRAIL, Trail leaflet (Bibliographic reference). SAB8366.

Record last edited

Dec 12 2022 12:11PM