Building record MAB30233 - PETERHEAD HARBOUR

Peterhead harbour, comprising of Port Henry, North harbour and South harbour.

Peterhead harbour, comprising of Port Henry, North harbour and South harbour. Constructed by Henry Middleton of Clerkhill under the supervision of George, 5th Earl Marischal, and in existence by 1593. It was improved in 1631, repaired in the late 17th Century and in 1705 the South pier was heightened and the West pier built. The South part of the harbour was reconstructed 1775-81 by John Smeaton with improvements by John Rennie in 1806-10 and additions to the West pier in 1813. In the first half of the 19th century the harbour was developed to cater for a large whaling fleet, and from the later part of the 19th century into the 20th century it was expanded to accommodate a herring fishing fleet which at its peak numbered 580 vessels. The North harbour and dry dock were built by John Rennie and Thomas Telford 1818-22. Later improvements were made in 1837, the junction canal was created in 1849 and the South and West piers of the North harbour built by David Stevenson in 1855. Subsequent improvements made in 1893-7 by William Shield of Peterhead. The South harbour was deepened in 1906-8. Built mainly of granite blocks with some later additions in reinforced concrete. The Harbour of Refuge (Admiralty Breakwaters) was begun in 1886 by Sir John Coode, and was built in block granite using convict labour, a prison having been built to supply the labour. Following the decline of herring stocks after World War I the fishing fleet turned to white fish with further developments to the port including construction of a lifting bridge over the junction canal, development of the area to the north of Port Henry Pier, and construction of a new fish market in the North Harbour. During World War II there was a gun battery of two 6-inch guns at the southwest end of the South Breakwater. Albert Quay was completed in 1992. Building recording of various structures was carried out in 2015 ahead of harbour redevelopment, including Queenie Bridge (NK14NW0398)

Period Notes
Earliest mention is contained in a grant made in 1587. Mentioned in an account of 1670's and a document of 1738. Plan of 1840; enlarged 1807, 1815 and 1827.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 03/11/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 24/07/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 24/07/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Hume, JR, 1977, Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, 114 (Bibliographic reference). SAB730.

GRAHAM, A, 1977, PSAS 108(1976-7) 332-65, 345-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB597.

turner-simpson, A, 1982, Scottish Burgh Survey: Historic Peterhead (Bibliographic reference). SAB1979.

BUCHAN, J, 1987, BYGONE BUCHAN, 43 (Bibliographic reference). SAB97.

BARCLAY, G, 2013, IF HITLER COMES. PREPARING FOR INVASION: SCOTLAND 1940, p.189 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3792.

Aug 18 1971 , 1 image, 1 image (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB36450.

Aug 25 1986 , AAS/86/05/CT6, AAS/86/05/CT6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19836.

Jan 1 1991 , AAS/GR/91/CT81-87, AAS/GR/91/CT81-87 (Ground Photograph). SAB32834.

Jan 10 1995 , MC 1-8, MC 1-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33348.

Jul 14 2015 , APP/2015/0185, APP/2015/0185 (Ground Photograph). SAB20968.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, PETERHEAD BURGH 74 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 07/12/99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

SHIPLIFT

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 18/11/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 30/11/99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

SHIPLIFT

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 11/02/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 21/07/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/CT36-8,40, AAS/97/12/CT36-8,40 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16811.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/G25/5-7, AAS/97/12/G25/5-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16810.

Oct 16 1976 , 5 images, 5 images (Ground Photograph). SAB36449.

Record last edited

Mar 25 2024 3:49PM