Building record MAB7235 - LOSSIEMOUTH OLD HARBOUR

The old harbour of Lossiemouth featured a simple quay, now wood-piled along the west bank of the River Lossie.

The old harbour of Lossiemouth featured a simple quay, now wood-piled along the west bank of the River Lossie. It is labelled as the 'old' harbour from the 1st edition OS maps onward, with an 'old pier' marked at NJ 23917070, aligned north-northeast - south-southwest, remains of which may still survive. A later pier was added in the early 20th Century at the north end of the former harbour, projecting eastwards from Seatown Road. The Spynie Canal flows into the harbour area from the south (NJ26NW0088). This harbour was probably built in the 17th-18th Centuries, though there may have been an earlier, cruder, form of 'harbour' or landing area here prior to that time. It was replaced by the Branderburgh Harbour (NJ27SW0009), to the north, in the early-mid 19th Century because of problems with the 'old' harbour sanding up. The mouth of the River Lossie has a long history as a port, particularly in its relationship with the Royal Burgh of Elgin. The port is mentioned as early as 1383 in a 'protestatio' then lodged by the Bishop of Moray against a 'petitio' by the Earl of Moray which he held to have infringed his rights. Two site visits were carried out during January 2022 by AOC Archaeology, for a programme of archaeological monitoring required during construction works for a new footbridge and associated footpaths at the River Lossie, during which it became clear that site clearance and preparatory works had already been constructed. All areas of the development were inspected, with the remains of an historic wall alignment identified within the tidal zone at the new footbridge location. The stone wall was partly used as the foundation courses of the 20th century promenade wall and appears to relate to a projecting breakwater wall shown on the OS 1st edition map of 1870. The wall may be part of the original harbour shown on an early coastal chart from 1785. The wall alignment was not impacted by the works.

Period Notes
Later harbour commenced 1703; earlier harbour or port mentioned in 1383, 1551.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 11/05/85 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Hume, JR, 1977, Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, 227 (Bibliographic reference). SAB730.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2021, NEW FOOTBRIDGE OVER RIVER LOSSIE, LOSSIEMOUTH: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB8333.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2022, NEW FOOTBRIDGE OVER RIVER LOSSIE, LOSSIEMOUTH: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORT, DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB8332.

SCAPE , 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY MORAY: CULBIN TO CULLEN (Bibliographic reference). SAB4861.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 02/03/85 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 17/02/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 23/06/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/CT208,211, AAS/97/12/CT208,211 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31359.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/G27/6, AAS/97/12/G27/6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31358.

Record last edited

Feb 12 2024 3:01PM