Unknown: Aberlady Bay, Firth Of Forth
Craft (19th Century)
Site Name Unknown: Aberlady Bay, Firth Of Forth
Classification Craft (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Aberlady Bay Ship Graveyard, Hulk 1; Aberlady Sands; Gullane Sands; Outer Forth Estuary
Canmore ID 268127
Site Number NT48SE 8027.01
NGR NT 4606 8029
NGR Description NT c. 4606 8029
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/268127
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Maritime - East Lothian
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NT48SE 8027.01 c. 4606 8029
N56 0.75 W2 51.92
NLO: Aberlady Bay [name centred NT 457 808].
(Hulk 1: location established by GPS as NT 46063 80293). This carvel-built vessel measures about 17.3m (56.8ft) long, and lies on her port side; the ballast stones have pinned down the keel and seventeen frames in situ, at an average spacing of 46cm (18in). The frames are heavily degraded, making determination of the scantlings difficult. The remains are heavily covered with seaweed, but areas of the lower planking are indicated. Concrete has been poured between the frames and deadwood at the stern.
Two fragments of the rudder lie disassociated to the SE. The estimated length of the complete rudder is 2.4m (7ft 10in). A coil of rigging wire with an eye splice is lying in close association [proximity].
The hulk was first surveyed in July 1999. On re-visiting the wreck (in May 2000), it was apparent that the silt covering an area of planking about 2m square had been removed, apparently by the changing course of a drainage channel; this is destabilising the S side of the wreck.
NMRS, MS/2083 (pp. 15-16).
The description of these remains is consistent with their being those of a carvel-built and heavily-framed fishing (or possibly cargo) vessel of the type commonly found in this area. In the absence of any apparent remains of an engine, sail power may be assumed. No plank-fastenings were apparently recorded.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 5 November 2004.
Field Visit (March 2014)
ShoreUPDATE March 2014
As described. The wrecks were surveyed in 2002 as part of the Scotland's ship graveyard survey, and were Scheduled in the same year. The wrecks sit on the mud in the generally sheltered environment of Aberlady Bay in the Firth of Forth.
Visited by Scotland's Coastal Heritage at Risk (SCHARP) 2014
Field Visit (2014)
A series of wooden ribs project from the mud flats in Aberlady Bay indicating the presence of several wrecks. The ribs project from the mud to a height of between 0.20m and 2.0m. Stone cobbles lie amongst the ribs, which would originally have been ballast. The wood is decaying and the mud flats appear to be encroaching on the site.
Visited by Scotland's Coastal Heritage at Risk (SCHARP) 2014
