Field Visit
Date May 1989
Event ID 1083071
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1083071
This stone-built pier extends NE from the NE angle of the promontory on which the New Town is built, at the E end of Front Street. It was proposed in 1754 as a replacement for the unsatisfactory harbour in the mouth of the River Aray, and some stone was quarried a year later, but the burgh authorities had difficulty in collecting funds and work began, to a design by John Adam, only in 1759. This structure, built by James Potter, was heightened in 1765, and was only about 30m in length, terminating well above low watermark, while in 1771 measures were required to prevent silting to the W. Its inadequate state led the 5th Duke of Argyll to obtain estimates for an extension in 1795, and to commission a design by Alexander Nasmyth for an elaborate lighthouse tower (see No. 185). Plans to restore the quay and double its length at an estimated cost of £865 were finally commissioned by the Burgh from William Johns in 1805, and carried out under the supervision of J Gillespie (Graham), who recommended the use of iron straps. It was further extended below low-water mark in 1836 by an oblique N pierhead with an outer 'slip to suit every state of the tide', whose cost was variously estimated at £1200 or £1435, most of which was paid by the Fishery Board. A T-plan timber extension for steamer-traffic was added in 1877, and modified during the present century (en.1).
The masonry structure measures about 8m in width by70m in length to the return of the pierhead, and is built of well-squared and coursed blocks, of granite in the outer half. The pier head measures 20m from N to S by 10m, which includes on the E face a slipway with two pawls recessed into the wall, and a small stairway. Two other flights of steps are built into the W face of the pier, at the E and wends (en.2*).
RCAHMS 1992, visited May 1989
