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Findhorn, Harbour And Piers

Harbour (Post Medieval), Pier(S) (Post Medieval)

Site Name Findhorn, Harbour And Piers

Classification Harbour (Post Medieval), Pier(S) (Post Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Findhorn Bay; River Findhorn; Moray Firth; North Sea

Canmore ID 15917

Site Number NJ06SW 28

NGR NJ 03862 64399

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/15917

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2024. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Moray
  • Parish Kinloss
  • Former Region Grampian
  • Former District Moray
  • Former County Morayshire

Archaeology Notes

NJ06SW 28 03862 64399

For clubhouse of Findhorn Yacht Club (NJ 0380 6449) and boatyard (NJ 0345 6475), see NJ06SW 29 and NJ06SW 69 respectively.

(Location cited as NJ 039 644). Findhorn Harbour, c. 1840. Two straight coursed-rubble piers, each with two bollards, linked by a breastwork.

J R Hume 1977

Findhorn was the port of Forres, as Lossiemouth (NJ27SW 17.00 and NJ27SW 18 ) was of Elgin, and there is a suggestion of rivalry between them in the 17th century. Situated just inside the mouth of the River Findhorn, where the bag-shaped estuary of Findhorn Bay narrows towards its discharge, it is marked on one of Pont's surveys with ships at anchor off the village and within a formidable bar. It is also noted by Blaeu, Roy and Collins, the last describing it as a 'tide haven' which was only accessible at high water. Before 1715, however, it occupied a different site, later known as Old Findhorn, which in that year was swamped by the sea in the course of a single night.

The general picture of the harbour that is presented by the records is not entirely lucid. A document of 1723 notes the place as a 'harbour for ships' while another, of perhaps rather earlier date, describes the river as 'piscosus et portu nobilis'. Defoe's continuator mentions a 'small sea-port' and Shaw states that 'the bar at the mouth of the river allows no ship of burden to enter the bay, yet a good trade is carried on by small merchant ships and fishing boats', while his editor adds comments from Grant and Leslie (1798) to the effect that the pier was then 'commodious' but limited in size, the harbour capacious and safe, and the depth of water on the bar adequate. The channel had then lately been altered, and a ship of 300 tons had entered the pier. These improvements had perhaps been made possible by work done undewr an Act of 1778. On the other hand, the parish minister of 1791 describes the harbour as accessible only to small vessels on account of s shifting bar, while one of his colleagues in 1796 urged the building of a canal from the harbour to Forres, the river being navigable only to the tidal limit.

In 1842 the harbour was described as largely natural but as possessing two quays of hewn stone, one of them recently built, with a 'breastwork', presumably a stretch of riverside wharfage, joining it to the old pier; the bar is also mentioned. In 1847 there were two good piers, which could be reached in fine weather by craft drawing up to 12ft (3.7m). The bar moved periodically from E to W, and then built up again at its E end. At this date, trade was carried on largely in coal and lime, and in sleepers cut from local plantations of larch. Nineteen herring boats were owned in the village; 214 vessels had made calls in the course of the year and, apparently in addition to these, 68 steamers.

D Defoe 1769; OSA 1791-9; Moray Survey 1798; NSA 1845; Harbours 1847; L Shaw 1882; W Macfarlane 1906-8; A Graham 1979.

Air photograph: AAS/97/12/CT.

NMRS, MS/712/29.

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