Easter Oakenhead

NJ26NW 7 c. 24 68

An ancient boat was found by the farmer of Easter Oakenhead about 1833 whilst ploughing reclaimed land on the eastern extremity of Loch Spynie. The boat, the ribs of which were of oak, appears to have been 30ft long. It is thought that it had been lost about 600 years, because from one of its dimensions it could not have navigated the loch, particularly the part where it was found, after the 12th or 13th century. But, the boat may have been lost up to a century later than this, as the 'Survey of the province of Moray" (1798) states that, in a protest of 1383, Bishop Alexander Bar stated that his predecessor had sunk boats while altering the course of the water from the loch to the sea in trying to deepen the harbour of Spynie.

Anon (Survey of the province of Moray) 1798; Gentleman's Magazine 1886.

No further information was encountered regarding this discovery during field investigation

Visited by OS (W D J), 27 November 1962.

About 1833 an 'ancient boat', which was probably not a logboat, was found during the ploughing of land reclaimed from Loch Spynie. It measured 30' (9.1m) in length and the stern was 'quite round'. Within it there were found 'ribs' of 'oak'.

Loch Spynie was an arm of the Moray Firth until it was cut off by the growth of shingle-bars in medieval times. The boat probably dates from before the late 18th century, when the Spynie Canal (NJ26NW 26.00) was dug to drain the area and reduce the loch to its present size.

OSA 1791-9; G L Gomme 1886; R J C Mowat 1996.

(No classification or cargo specified: date cited as '1200'). Unknown: 'very old ship found at [the] Eastern end of Loch Spynie, Morayshire'.

(Oak). Length: 10m.

(Location of loss cited as N57 41.17 W3 16.75).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The date and material cited by Whittaker remain unverified.

The location cited by Whittaker also remains unverified. That previously entered is preferred.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 20 May 2011.