Whalsay, Symbister Harbour

HU56SW 18.00 centred 5383 6240

HU56SW 18.01 HU 5379 6249 to HU 5366 6243 Pier

HU56SW 18.02 HU 5373 6238 Pier

HU56SW 18.03 HU 5374 6231 Pier

HU56SW 18.04 HU 5375 6229 Pier

For guns from the Evstafii built into the 'old harbour' on Whalsay, see HU66SW 8001.

See also HU56SW 10 and HU56SW 52 -3 and 55-7.

Bay of Symbister [NAT]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1973.

Site investigations were carried out in 2005 by Mr P Pritchard (Pritchard Diving Services) for Arch Henderson (civil engineering consultants) in advance of the proposed reconstruction of the South pier. The area under investigation was then described as comprising 'an old derelict pier situated at the Southern end of Symbister Harbour, a basin surrounded by ameliorated structures and forming a section of the third wall and entrance to an enclosed area of approximately 250 square metres of tidal anchorage'. Diver survey (rather than remote sensing) was employed throughout, a water dredge being deployed to establish the depth of overburden. Coring samples were taken to establish the presence or absence of underlying structures.

The South pier has been the subject of repeated rebuilding operations over recent years, some proving more effective than others. The basic outline has been left unchanged, but the fabric is in a 'hotch potch' condition; the structure, as a whole, is 'unstable and distressed'. Attempts at running repairs by local people have included the regular use of propellor wash to remove silt. Diving revealed detritus from previous construction operations and repairs.

Underwater excavation of a section within the centre of the basin revealed a depth of 0.3m between seabed ('littoral') and (sold) geology. Within this, the top third was silt/sand, the next mud and aggregate, and the bottom a cobble and clay matrix. This process gave no indication of archaeological evidence. Core samples [taken at unstated locations] and the seawards-facing element of the structure gave a similar picture.

The only archaeological evidence at the harbour noted comprised three cannon, one at the end of the pier and two on the SW standing. These have been embedded to facilitate mooring, but are in poor condition.

Investigation of a building adjacent to the harbour revealed 'wooden integrated structures', presumably in re-use from ships lost nearby.

NMRS, MS/2334.