Pettico Wick, St Abbs Fishery

NT96NW 47 centred 90800 69070

Not to be confused with St Abbs Harbour (NT 92042 67325), for which see NT96NW 54.00.

For associated St Abbs Head Lighthouse (NT 91425 69243), see NT96NW 39.00.

NT 87 70 to NT 91 67 An archaeological survey was undertaken by Headland Archaeology Ltd of land owned by the National Trust for Scotland at St Abb's Head, Lumsdaine Shore and Blackpotts.

A total of 18 features, or groups of features, of archaeological and historical interest were recorded, ten already documented, at least in part, in NMRS records.

NT 9080 6907 Harbour.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, National Trust for Scotland

S Carter 1997.

NT 9080 6907 As part of the survey conducted by Headland Archaeology Ltd on behalf of the National Trust for Scotland on its land at and near St Abb's Head, mentioned above (S Carter 1997), this site was examined and recorded. The report describes the site as a small harbour comprising a well constructed dressed masonry pier with access track and the foundations of two buildings on the shore. The pier was constructed for the landing of supplies for the St Abb's Head Lighthouse (constructed 1862) and the track leads up to the lighthouse. The larger NE building foundation, 10 by 5 m was the lighthouse store, a mortared rubble and brick building, now demolished onto the beach. The SW foundation, 5 by 5m, was the base for the salmon fisherman's bothy built about 1900. The pier has ben recently repaired and is in good condition. However, the shore at the head of the pier is receding, 25m since 1900, it was found that recent repairs to the track have already been washed away. This erosion is starting to undermine the remains of the fisherman's bothy and the demolished lighthouse store. The report recommends that the pier is monitored and kept in a safe condition, that the buildings are recorded before they are lost and that the shore erosion is monitored.

Sponsors: National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland

NMRS MS/899/44 (Headland Archaeology Ltd 16/10/1997).

Noted on photographic imagery of c. 1910 as 'St Abbs Fishery', this was evidently a fishing station and landing-place with a single short pier, rather than a harbour as such. This is presumably the reason for its ommission from the summary article by A Graham in PSAS 101 (12968-9).

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 22 February 2008.

NMRS, B/31887.