Portpatrick Harbour, South Pier
Wagonway (Post Medieval)
Site Name Portpatrick Harbour, South Pier
Classification Wagonway (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 131485
Site Number NW95SE 12
NGR NW 9993 5397
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/131485
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Portpatrick
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Wigtown
- Former County Wigtownshire
NW95SE 12 9993 5397
Mr Cunningham of Portpatrick notes that for much of the 19th century Portpatrick had a waggon way. This was built to aid the construction of Rennie's Harbour in 1821. The waggon way is recorded as still being in use until 1870, when the 63 tons of cast-iron making up the tram plates was sold off along with other material.
Maps and plans of the South Pier from after 1836 (the year the extension was finished) do not depict waggon ways. However, Mr Cunningham notes that there are the remains of what appears to be a waggon way/plate way on the South Pier. These incised tracks have been considered to be part of this wagon way or similar used in the construction of the South Pier extension from 1821.
The incised sections measure 2 feet 4 inches (711mm) in length, 5 inches (127mm) in width and had a maximum depth of 3/4 inch (19mm). The depressions appear to have a 'fishbelly' shape. The distance between the ends of the incised area is 8 inches (203mm) with a hole centred on a distance spike or bolt which measures 1.5 inches by 0.75 inches (45mm by 19mm)). Centre to centre, the width between the incised marks on the straight is 4 feett 11 inches (1498mm), narrowing to curves as little as 4 feet 10 inches (11473mm) approximately [see copy of drawing D 33103].
It has been assumed that this is the remains of a plateway with the tram plates being strengthened by the use of fishbelly reinforcing rib below the plates. The joints between the tram plates being centred on the holes between the incised marks. Mr Cunningham was writing to other experts for advice.
Professor PAxton sent a copy of the drawing made by Mr Cunningham together with a copy of his letter to RCAHMS for inclusion in the NMRS. For further information contact Professor Paxton.
Information from a letter from Mr RR Cunningham of Portpatrick to Professor Roland Paxton of Heriot Watt University Department of Offshore and Civil Engineering, dated 7 March 1998.
