Drummore Harbour

NX13NW 34.00 13790 36842

Quay [NAT] (at NX 1382 3688)

OS (GIS) MasterMap, July 2009.

NX13NW 34.01 NX 13756 36903 to NX c. 13676 36797 West Pier

NX13NW 34.02 NX 13773 36939 to NX c. 13890 36856 East Pier and Quay

See also:

NX13NW 72 centred NX 13686 36772 RAF Boat House [within area of the harbour]

NX13NW 119 centred NX 13920 36800 Coastguard Cottages

Location formerly entered as NX 1384 3688.

(Location cited as NX 138 368). Harbour, Drummore, early 19th century. A natural haven, with a rubble pier with protective wood piles.

J R Hume 1976.

This harbour was built in the early 19th century, and though described in the 1840s as 'very limited in extent' provided a valuable outlet for local farm produce. The pier runs NW across the bay. A plan of 1864 in the Stair Papers shows the quay to be about 270ft long with a dredged sandbank on the landward side 120 yds wide. The harbour is now badly silted up, though a small stream keeps the part near the pier fairly clear. The pier is built of rubble with an additional section added during World War II. Stair Estates carry out some repairs.

I Donnachie 1971; A Graham 1979.

(Location cited as [NX] 138 368). Drummore: as long ago as 1791 Bay ranked as an easily accessible anchorage sheltered from westerly winds, where ships of burden frequently put in. In 1839 (NSA) a village and harbour are mentioned, and it is noted that four small sloops were then owned in the place and that the usual coasting trade was carried on in farm produce, lime and coal. The harbour of that date was presumably a simple landing-place in front of the village, where 'Shore Street' is marked on the OS map of 1848, but the same map also marks a 'quay' in the position of the existing pier at the SE horn of the bay, running out north-westwards for some 350ft [106.7m]. It was built by the proprietor, the 8th Earl of Stair, no doubt very shortly before the survey was made, to accommodate coastal craft supplying the district.

The pier as it now stands is some 440ft [134.1m] by 30ft [9.1m] broad, the date of its extension perhaps being 1889, as this date appears on a stone inserted in the superstructure at a point near the original end. The work has been thoroughly modernised, and possesses few features of interest apart from the wall, about 9ft [2.7m] high, that runs along its seaward side and points to the violence of the waves from which protection is needed. The inner face of the pier shows large mortared blocks poorly coursed, with frontal uprights, which are more closely set on the extension than on the older part of the work. The extension further differs from the older portion in possessing neatly rounded bollards, in contrast to the older unshaped blocks; its lip is also differently finished. A short breakwater runs out northwards from its N corner.

The mound of pebbles and debris that lies to landward of the pier-head has no significance in connection with the harbour's navigation, as it was only built in 1977 for the purpose of creating a scour in the tidal current to clear out unwanted seaweed.

A Graham 1979 (visited 1978).