Wick
September 1, 2020
3 Sep 20. I fell in love with Wick and its incredible history. Not just the Harbour Master, Malcolm Bremner, who was my 100th HM! (See previous post).
- Circa 1800 Wick harbour was established as a Herring Port.
- Soon after, Thomas Telford (my hero) was asked to create the world's first ever new "industrial" town and harbour - Pulteneytown. It is beautiful.
- In a storm in 1848, 100 fishing boats were lost at sea, the Washington Report on the tragedy lead to every harbour requiring a barometer (Photo 4) and the introduction of "decked" fishing boats.
- 1856 The famous Stevenson engineers built an outer harbour wall (photo 5). It was their only construction that failed - in a storm in 1872.
- 1868, Robert Louis Stevenson (same family) worked as a trainee civil engineer in Wick. He later wrote about the bleak and windy harbour!
- The harbour was "enacted" in 1879 which remains in force today as Wick Harbour Authority. At this time 3,000 "gutters" were working in the harbour. Imagine the smell.
- The herring industry peaked in 1900 - 50 million fish were landed and processed in 2 days! (Photo 6) and the workforce drank 3,000 litres of whisky a week!
- By 1955 no herring were left and fishing turned to white fish.
- Today Wick is a thriving harbour. The wind farm industry (Photo 7) has recently transformed its fortunes.
If you are ever near Wick do divert and explore one of the most interesting harbours I have been to so far - I am sure Malcolm (or his great PA Camilla) will make you a cup of coffee!
Postscript: As I entered the harbour in the dark, with a good wind and swell, fishing boat Emulous (Photo 9) called me on the VHF to help guide me in. That does not often happen, and sums up the top place Wick is!
- Circa 1800 Wick harbour was established as a Herring Port.
- Soon after, Thomas Telford (my hero) was asked to create the world's first ever new "industrial" town and harbour - Pulteneytown. It is beautiful.
- In a storm in 1848, 100 fishing boats were lost at sea, the Washington Report on the tragedy lead to every harbour requiring a barometer (Photo 4) and the introduction of "decked" fishing boats.
- 1856 The famous Stevenson engineers built an outer harbour wall (photo 5). It was their only construction that failed - in a storm in 1872.
- 1868, Robert Louis Stevenson (same family) worked as a trainee civil engineer in Wick. He later wrote about the bleak and windy harbour!
- The harbour was "enacted" in 1879 which remains in force today as Wick Harbour Authority. At this time 3,000 "gutters" were working in the harbour. Imagine the smell.
- The herring industry peaked in 1900 - 50 million fish were landed and processed in 2 days! (Photo 6) and the workforce drank 3,000 litres of whisky a week!
- By 1955 no herring were left and fishing turned to white fish.
- Today Wick is a thriving harbour. The wind farm industry (Photo 7) has recently transformed its fortunes.
If you are ever near Wick do divert and explore one of the most interesting harbours I have been to so far - I am sure Malcolm (or his great PA Camilla) will make you a cup of coffee!
Postscript: As I entered the harbour in the dark, with a good wind and swell, fishing boat Emulous (Photo 9) called me on the VHF to help guide me in. That does not often happen, and sums up the top place Wick is!