Documents

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The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  Legal Documents for Sarclet, fishing station 135m E of Brodie House (SM13643)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600022322)

Summary

Description

The monument is a fishing station built for the herring trade between 1828 and 1844 by the Thrumster Estate. The herring station is located at sea level in a small, sheltered, steep-sided cove.

The herring station comprises a well-preserved two storey building, referred to as the curing house, measuring approximately 15.5m by 7m, standing to the wall-head. Adjacent is a near complete structure housing a fresh water spring with a neighbouring stone platform and related terrace. The original winch mechanism and capstan are sited on the stone platform at the head of the cove. A levelled and cut track leads down into the cove from the village above. The track continues along the west and south of the site, supported in places by a substantial dry-stone revetment up to fifteen courses in height, leading to the remains of a cambered slipway. There are traces of paved areas and the head of another slipway running across the width of the cove. All structures, slipways, paving and retaining walls are constructed from local rubble masonry with roughly worked dressing to the windows and doors.

The scheduled area is irregular in shape and includes the two storey building and adjacent structure with associated slipways, paved areas, retaining walls and a section of access track. The scheduled area extends to the Mean Low Water Springs mark, 1m either side of the access track, 1m to the west of the track as it passes the structures and the scheduled area follows the foot of the steep-slopes to the south of the site as depicted in red in the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of the growth of the herring fishing industry in Caithness and Scotland during the 19th century. The herring fishery, which first developed in Caithness, was to grow into a major export industry for Scotland and by the late 19th century, the Scottish fishing industry was the largest in Europe. It is a well-preserved site, notable for the survival in excellent condition of a two storey building, adjacent structure housing a fresh water spring, in-situ winch and capstan and related slipways. Its significance is further enhanced by its location within close proximity of the sites of other fishing stations along the Caithness coast. The surviving historical records, in the form of plans and financial accounts, enhance our appreciation and understanding of this important site. The fishing station at Sarclet represents a key site for enhancing our knowledge of a resource which was often re-used and redeveloped or subject to abandonment followed by complete collapse and ruin due to marine erosion. As a little-altered example of a herring fishing station, the loss of this monument would impede our ability to understand the development and operation of the fishing industry, with emphasis on herring, in Caithness and across Scotland during the 19th century.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.