Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

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

  SM11122_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013879)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of two commercial icehouses overlooking Quarry Haven, a small inlet which functioned as a fishing station probably from the late 18th/early 19th century through into the 20th century. Nearby is the ruin of a fisherman's cottage.

The icehouses may relate to the commercial salmon industry which developed in the late 18th and early 19th century, and which was the first to exploit ice to allow the transportation of fish, specifically salmon, to distant markets such as London. During this phase of the industry, naturally occurring ice from rivers, lochs and specially constructed pools, was collected and then stored in specially built icehouses to ensure its availability throughout the season. It is unclear where the ice would have come from to supply these specific icehouses. However, they may have been served by a small artificial reservoir some 800m to the SE of the fishing station which was in existence during the 19th century but which had been evidently drained by the early 20th century, when industrially produced ice had become readily available.

The icehouse are semi-subterranean structures, built into the coastal slope. Both are almost completely covered by earthen mounds, which would have provided insulation, preserving the ice. The smaller of the two lies to the S of the site and is aligned perpendicular to the slope. It has a masonry barrel vault with entrances through both gables, although the original doorways appear to have been robbed out and repaired in brick. The larger of the icehouses is aligned with, and built into the slope. It has a brick vault (which is now showing signs of structural distress) and its N gable is constructed in granite rubble. The gable has a single entrance which shows evidence of once having an inner and outer door. The ice itself was loaded through an opening in the vault. An antechamber was later attached to this gable, and is now in ruins. This chamber would have probably been used to pack the fish in ice before it was dispatched.

The area to be scheduled consists of the two icehouses and an area surrounding them in which associated activities took place. The area has maximum dimensions of 30m due E-W by 40m due N-S transversely as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as two well-preserved, early examples of commercial icehouses associated with the fishing industry. As such, it contributes to an understanding of Scotland's fishing industry during the 19th century, an industry which is of national significance but which was and still is, of particular importance to the north east coast of Scotland. The setting of the monument with the associated fisherman's cottage, the path to the site and boat haven below, all add to our understanding of the monument.

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.