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

  SM5362_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011264)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a whaling station dating from approximately AD 1900 and abandoned around 1939, and represents much the best preserved such establishment in Scotland. The monument consists of a massive slipway, landing platform and handling areas, together with the substantial remains of a number of processing buildings which were built variously of stone, brick, concrete and metal. One of two original brick chimney stacks survives almost intact, but otherwise the main buildings are reduced to near foundation level. The anchor blocks for vats, boilers, winches and other heavy equipment survive. Some minor buildings have been subsequently adapted for residential and agricultural use. An offshore pier and jetty has vanished, but foundations survive on the floor of the sea-loch.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in plan, bounded to the E by the public road, but excluding a house in use, and its immediate grounds. The area is extended W into the sea-loch to include the foundations of the vanished pier and jetty. The area is indicated in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the best preserved example in Scotland of a whaling shore station, a type of monument much more characteristic of the southern oceans. It represents a small group of such establishments founded around the outer Scottish coastline by Norwegian and joint British/Norwegian companies at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Several of these stations operated before and after the First World War and contributed significantly to local economies. There may be a connection between the products of this particular station and Viscount Leverhulme's interest in the area, but this is not documented.

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.