Condition

2
Harbour; quay; sea-wall
Post-Medieval
5804
MHG12559
Highland

Description

A massive dry-stone rubble quay built in the late C19th (Hume 1977, 320) and said to have been constructed for the use of the people of Tongue. However, it was inconveniently placed for access by land, with a dangerous sea-approach, and was thus little used (Hume, ibid; Beaton 1995, 85). The quay is built onto a rock-islet and linked to the shore by a causeway, which is constructed in two parts at a slight angle to each other, which creates the harbour at the S. The landward stretch of the quay runs for c 74 m to the NE before turning slightly to run for c 76 m to the NNE, where it terminates on the rock-islet. The S edge of the quay has three stair-wells built into the structure, and a ramped high-tide launch attached to the SW end. On the surface of the quay there are a number of vertical stone mooring-bollards as well as a portable iron fish-gutting table. At the seaward end of the quay there is a large sea-wall which has been breached and has tumbled over the surface of the quay. There is also a great deal of damage to the NNE tip of the quay where there is a large quantity of dressed blocks strewn across the intertidal zone. The road which leads down to the quay has been revetted at the SW where it meets the quay as there is a small inlet where water rushes through at the S. This revetment has been badly damaged by the force of the water that comes through here. The NE and SW ends of this quay are being badly damaged by the force of the waves that hit it. This process is probably being aided by the manual removal of stones from the fabric for use in surrounding settlements. This allows gaps into which the water is forced and it can dislodge surrounding stones and wash out smaller packing-stones which give the structure stability. This is a monumental site, very impressively built, and requires to be surveyed in the light of the effect that wave-and-storm action is having on it in an attempt to preserve its structural integrity. 29/05/2013 Not much changed since the description, but evidence that structural decay of the quay, the slipway and the sea wall have worsened. The east seaward end of the quay is badly damaged allowing water to penetrate the rubble core causing subsidence. There was evidence on our visit that an attempt to backfill and stabilise the quay was underway using material excavated from the beach adjacent to the slipway. The massive sea wall on the north side of the quay is badly damaged and tumbled. The west end of the stone slipway is damaged.

Location

261700.00
961450.00
27700
58.5191536
-4.3761454

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Detail of breaking up of west end of slipway 29/05/2013 Detail of breaking up of west end of slipway joannahambly
Detail of breaking up of west end of slipway
Slipway looking W 29/05/2013 Slipway looking W joannahambly
Slipway looking W
South (inner) side of sea wall, looking W 29/05/2013 South (inner) side of sea wall, looking W joannahambly
South (inner) side of sea wall, looking W
North (outer) side of sea wall looking SW 29/05/2013 North (outer) side of sea wall looking SW joannahambly
North (outer) side of sea wall looking SW
Crane with slipway in background looking W 29/05/2013 Crane with slipway in background looking W joannahambly
Crane with slipway in background looking W
Showing subsidence behind quayside and current infilling/repairs, looking  W 29/05/2013 Showing subsidence behind quayside and current infilling/repairs, looking W joannahambly
Showing subsidence behind quayside and current infilling/repairs, looking  W
Quay wall looking E 29/05/2013 Quay wall looking E joannahambly
Quay wall looking E
General view looking NE 29/05/2013 General view looking NE joannahambly
General view looking NE

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
1154 29/05/2013 evelix
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Threats structural damage/decay
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Access easily accessible - no restrictions
Local knowledge is well known; has local associations/history
Description A massive dry-stone rubble quay built in the late C19th (Hume 1977, 320) and said to have been constructed for the use of the people of Tongue. However, it was inconveniently placed for access by land, with a dangerous sea-approach, and was thus little used (Hume, ibid; Beaton 1995, 85). The quay is built onto a rock-islet and linked to the shore by a causeway, which is constructed in two parts at a slight angle to each other, which creates the harbour at the S. The landward stretch of the quay runs for c 74 m to the NE before turning slightly to run for c 76 m to the NNE, where it terminates on the rock-islet. The S edge of the quay has three stair-wells built into the structure, and a ramped high-tide launch attached to the SW end. On the surface of the quay there are a number of vertical stone mooring-bollards as well as a portable iron fish-gutting table. At the seaward end of the quay there is a large sea-wall which has been breached and has tumbled over the surface of the quay. There is also a great deal of damage to the NNE tip of the quay where there is a large quantity of dressed blocks strewn across the intertidal zone. The road which leads down to the quay has been revetted at the SW where it meets the quay as there is a small inlet where water rushes through at the S. This revetment has been badly damaged by the force of the water that comes through here. The NE and SW ends of this quay are being badly damaged by the force of the waves that hit it. This process is probably being aided by the manual removal of stones from the fabric for use in surrounding settlements. This allows gaps into which the water is forced and it can dislodge surrounding stones and wash out smaller packing-stones which give the structure stability. This is a monumental site, very impressively built, and requires to be surveyed in the light of the effect that wave-and-storm action is having on it in an attempt to preserve its structural integrity. 29/05/2013 Not much changed since the description, but evidence that structural decay of the quay, the slipway and the sea wall have worsened. The east seaward end of the quay is badly damaged allowing water to penetrate the rubble core causing subsidence. There was evidence on our visit that an attempt to backfill and stabilise the quay was underway using material excavated from the beach adjacent to the slipway. The massive sea wall on the north side of the quay is badly damaged and tumbled. The west end of the stone slipway is damaged.
The quay is redundant and so at high risk of rapid decay now that the structure of the quay has been breached. Check ownership. Are there any plans for re-use or renovation? Is there a management plan? Maintain priority 2 to highlight the management issues for the monument.

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