Condition

3
Fishing station
Post-Medieval, Modern
Shetland

Description

A number of fishermen's lodges, sheds, enclosures and associated features extend around the periphery of a headland at Stenness. This haaf fishing station was used seasonally during the 18th and 19th centuries The structures are described as they occur, moving from N to S. (i) This structure is adjoined to the NE side of (ii). It is very ruinous, measures 7m by 4.5m and stands no more than 1.75m high. (ii) The ruins of a rectangular drystone structure measures 10m by 5m and stand to 2.5m high. It is aligned NW-SE and has a door to the seaward (SE) end. It is constructed from rounded beach boulders and angular stone and has a raised platform to the rear. (iii) A two-storied rectangular bod measures 6m in width by 11m in length. Constructed from roughly dressed blocks, it is bonded with both mortar and clay. It stands up to 6m high. There are two small windows on the upper floor and one on the lower floor. The doorway is now blocked up. (iv) A rectangular drystone building with an enclosure to the rear, stands up to 2.5m high. It is aligned N-S, measures 5m by 9m and has a hearth to the N end. There are traces of concrete at the upper part of the walls which point to repair work. (v) This building is aligned NE-SW and is of similar dimensions to (iv). The interior is filled with collapsed rubble. (vi) The turf-covered footings of a rectangular structure measure 8m by 4m. The building is aligned NE-SW, with walls of double-skin construction standing less than 0.5m high. It is located 5m from the coast edge. (vii) A heap of rubble, standing to 0.5m high, obscures one or more buildings which have an overall measurement of 17m by 5m. The structure or structures are aligned NW-SE. (viii) A rectangular drystone structure measures 15m by 4m. It is aligned E-W. The E end gable stands up to 3m; the W end is reduced to less than 1m in height. The building may have been sub-divided at some stage, with the E end being refurbished. There is a doorway in the NE corner and a blocked-up window to the N side. (ix) Three adjoining ruinous buildings or chambers are set end-to-end on a NW-SE alignment. Overall they measure 28m by 4.5m. The central chamber or structure is best preserved; it stands to 2m high and there are traces of a bench and stone settings visible in the interior. (x) A ruinous rectangular building is aligned N-S near to the tip of the headland. It measures 11m by 5m and, on average, stands over 0.5m in height. (xi) A complex of four adjoining buildings or chambers form an L-shape, at the tip of the headland. The most substantial remains are aligned E-W and comprise a dwelling (8m by 5m) and two adjoining chambers. The walls stand up to 2m high and are constructed from roughly dressed quarried stone, which is regularly coursed. The dwelling house has an off-set door in the E wall, a window in the N wall and a hearth against the E internal wall face. A flagged passage (now blocked) leads to the N-S 'wing' which measures 8m by 4m. The foundations of this structure include large orthostatically-set boulders. (xii) The basal course of a rectangular building stand no more than 0.5m high. The structure lies 5m from the coast edge and is covered by cast-up storm debris. (xiii) A rectangular structure, measuring 9m by 4m, is covered with stone which has been cast up by the sea. ShoreUPDATE 22 May 2015 Site as described. The buildings closer to the coast edge have been further damaged since the original survey, and the low footings of two additional buildings were noted. An interpretation board about the history of the site has been placed in the car parking area.

Location

421456.00
1177091.00
27700
60.4769669
-1.6115342

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Stenness buiding 13 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 13 training1
Stenness buiding 13
Stenness buiding 12 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 12 training1
Stenness buiding 12
Stenness buiding 11 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 11 training1
Stenness buiding 11
Stenness buiding 10 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 10 training1
Stenness buiding 10
Stenness buiding 9 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 9 training1
Stenness buiding 9
Stenness buiding 8 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 8 training1
Stenness buiding 8
Stenness buiding 7 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 7 training1
Stenness buiding 7
Stenness buiding 6 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 6 training1
Stenness buiding 6
Stenness building 5 22/05/2015 Stenness building 5 training1
Stenness building 5
Stenness building 4 22/05/2015 Stenness building 4 training1
Stenness building 4
Stenness buiding 3 22/05/2015 Stenness buiding 3 training1
Stenness buiding 3
Stenness winch 22/05/2015 Stenness winch training1
Stenness winch
Stenness buidings 1 and 2 22/05/2015 Stenness buidings 1 and 2 training1
Stenness buidings 1 and 2
Stenness buidings 1 and 2 22/05/2015 Stenness buidings 1 and 2 training1
Stenness buidings 1 and 2
Stenness interpretation board 22/05/2015 Stenness interpretation board training1
Stenness interpretation board
Stenness fishing station, general view of the bay 22/05/2015 Stenness fishing station, general view of the bay training1
Stenness fishing station, general view of the bay

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
2184 22/05/2015 training1
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? has eroded in the past
Threats structural damage/decay
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Local knowledge has local associations/history
Description A number of fishermen's lodges, sheds, enclosures and associated features extend around the periphery of a headland at Stenness. This haaf fishing station was used seasonally during the 18th and 19th centuries The structures are described as they occur, moving from N to S. (i) This structure is adjoined to the NE side of (ii). It is very ruinous, measures 7m by 4.5m and stands no more than 1.75m high. (ii) The ruins of a rectangular drystone structure measures 10m by 5m and stand to 2.5m high. It is aligned NW-SE and has a door to the seaward (SE) end. It is constructed from rounded beach boulders and angular stone and has a raised platform to the rear. (iii) A two-storied rectangular bod measures 6m in width by 11m in length. Constructed from roughly dressed blocks, it is bonded with both mortar and clay. It stands up to 6m high. There are two small windows on the upper floor and one on the lower floor. The doorway is now blocked up. (iv) A rectangular drystone building with an enclosure to the rear, stands up to 2.5m high. It is aligned N-S, measures 5m by 9m and has a hearth to the N end. There are traces of concrete at the upper part of the walls which point to repair work. (v) This building is aligned NE-SW and is of similar dimensions to (iv). The interior is filled with collapsed rubble. (vi) The turf-covered footings of a rectangular structure measure 8m by 4m. The building is aligned NE-SW, with walls of double-skin construction standing less than 0.5m high. It is located 5m from the coast edge. (vii) A heap of rubble, standing to 0.5m high, obscures one or more buildings which have an overall measurement of 17m by 5m. The structure or structures are aligned NW-SE. (viii) A rectangular drystone structure measures 15m by 4m. It is aligned E-W. The E end gable stands up to 3m; the W end is reduced to less than 1m in height. The building may have been sub-divided at some stage, with the E end being refurbished. There is a doorway in the NE corner and a blocked-up window to the N side. (ix) Three adjoining ruinous buildings or chambers are set end-to-end on a NW-SE alignment. Overall they measure 28m by 4.5m. The central chamber or structure is best preserved; it stands to 2m high and there are traces of a bench and stone settings visible in the interior. (x) A ruinous rectangular building is aligned N-S near to the tip of the headland. It measures 11m by 5m and, on average, stands over 0.5m in height. (xi) A complex of four adjoining buildings or chambers form an L-shape, at the tip of the headland. The most substantial remains are aligned E-W and comprise a dwelling (8m by 5m) and two adjoining chambers. The walls stand up to 2m high and are constructed from roughly dressed quarried stone, which is regularly coursed. The dwelling house has an off-set door in the E wall, a window in the N wall and a hearth against the E internal wall face. A flagged passage (now blocked) leads to the N-S 'wing' which measures 8m by 4m. The foundations of this structure include large orthostatically-set boulders. (xii) The basal course of a rectangular building stand no more than 0.5m high. The structure lies 5m from the coast edge and is covered by cast-up storm debris. (xiii) A rectangular structure, measuring 9m by 4m, is covered with stone which has been cast up by the sea. ShoreUPDATE 22 May 2015 Site as described. The buildings closer to the coast edge have been further damaged since the original survey, and the low footings of two additional buildings were noted. An interpretation board about the history of the site has been placed in the car parking area.
Reassign to priority 3 as coastal erosion in responsible for only minor impacts to the whole monument; main threat is structural decay and abandonment.

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