| Administrative History | Peterhead had a natural harbour formed in the channel between the mainland and islands of Keith Inch and Greenhill. Sources indicate that it was in use as a port in the 1570s, and the 1587 burgh charter promoted the establishment of a harbour at Caikinch [Keith Inch], with the superior (the Earls Marischal) deriving income from landing dues. As the most easterly point on the Scottish coastline it was first point of landfall and used as a refuge by many vessels.
By the 17th century there was a bulwark at Port Henry (the north end of channel) and a breakwater at the South Harbour with pier, forming two basins. This can be seen on the 1739 Jaffray map (https://maps.nls.uk/view/216444106).
After the takeover of the burgh superiority by the Merchant Maiden Hospital, there were several appeals to repair the harbour (including a recommendation for a voluntary contribution from the Royal Burghs in 1735, and the shipmasters of Leith & Edinburgh merchants in 1738). In 1738 the Town Council of Edinburgh made an act for a voluntary contribution for Peterhead Harbour.
In 1772 the notable engineer John Smeaton was consulted, and suggested changes to the pier: work was carried out on the South pier in 1775. John Rennie as consulted in 1806, and recommended extending the jetty on the western pier, deepening the harbour, adding a wet dock, constructing an East Pier at the North Harbour, and repairing the western pier at the North Harbour.
In 1807 an Act of Parliament was passed to carry out Rennie’s plan to develop the east side of the North Harbour, which had been endorsed by Thomas Telford. The Act also formed the Peterhead Harbour Trustees, with representatives from the feuars and superiors.
By this time Peterhead was a centre for whale and herring fishing. In order to accommodate more vessels, further changes were made: David Stevenson’s plan to construct a canal between the two harbours was completed in 1850. THomas Stevenson constructed lighthouses at the two harbour entrances. And in 1873 an Act of Parliament for improving Port Henry Harbour and deepening the South Harbour was passed, and later amended in 1876. This constructed a new pier at Port Henry & deepening work at South Harbour.
Further developments had been conceived in the bay to the south of Peterhead, which was seen as a possible location for a Harbour of Refuge (explain). This was initially proposed in 1846, but only progressed at the passage of an act in 1886, which incorporated the use of convict labour from Peterhead prison to construct the harbour. Covering an area of 300 acres, the harbour is enclosed by two breakwaters, the southern of which was constructed between 1892-1912 and the northern between 1912-1956, using a Titan crane.
In 2006 the Harbour became a Trust Port, managed by the Peterhead Port authority, merging the Peterhead Harbour Trustees and the Peterhead Bay Authority. |