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The principal works were those connected with the harbours situated
upon the line of coast extending from the harbour of Peterhead；
in the county of Aberdeen； round to the head of the Murray Frith。
The shores there are exposed to the full force of the seas rolling in
from the Northern Ocean； and safe harbours were especially needed
for the protection of the shipping passing from north to south。
Wrecks had become increasingly frequent； and harbours of refuge
were loudly called for。 At one part of the coast； as many as
thirty wrecks had occurred within a very short time； chiefly for
want of shelter。
The situation of Peterhead peculiarly well adapted it for a haven
of refuge； and the improvement of the port was early regarded as a
matter of national importance。 Not far from it； on the south； are
the famous Bullars or Boilers of Buchanbold rugged rocks； some
200 feet high； against which the sea beats with great fury； boiling
and churning in the deep caves and recesses with which they are
perforated。 Peterhead stands on the most easterly part of the
mainland of Scotland； occupying the north…east side of the bay；
and being connected with the country on the northwest by an isthmus
only 800 yards broad。 In Cromwell's time； the port possessed only
twenty tons of boat tonnage； and its only harbour was a small basin
dug out of the rock。 Even down to the close of the sixteenth
century the place was but an insignificant fishing village。 It is
now a town bustling with trade； having long been the principal seat
of the whale fishery； 1500 men of the port being engaged in that
pursuit alone； and it sends out ships of its own building to all
parts of the world； its handsome and commodious harbours being
accessible at all winds to vessels of almost the largest burden。
＇Image＇ Peterhead
It may be mentioned that about sixty years since； the port was
formed by the island called Keith Island； situated a small distance
eastward from the shore； between which and the mainland an arm of
the sea formerly passed。 A causeway had； however； been formed
across this channel； thus dividing it into two small bays； after
which the southern one had been converted in to a harbour by means
of two rude piers erected along either side of it。 The north inlet
remained without any pier； and being very inconvenient and exposed
to the north…easterly winds； it was little used。
＇Image＇ Peterhead Harbour。
The first works carried out at Peterhead were of a comparatively
limited character； the old piers of the south harbour having been
built by Smeaton； but improvements proceeded apace with the
enterprise and wealth of the inhabitants。 Mr。 Rennie； and after
him Mr。 Telford； fully reported as to the capabilities of the port
and the best means of improving it。 Mr。 Rennie recommended the
deepening of the south harbour and the extension of the jetty of
the west pier； at the same time cutting off all projections of rock
from Keith Island on the eastward； so as to render the access more
easy。 The harbour； when thus finished； would； he estimated； give
about 17 feet depth at high water of spring tides。 He also
proposed to open a communication across the causeway between the
north and south harbours； and form a wet dock between them； 580
feet long and 225 feet wide； the water being kept in by gates at
each end。 He further proposed to provide an entirely new harbour；
by constructing two extensive piers for the effectual protection of
the northern part of the channel； running out one from a rock north
of the Green Island； about 680 feet long； and another from the Roan
Head； 450 feet long； leaving an opening between them of 70 yards。
This comprehensive plan unhappily could not be carried out at the
time for want of funds； but it may be said to have formed the
groundwork of all that has been subsequently done for the
improvement of the port of Peterhead。
It was resolved； in the first place； to commence operations by
improving the south harbour； and protecting it more effectually
from south…easterly winds。 The bottom of the harbour was
accordingly deepened by cutting out 30；000 cubic yards of rocky
ground； and part of Mr。 Rennie's design was carried out by
extending the jetty of the west pier； though only for a distance of
twenty yards。 These works were executed under Mr。 Telford's
directions； they were completed by the end of the year 1811； and
proved to be of great public convenience。
The trade of the town； however； so much increased； and the port was
found of such importance as a place of refuge for vessels
frequenting the north seas； that in 1816 it was determined to
proceed with the formation of a harbour on the northern part of the
old channel； and the inhabitants having agreed among themselves to
contribute to the extent of 10；000L。 towards carrying out the
necessary works； they applied for the grant of a like sum from the
Forfeited Estates Fund； which was eventually voted for the purpose。
The plan adopted was on a more limited scale than that Proposed by
Mr。 Rennie； but in the same direction and contrived with the same
object；so that； when completed； vessels of the largest burden
employed in the Greenland fishery might be able to enter one or
other of the two harbours and find safe shelter； from whatever
quarter the wind might blow。
The works were vigorously proceeded with； and had made considerable
progress； when； in October； 1819； a violent hurricane from the
north…east； which raged along the coast for several days； and
inflicted heavy damage on many of the northern harbours； destroyed
a large part of the unfinished masonry and hurled the heaviest
blocks into the sea； tossing them about as if they had been
pebbles。 The finished work had； however； stood well； and the
foundations of the piers under low water were ascertained to have
remained comparatively uninjured。 There was no help for it but to
repair the damaged work； though it involved a heavy additional
cost； one…half of which was borne by the Forfeited Estates Fund and
the remainder by the inhabitants。 Increased strength was also
given to the more exposed parts of the pierwork； and the slope at
the sea side of the breakwater was considerably extended。*＇2＇
Those alterations in the design were carried out； together with a
spacious graving…dock； as shown in the preceding plan； and they
proved completely successful； enabling Peterhead to offer an amount
of accommodation for shipping of a more effectual kind than was at
that time to be met with along the whole eastern coast of Scotland。
The old harbour of Frazerburgh； situated on a projecting point of
the coast at the foot of Mount Kennaird； about twenty miles north
of Peterhead； had become so ruinous that vessels lying within it
received almost as little shelter as if they had been exposed in
the open sea。 Mr。 Rennie had prepared a plan for its improvement
by running out a substantial north…eastern pier； and