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Summary

Description

Earlier to mid 19th century group of structures. Harl-pointed.

SALT WAREHOUSE: 2-storey, 5-bay rectangular-plan asymmetrical gutting shed with later pitched-roofed entrance porch to left

S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: window at 1st floor in 2 central bays. Window at ground floor in bay to left. Window to gabled entrance porch in bay to penultimate left; boarded door in right return. Window at ground in bay to outer left.

N (REAR) ELEVATION: irregular, 4-bay elevation. Window at ground in 2 bays to left of centre. Window at ground , with non-aligned window at 1st floor in 2 bays to right of centre. Evidence of wide, blocked, square-headed doorway in bay to centre.

E (SIDE) ELEVATION: wide, segmental-arched doorway at ground; tall pointed-arched boarded loft door to above; remnants of iron pulley to gablehead.

W (SIDE) ELEVATION: window set to left at 1st floor of gabled elevation.

4-pane timber sash and case, and fixed windows. Graded stone slate roof with slightly swept eaves; stone ridge; rubble, corniced ridge and gablehead stacks.

INTERIOR: timber staircase to 1st floor; remainder, not seen fully, 1998.

BOTHY: single storey, 3-bay, rectangular-plan symmetrical bothy sited to W of main shed. Harl-pointed rubble.

E (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: doorway with 2-pane fanlight in bay to centre. Window in each bay flanking.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: window in bay to centre. Window in bay to left.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: window set to right o centre; gablehead stack above.

12-pane timber sash and case windows to E; broken 2-pane timber sash and case windows elsewhere. Graded stone tiled roof; red clay ridge; harled, corniced gablehead stacks; thack stanes.

CURING HOUSE: 2-storey, 6-bay rectangular-plan asymmetrical boiler house with single storey lean-to addition along rear (E) elevation. Squared rubble.

W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: window at each floor in bay to centre with tall external stack flanking to left. Doorway with small-pane fanlight at ground in bay to right. Window at each floor in bay to outer right. 2 windows set close at ground in bays to left; large window/doorway at 1st floor above. Window at each floor in bay to outer left.

4- and 12-pane timber sash and case windows (broken). Graded stone tiled roof; stone ridge; rubble, corniced gablehead stacks.

PIER: simple rectangular-plan pier; rubble sides; flagstone surface; 3 evenly disposed step niches along W side; central timber bollards; upended cannon to S (seaward) end.

Statement of Special Interest

Herring curing in Tankerness started in 1833 at a time when herring fishing in Orkney in general was on the increase. A total of 724 herring boats were catching about 42 073 barrels a year. The operation in Tankerness was only just getting into its stride, although fishermen in the parish had been delivering their fish to other stations to be cured for some years before. The station at Tankerness represents a typical and relatively well-preserved group of herring industry-related buildings and accompanying pier. The precise function of each building is not known, but the complex would have provided space for coopers, and packers as well as the large numbers of women employed to clean and salt the fish. The main central building was perhaps used to hang the fish to dry although lack of visible ventilation in the roof suggests that this might not have been the case. The building to E was perhaps used to store the barrels into which the fish had been packed or as a net warehouse.

References

Bibliography

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