Description

Early 19th century, 2-storey and asymmetrical 5-bay, roughly

rectangular plan former harbour warehouse building (now used as sailing club

premises, 2016). In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings

and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act1997 the following are excluded from the

listing: lean-to extension to rear of the sailing club and the linked store to the

southwest.

Painted coursed whinstone rubble, with fixed 8-pane replacement timber casement

windows with top hopper openings. To the left of centre are loading door openings to

the ground and 1st floor (with modern timber balcony). Additional door to far right.

Slate roof (re-slated in 1994), piended to right and gabled to left, with straight skews

and coping.

The interior, seen in 2015, has been altered to provide accommodation facilities for

members of the local sailing club.

Statement of Interest

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation

Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: lean-to

extension to rear of the sailing club and the linked store to the southwest.

The former warehouse building that is currently in use as the Wigtown Bay Sailing

Club contributes to our understanding of maritime and industrial history in Dumfries

and Galloway. In plan-form and profile the building is largely unaltered externally

since the early 19th century, and appears largely as it was first constructed, forming

an important association with the harbour front at the Isle of Whithorn.

It forms part of a group of historic buildings which are among

the earliest surviving in the village and is prominently sited in a row, predominantly

dating to the 19th century, on the main thoroughfare through the village to the

harbour, with its main elevation orientated northwest to face the harbour with open

views to the sea.

The development of the harbour at the Isle of Whithorn dates from 16th century

onwards, established for trade and the passage of pilgrims on their route to St

Ninian's Church at Whithorn. The L-plan harbour was modified substantially in

1790 and in around 1900 with the addition of a boat building yard. The range of

warehouses in the village along Harbour Row predominantly date from the

improvements of the late 18th and early 19th century and would have been used for

the short-term storage of incoming and outgoing goods or used as rent

houses. The peak period of shipping to the Isle of Whithorn was in the mid-19th

century with steam passenger and cargo vessel traffic.

Maritime trading was important to Scotland's economy from an early date and

warehouse buildings to store goods are typically found set close to harbours and

large working docks, with the majority of the warehouses being one or

2-storey sheds used as temporary storage for goods on their way to or from the

vessels.

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2016. Previously listed as

'Isle of Whithorn, Harbour Row, Harbour House, The Wigtown Bay Sailing Club'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56622418

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living