Highland planned villages : the architecture of the British Fisheries Society

Abstract

The British Fisheries Society, founded in 1786, was a semi-charitable joint stock company, similar to other improvement trusts of the period established to fund the construction of roads, bridges, canals and hospitals. The Society was however unique in the breadth of its ambition to create a chain of complete settlements or villages the length of the northern Scottish coastline from Dornoch on the east to Oban on the west. These new settlements were intended to be fishing stations focussed on the perceived wealth to be gained from the herring fishery. Four settlements were established at Ullapool, Wester Ross, Tobermory, Mull, Lochbay, Skye and Pulteneytown, Wick, Caithness and the specific intention of this thesis has been to examine those four built environments created by the Society. This includes all elements of the building and design process necessary to 'create' a fishing village incorporating town planning, civil engineering, industrial and vernacular buildings as well as 'architecture' by Robert Mylne and Telford. The construction of each village is followed from the design of the street plan, contracting for works through to the design and construction of diverse works such as inns, storehouses, harbours and bridges. Varying circumstance resulting in each settlement developing its own architectural character despite the Society's standardised plans and policies the settlements are also considered within the wider context of planned villages, New Towns ports, and harbours with specific analysis of individual buildings and types such as Robert Mylne's inn at Tobermory.