Fishing Store, Portormin Harbour, Dunbeath

This complex comprises a harbour, a fishing store, and an ice house, all situated at Portormin Harbour, near Dunbeath. The harbour, designed by James Fraser, a Civil Engineer, was constructed in 1892 along projecting masonry piers, forming an L-shaped harbour basin. It is built of coursed rubble. The fishing store dates from the early to mid-19th century. The two-story, five-bay symmetrical building faces south, with forestairs leading to first-floor entrances in the east and west gables. It is constructed of rubble with dressed rubble dressings. The ground floor has five entrances, with regular fenestration above. Smaller windows are present on the second floor, and all windows are shuttered. A further entrance is located in the center of the east gable at second-floor level, showing evidence of a former hoist. The roof is corrugated asbestos. An early to mid-19th century vaulted ice house is built into the hillside, flanked by a high rubble retaining wall. The ice house is of rubble construction with tooled rubble dressings, all whitewashed on the projecting, rounded south gable. It has a rounded, turfed roof. Internally, an ante chamber leads to the ice house proper, and the original door survives. Historical records indicate that the bay at Dunbeath was considered an excellent fishing station around 1858. Plans for the harbour, dated September 1892 and signed by James Fraser on 5 October 1892, confirm the absence of any pier or basin prior to 1892.