Hand Crane, Rodel Harbour, Harris

A recognised landing place must have existed at Rodel from an early date, in association with St Clements. In 1786 "an excellent graving bank ..." and "two keys" [sic; recte: quays] were reported as having been formed at Rodel by Captain MacLeod of Harris, "one [quay] at the edge of the bason [sic], where ships may load or discharge afloat, at all times of the tide; the other on the graving bank". (Knox, OP CIT.,

p159). This work is evidently represented by the quays existing at the

east and west sides of the present harbour as well as the piers at

either side enclosing the harbour, for all are shown on Daniell's

view of 1819. All rubble-built; the head of the bay is also quayed, at driveway to Rodel Hotel; piers are both curved on plan, that to east has an integral slipway (of narrow width, possibly indicative of a cattle landing); pier to west has a 19th century hand-crank wood-jib

post crane, still (1991) functional.