A long curving sandstone pier encloses Dunbar’s seventeenth-century harbour and remains part of an active three-harbour complex.
Quick facts
- Date
- Mid-17th century origins; major work 1717; later repairs
- Architect / designer
- Burgh masons, harbour engineers and successive repair teams
- Type
- Stone harbour, quays and piers
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB24839)
- OS grid reference
- NT 68142 79224
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Vertically and obliquely set masonry forms the great eastern pier, return arm and stepped western quays. Weathered stairs, cobbled ramps, pawls, inscriptions and differently coursed repairs record repeated maritime use.
Its story
The harbour developed from a natural anchorage and acquired substantial masonry in the seventeenth century. Major work in 1717 and repeated storm repairs, quay improvements and pier alterations created the present layered structure.
Why it is included
The Category B harbour combines nationally significant early port engineering with continued fishing, leisure and community management.
What to notice
- Vertical and diagonal stonework in the outer pier.
- Stepped quays and weathered basin stairs.
- Repairs that reveal long exposure to storms and working use.
Reading the surroundings
This is a busy working harbour. Follow Harbour Trust notices, keep clear of vessels, gear and vehicle movements, supervise children and avoid unguarded, wet or storm-exposed edges.
Timeline
- 1655–58 Severe storms prompted major petitions and work on the harbour.
- 1717 A substantial phase formed important parts of the return pier and basin.
- 1879–88 The pierhead and boom arrangements were renewed.
- 2026 Dunbar Harbour Trust operates the historic basin within an active port.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Repeated reconstruction makes exact dating of individual masonry zones difficult, and harbour operations can temporarily restrict access.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Dunbar Old Harbour, LB24839 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Dunbar Harbour Trust: brief history — Current working use, trust management and the three-harbour context.
- Trove: Dunbar Old Harbour — Independent national description, historical references and structural analysis.
Location
OS grid reference NT 68142 79224 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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