Wick

I find towns like Wick fascinating, the harbour is still the focal point, it still enjoys commercial traffic, but it has moved on, and built a dedicated marina for small leisure craft and yachts, yet there is still that connection with its proud past. There is the Pulteney Distillery, which has guided tours and its own shop. Call me biased, but I do enjoy a wee dram of Old Pulteney single malt. 

In the 1960s Wick became world famous again. This time, for the Caithness Glass, known the world over. Although the company still trades, it left the area in 2005. An extensive collection of early designs, many influenced by the surrounding land and seascapes were handed over to the Wick Heritage Museum, where they can still be seen today. I recommend a visit to the Heritage Museum to get the full story about Wick, its past, its people.   

Black Saturday, 19th August 1848

Wick is no stranger to the might of the North Sea and has had its own share of tragedy. On the 18th. of August 1848, some 800 boats left port in fine weather, full of hope and in full expectation of a good catch of the “Silver Darlings” and to return safely the next morning. Into the evening, a gentle breeze blew. Before darkness fell, ominous clouds rose in the east, the barometer fell rapidly, the breeze became a gale, and the swell became disagreeable.   

Some returned to port early, fearing the worst for a storm, but others remained. By 1 O’clock on the morning of the 19the August 1848, after a brief lull, a violent gale blew. By daybreak, the whole coast was dotted with fishing boats running before the wind, in desperation to reach safe haven.   

The boiling, confused sea, dashed boats into each other, and threw them onto rocks and boulders. That day, 90 men and 30 boats were lost at sea, 37 men from Wick, leaving 17 Widows and 63 children. Sadly, most of those who lost their lives, were probably in sight of safety.