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Findhorn Harbour, consisting of two straight coursed rubble piers, each with two cast-iron bollards from circa 1830, linked with a breakwater. The North pier was constructed probably in the mid to late 18th century, and the South pier was designed by Joseph Mitchell, engineer, in 1830. The harbour is depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. Findhorn was the port of Forres, as Lossiemouth was of Elgin, and there is a suggestion of rivalry between them in the 17th century. It is situated just inside the mouth of the River Findhorn, where the bag shaped estuary of Findhorn Bay narrows towards its discharge. It is marked on one of Pont's surveys with ships at anchor off the village and within a formidable bar. It is also noted by Blaeu, Roy and Collins, the last describing it as a 'tide haven' which was only accessible at high water. Before 1715, however, it occupied a different site, later known as Old Findhorn, which in that year was swamped by the sea in the course of a single night. The general picture of the harbour that is presented by the records is not entirely lucid. A document of 1723 notes the place as a 'harbour for ships' while another, of perhaps rather earlier date, describes the river as 'piscosus et portu nobilis' (which roughly translates to 'a famous harbour full of fish'). Defoe's continuator mentions a 'small sea port', and Shaw states that 'the bar at the mouth of the river allows no ship of burden to enter the bay, yet a good trade is carried on by small merchant ships and fishing boats', while his editor adds comments from Grant and Leslie (1798) to the effect that the pier was then 'commodious' but limited in size, the harbour capacious and safe, and the depth of water on the bar adequate. The channel had then lately been altered, and a ship of 300 tons had entered the pier. These improvements had perhaps been made possible by work done under an Act of 1778. On the other hand, the parish minister of 1791 describes the harbour as accessible only to small vessels on account of a shifting bar, while one of his colleagues in 1796 urged the building of a canal from the harbour to Forres, the river being navigable only to the tidal limit. In 1842 the harbour was described as largely natural, but as possessing two quays of hewn stone, one of them recently built with squared rubble 'breastwork', a stretch of riverside wharfage linking it to the old pier. The bar is also mentioned. In 1847 there were two good piers, which could be reached in fine weather by craft drawing up to 12ft (3.7m). The bar moved periodically from East to West, and then built up again at its East end. At this date, trade was carried on largely in coal and lime, and in sleepers cut from local plantations of larch. Nineteen herring boats were owned in the village. 214 vessels had made calls in the course of the year and, apparently in addition to these, 68 steamers.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Moray
HER -
NJ06SW0025 - FINDHORN HARBOUR