It's a little known fact that back in the 1900s old fishing vessels were routinely broken up for scrap at Broadhaven Bay, just to the north of Wick. There are reports of vessels, particularly steam drifters, having all loose fittings such as anchors, chains etc. thrown overboard and the ships run up the beach at high tide. Certainly there is much wreckage underwater in the bay close to shore, particularly anchors. Additionally there are one or two items left on the beach to this day (most notably a scotch boiler), as a reminder of what happened at "wreckers alley".
During World War 2 there were a number of ageing steam drifters moored at Wick Harbour which were to be used to blockade the harbour in the event of enemy attack. At the end of the war most, if not all, of these vessels were scrapped at Broadhaven. Currently only two of these vessels have been identified. They are the Lottie and the Isabella Fergusson.
The Lottie (WK 15), was built in Wick in 1904 and was broken up at Broadhaven in 1946.
The Isabella Fergusson (WK 135), was built in Yarmouth in 1903 and scrapped at Broadhaven in 1946. She had operated as a boom defence vessel in 1915-1919 and again from 1939-1945.
During World War 2 there were a number of ageing steam drifters moored at Wick Harbour which were to be used to blockade the harbour in the event of enemy attack. At the end of the war most, if not all, of these vessels were scrapped at Broadhaven. Currently only two of these vessels have been identified. They are the Lottie and the Isabella Fergusson.
The Lottie (WK 15), was built in Wick in 1904 and was broken up at Broadhaven in 1946.
The Isabella Fergusson (WK 135), was built in Yarmouth in 1903 and scrapped at Broadhaven in 1946. She had operated as a boom defence vessel in 1915-1919 and again from 1939-1945.