Monument record MHG32105 - The Black Stairs, Bank Row, Wick

Listed as part of the group for Lower Pultneytown.
Information from Historic Scotland, February 2002
JHooper, 4/3/2003

Stairs, broad, steep flight of steps. Long Caithness flagstone treads. By Thomas telford & James Bremmer circa 1820.

The black stairs were part of Telford's origional plan for Pultney town linking the residential area above the bank, via Lower Dunbar Street, to the harbour below. The steps were not begun until 1820's.

The name appears to be a local, popular one as it does not feature in Telford's plan, unlike the streets which are named after BFS Directors.

Group listing for Lower Pultneytown, core of Telfords 1809 scheme for the British fisheries Society

Further information on group see listing for Round House Harbour place.
Detail from Listing DEH 04/05

During Excavation an earlier set of stairs were noted, beneath those recorded above, on the Pultney Hall side. They are about 3feet wide and appear to have linked to a 'landing at the Hall door.
Info from Richard Guest TEC Services Caithness E-mail 11/05/05