Maritime record MHG48386 - Albion: Melvich Bay, Pentland Firth

NMRS Report: (11/05/2007 13:02:43)
NC86NE 8010 c. 887 654
N58 33.8 W3 54.8

NLO: Melvich Bay [name centred NC 887 654]
Bighouse [name: NC 891 648]
Thurso [name: ND 115 687]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].

Thurso, 7th Nov. `The ALBION of Glasgow, Buchanan, from Wick to Newry, was driven on shore in Beyhouse [?Bighouse] Bay yesterday, and almost immediately went to pieces.'
Source: The Marine List, LL, No. 6064, London, Tuesday November 15 1825.
NMRS, MS/829/71 (no. 6442).

(Classified as schooner, with cargo of herring: date of loss cited as 6 November 1825). Albion: this vessel was wrecked at Bighouse Bay, near Thurso. Capt. Buchanan.
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1815. 58 tons burthern. Length: 17m. Beam: 5m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 34.0 W3 55.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.

The location suggested for the loss of this vessel is essentially tentative; Beyhouse or Bighouse Bay is not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. The house (NC86SE 40.00) and steading (NC86SE 26) of Bighouse are at NC 8911 6481 and NC 8939 6497 respectively, suggesting that Beyhouse or Bighouse Bay may be equated with Melvich Bay.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 15 April 2005.