Quay in Bremore

Newhaven is a small harbour located on the southern side of Bremore headland below the 16th century settlement (DU002-005). The harbour is defined by a stone pier, which extends from the eastern facing shoreline in a NNE direction running almost parallel to the headland. The harbour is documented as Newhaven on the17th century Down Survey (1655-6) maps. The pier appears as a crude drawing on the barony map of Balrudery by Thom West Edward Wilson and William ? (T or J)arrand. Newhaven is also listed on Herman Molls 1714 map of Dublin several other eighteenth century maps. It is also on Duncan's 1821 map of Dublin and therefore may still haven been in use as a harbour at this time. Newhaven is not recorded on the 1st OS 6' map and therefore appears to have gone out of use by this time. The harbour site consists of a substantial dry stone constructed pier and an area of cleared foreshore for pulling up or landing boats. The pier starts at the high water mark approximately 20m from the cliff edge. It measures approximately 62m long and runs in a WSW-ENE orientation so as to incorporate a natural projection of rock outcrop towards its head. The pier may have originally extended as far as the cliff as there is an area of stone facing measuring approximately 1.40m by 1.90m in the cliff face which is in line with the pier. It is roughly faced, with no visible mortar. Between this stone facing and the pier is a large boulder measuring 2m x 2m x 70cm and this also may have formed part of the pier structure. The pier varies in width but averages 8-10m. There is a possible mooring stone, sub-triangular in shape measuring 1m x 70cm x 60cm located midway along the pier. It has a central hole measuring 8cm deep and 8.5cm in diameter. There may have been an iron ring attached to the boulder to which boats could be tied to but this has not survived. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 27 October 2014