History of Wick


Wick's history stretches back, at least, to the era of Scandinavian rule in Caithness, which ended, conclusively, in 1266's Treaty of Perth. The name Wick appears to be from a Norse word, vik, meaning bay. The Castle of Old Wick is on the coast about one kilometre south of the town.

Pulteneytown takes its name from Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, a governor of the British Fisheries Society. In the early years of the 19th century Sir William commissioned Britain's leading civil engineer, Thomas Telford, to design and supervise the creation of a major new herring fishing town and harbour at the estuary of the River Wick. Pulteneytown was so named after the death of Sir William in 1805 and became a major player in the 19th century herring boom. During this boom period the harbour was expanded still further by local ship-builder James Bremner. History of this era is preserved in the collections of Wick Heritage Museum.

Abandoned in the 18th Century and now in ruin the castle was built in the 12th Century it was thought once to be a stronghold in Britain. The remains of the castle sits on the cliffs half a mile south of Wick Bay. It is also known as the Old Man Of Wick.

The library building houses the North Highland Archive and the St. Fergus Gallery exhibitions. The North Highland Archive is part of the Highland Council Archive Service, and holds collections of official and private papers, the earliest dating from 1589, relating to Wick and the county of Caithness.