Fishtown of Usan Cottages: East Range, Fishtown of Usan

East range of single storey row originally of 14 cottages, now derelict, with 4-stage lookout tower to off-centre left. Rubble with raised ashlar margins, some timber lintels to window embrasures. Tower rising out of pitched roof gear shed, harled, with round-arched bipartite windows to each face at different stages above ground, and with oculuc to S elevation at 4th stage, below crenellated wallhead parapet with billeted corbel course and red brick stacks (') to 2 corners.

Fishtown of Usan is a fragile remains of a once thriving fishing industry, and a good example of the traditional 'fisher town'. (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

The cottages appear to be earlier than the lookout tower, and may have been built to serve a saltpan on the shore nearby as well as the fishing trade. (J Hume)

June 2009: External inspection finds the majority of the cottages roofless shells, some are used for storage of fishing materials and other equipment. One of the buildings appears to have been rebuilt as a storage shed.

23 October 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit.

7 June 2016: External inspection finds the buildings remain in much the same condition as seen previously.