A ROYAL Burgh from 1589 the town has even
more ancient origins as shown by its name which comes from the Norse
"Vic" the word for bay.
This page links to just a few photos of
Wick. Many others are to be found in the many
photo galleriesacross the Front
Page Archives of Caithness.org running from
August 2000.
20 July 06 Caravan
And Camping Site At Wick Reopened
The caravan and
camping site is once again open for business after much work by Mr
& Mrs Miller cutting grass, clearing rubbish painting and
brining in new picnic tables and flower baskets not to mention all new
electric hook-ups etc.
Dirty Weeker Ever wondered about the term used by and for the
citizens of Wick. Well it apparently is a corruption of a
phrase the evolved during the town's Herring days. It was not
as you might think a derogatory term which pokes fun at people who don'
wash. The original word was "Dirdie" a Caithness word meaning
busy. Over time it was corrupted to dirty and somehow adopted
by locals endearingly referring to each other as "Dirty Wickers"
meaning a real Wicker.
You can now buy "Dirty Weeker T shirts from the Wick Heritage
Centre who designed the T shirts.
The Wick Charter
The charter a copy of
which still hangs in Wick Town Hall was published in the Caithness
Field Club Bulletin of March 1990 following the Quatercentenary of 1989
- Starts - James, by the Grace of God, King of the Scots, to all true
men of his whole land, Clergy and Laity, Greeting. Know ye that we,
understanding that not only are the revenues or income of our crown
increased by the industry and increase of Free Burghs within our
Kingdom; and ends At Edinburgh, the twenty fifth day of the month of
September, in the year of our Lord, One thousand five hundred and
eighty nine, and the twenty third of our reign. Read The Wick Charter.
29 June 05 Homebase
Shopping Complex Work Begins Work began this week on the
new shopping complex situated n the outskirts of Wick. The
new complex that will have seven units with the two main shops being
Homebase and Argos. With Tescos planning application about to
begin the process Wick will in a very short time have some of the most
modern shopping facilities outside Inverness. Suddenly the
tide is changing in Wick's favour. It has been recognised for
some time that a town with an airport, harbour and railhead is ideally
situated to make an economic come back. Few other small towns
have all three forms of transport facilities on their doorstep.
29 April 05
More Progress At Blackstairs,
Wick - From Thursday 28 April
Of course there is debate about the rebuilding of the
Blackstairs. Should the new stones be mixed with the
remaining old stones still in good condition? Should they
have inscriptions on them? Should there be small platform
halfway up? - soon to be added for safety reasons next to the entrance
to the building. Why is the stone a different colour? (see the message board).
One thing is for sure the area of Pulteneytown cold not have been left
for much longer before some of it was fit only for
demolition. the project has some way to go and has already
created houses in
Telford Street
out of derelict buildings, is repaving along Bank Row, assisting with the Memorial Garden
on the bomb site in Bank Row at the foot of the Black Stairs (yet to
start). New Flagstone at the bottom of the Blackstairs will
join with the paving now being put in at the salt cellars.
Assisted the development of the building now occupied by Caithness Voluntary
Group. The project still has
funds to assist businesses rejuvenate buildings in the area and they
are working hard to ensure that the funds can be used up and allocated
by the 31 December 2005 and used in the following year. The
total target spend is �2.5 million - matched making it �5m.
Love them or hate them the new Blackstairs are only one part of a much
larger picture which is far from complete. As the project
moves on and the new street lighting is installed and other parts
finished we are at last beginning to see what many local folk had been
asking for over the past 20 years - the rejuvenation of
Pulteneytown and Wick. Wick is moving -
New Pier
almost completed at a cost of �3.5 million - Harbour Trust about to
evolve into a new organisation - Market Square re-paved - Wetherspoon's
new pub in the old Post Office -
Shore Lane widened - Shore Road
works starting shortly - New water systems in various parts of the town
- New waste water
treatment works at North Head - �3.5
million committed to the Caithness Heat And Power company for new
heating system for up to 500 houses in Wick (hopefully to spread across
the whole of Wick and if successful to develop in Thurso Halkirk and
Lybster) - looking to acquire forestry for the town of Wick - New Recycling Centre
near Wick airport - Wick Airport Terminal �800,000 upgrade - New
Housing development at Harrowhill starting shortly - New Offices for M M
Miller
construction -
Dental Training
unit at New business park - New Retail Park (seven shops) next to Lidl
starting soon - Potential second Retail Park near Wick airport (Major
retailer Tesco looking to open a new store) - Other developers looking
at Wick with a variety of ideas and plans) Highland Council trying to
stimulate more developments and negotiating with a range of people. New
Family Centre At the back of Telford Street (work staring
shortly). Pulteneytown People's Project is moving forward
with several projects rebuilding the community and aiming to build a
new community centre/skateboard park starting shortly. New
Arts Centre for Barrock Hallbeing planned by
North Highland College to run drama courses - New all-weather football
pitch starting shortly. CASE looking to stimulate developments in Wick
with full backing of HIE to make it happen in Wick. Wick
currently has 5% unemployment second highest in the Highlands but
compared to northern Finland (Karelia 15%) that is very low and a few
years ago unemployment levels in Wick were higher. And there
is more if you want to add to the list - Girnigoe Castle (huge
development near Wick by Clan Sinclair Trust preserving the
castle/archaeology works and a visitor centre. There is still
a
lot to do but the Blackstairs might just be a symbol of all that is
happening in Wick - it is being rebuilt slowly but surely.
There
is likely to be much much more to come and no doubt it will cause as
much controversy with differing views on all sides as the rebuilding of
the Blackstairs is doing - "thank goodness we're no deid yet" - and er
has anyone heard the birth rate is up in Caithness.............. We may
take a look at Thurso next week and and rest of the county later in a
similar vein after that. Is your glass half full or half
empty?......... More photos coming as the Blackstairs job moves
on......Long live the Blackstairs!!!
10 December 04
Grant
Street Care Home, Wick Refurbishment Now Underway A few months ago the Caithness
area committee of Highland council agreed to support the refurbishment
of the Care Home at Grant Street, Wick. Work commenced this
week with G M R Henderson Building Contractor, Wick in charge of the
works. The refurbishment has been welcomed by members of the
local community and local councillors are happy to be able to ensure a
longer term future in comforts for people in need of care within
Wick. Caithness area convenor David Flear and
Caithness Social Work chairman Bill Fernie were particularly pleased
that negotiations over a period of months with local people and council
staff had resulted in moving things forward to a satisfactory
conclusion. Work will be completed over the next few weeks.
Update
On Wick Harbour's Solar Roof The panels on the new solar
roof at Wick Harbour are almost all in place in this picture.
The work has gone ahead amazingly quickly and the new set up is due to
be officially launched next Friday 17 December. A digital
readout is to be set up so anyone can see the amount of power being
produced
21 June 03 Trinkie Midsummer
Barbecue A Big Hit Ian Sutherland and his Trinkie Volunteers brought off a
very successful
barbecue fundraiser to make some cash to repair Wick's outdoor swimming
pool. This famous landmark was once again ringing with fun
and games and kids swimming in the newly painted
pool. Well done to all
concerned........................
