Graemsay
| Graemsay | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 Graemsay
|
|
| OS grid reference | HY255055 |
| Names | |
| Norse name | Grímsey |
| Meaning of name | Grímr's Island |
| Area and summit | |
| Area | 409 ha (1.58 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 76 |
| Highest elevation | West Hill 62 m (203 ft) |
| Population | |
| Population | 21 |
| Population rank | 64 out of 101 |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Orkney Islands |
| Local Authority | Orkney |
  |
|
| References | [1][2][3][4][5][6] |
|
Area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. |
|
Graemsay is an island in the western approaches to Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. The island has two lighthouses.
Geography and geology
Graemsay lies between Hoy and Stromness on Mainland Orkney, separated from the Mainland by Clestrain Sound. The island is 409 ha (1.58 sq mi) in area and is mainly crofted.
The island's geology is old red sandstone of the Devonian period, with two volcanic faults. On the north coast there is granite-schist, a great rarity in Orkney.
Graemsay is surrounded by strong tidal races, known locally as roosts. An Orkney Ferries service links the island with Stromness and Moaness on Hoy.
Wildlife
Birds include oystercatchers, ringed plovers, redshank and curlew.
Parts of the island are largely undeveloped and are a haven for wild plants.[citation needed]
History
As with many other Orkney Islands, there is a connection to the Celtic Church, possibly a pre-Norse one. There are the remains of two early churches, dedicated to St Bride and to St Columba.,[2] who are both saints of Irish origin.
The island has two lighthouses, Hoy High (NE) and Hoy Low (NW), both built in 1851 by Alan Stevenson[7] for the 19th century herring industry.
At the Point of Oxan in the far north west, in Burra Sound, are block ships, which were scuttled deliberately during World War II. This is a common feature of the straits/former straits around Scapa Flow
The school closed in 1996 and the island's children travel daily by boat to school in Stromness on the ferry 'Graemsay.'[2]
There is a web site run by the current residents of Hoy High Lighthouse that gives a flavour of life today on Graemsay. http://www.graemsay.org.uk/index.htm The largest building, Sandside House, has been renovated and a website describing the property and the island is also of interest. http://www.graemsay.com Former residents of Graemsay and their descendants may find the web site run by Robert Whitton at http://www.robertwhitton.eu contains information about all Graemsay families.
Footnotes
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames". Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
- ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
- ^ "Graemsay website". Retrieved 2007-07-22.
Coordinates: 58°56′N 3°17′W / 58.933°N 3.283°W
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Read in another language
This page is available in 9 languages
