Graemsay (/ˈɡrmz/) is an island in the western approaches to Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. The island has two lighthouses. Graemsay lies within the parish of Stromness.

Graemsay
Old Norse nameGrímsey[1]
Meaning of nameGrímr's Island
An aerial view of Graemsay, from above Hoy
An aerial view of Graemsay, from above Hoy
Location
Graemsay is located in Orkney Islands
Graemsay
Graemsay
Graemsay shown within Orkney
OS grid referenceHY255055
Coordinates58°55′59″N 3°17′00″W / 58.933°N 3.2833°W / 58.933; -3.2833
Physical geography
Island groupOrkney Islands
Area409 ha (1.58 sq mi)
Area rank76 [2]
Highest elevationWest Hill 62 m (203 ft)
Administration
Council areaOrkney
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population22[3]
Population rank60 [2]
Population density6.8 people/km2[3][4]
Largest settlementSandside
Lymphad
References[4][5][6]

Geography and geology

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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, usually operated by MV Graemsay, links the island with Stromness and Moaness on Hoy.

Graemsay is sometimes referred to locally, as 'Orkney's green isle' due to its lush green vegetation cover.

Wildlife

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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

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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.,[4] 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 and former straits around Scapa Flow. A Coastal Defence Battery also sits at the point of Oxan, built in 1944, and guarding the western entrance to Scapa Flow, until the end of World War II.

Graemsay primary school was built in 1876 and once had a peak enrollment of 60 pupils. In the late 1990s the school had four staff to just one pupil, making it the most expensive state school in the United Kingdom.[8] The school closed in 1996. Today, the island's children travel daily by boat to school in Stromness on the ferry MV Graemsay.[4]

Lighthouses

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Hoy Sound High Light
 
LocationGraemsay, Orkney, Hoy and Graemsay, United Kingdom  
OS gridHY2680906078
Coordinates58°56′08″N 3°16′23″W / 58.93567°N 3.27319°W / 58.93567; -3.27319
Tower
Constructed1851  
Designed byAlan Stevenson  
Constructionstone (tower)  
Automated1978  
Height33 m (108 ft)  
Shapecylinder  
Markingswhite (tower), black (lantern), ochre (trim)  
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board  
Heritagecategory A listed building  
Light
Focal height35 m (115 ft)  
Range20 nmi (37 km; 23 mi) (white), 16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi) (red)  
CharacteristicOc WR 8s  
Hoy Sound Low Light
 
LocationGraemsay, Orkney, Hoy and Graemsay, United Kingdom  
OS gridHY2470806643
Coordinates58°56′25″N 3°18′36″W / 58.940379°N 3.309999°W / 58.940379; -3.309999
Tower
Constructed1851  
Designed byAlan Stevenson  
Constructionstone  
Automated1973  
Height12 m (39 ft)  
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board  
Heritagecategory B listed building  
Light
Focal height17 m (56 ft)  
Range12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi)  
CharacteristicIso W 3s  

Two lighthouses are present on Graemsay: Hoy Sound Low and Hoy Sound High located at the extremities of the northern side of the island. The lights were built in 1851 on project by Alan Stevenson; both are cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern, even if of different heights, white painted with black lantern and the typical ochre trims.

The Hoy High Light, known as Graemsay Island Range Rear, is 33 metres (108 ft) high and has a white and red occulting light every 8 seconds depending on the directions.[9][10]

The Hoy Low Light (Graemsay Island Range Front) is 12 metres (39 ft) high and is distinguished by a white isophase light every 3 seconds. The two Range lighthouses direct the ships towards the Hoy Sound from the Atlantic.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Joseph (ed.) (1873) The Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. Edmonston and Douglas. The Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  3. ^ a b National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  5. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  6. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Graemsay website". Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  8. ^ "News:Independent - The boy with four teachers and a school to himself".
  9. ^ Hoy Sound High Lighthouses Explorer. Retrieved 25 May 2016
  10. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Orkney". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 25 May 2016.

Book about the History of Graemsay

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58°56′N 3°17′W / 58.933°N 3.283°W / 58.933; -3.283