| Papa Westray | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | HY488518 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | |
| Norse name: | Papey (hin) Meiri |
| Meaning of name: | Old Norse for "Big Island of the papar" |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 918 ha |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 52 |
| Highest elevation: | North Hill 48 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 65 |
| Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): | 53 out of 97 |
| Main settlement: | Backaskaill |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Orkney |
| Local Authority: | Orkney Islands |
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| References: | [1][2][3][4] |
Papa Westray also known as Papay, is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a population of 65 at the time of the 2001 Census, now increased to 70 people. Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. [5] The soil is very fertile,[6] and this has long been a draw to the island.
Current historical attractions on the island include Holland House with an associated folk museum and the Knap of Howar Neolithic farmstead (Historic Scotland). An open air museum is a distinct type of Museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors At Knap of Howar on the Orkney island of Papa Westray, a Neolithic farmstead has been wonderfully well preserved and is claimed to be the oldest preserved The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Historic Scotland is an Executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.
It is the tenth largest of the Orkneys with an area of 3½ square miles.
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Infrastructure
Orkney Ferries sail from Papa Westray to Pierowall and Rapness on Westray, and Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland. Orkney Ferries operates the inter-island Ferry services that link together the various islands of the Orkney Islands, to the north of the Scottish mainland Westray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a population of around 550 people Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The Mainland is the main Island of Orkney, Scotland. Both of Orkney's Burghs Kirkwall and Stromness, lie on the island Planes fly from Papa Westray Airport to Kirkwall and to Westray, the latter route being the world's shortest scheduled flight. Papa Westray Airport is located 22 Nautical miles (407 km north of Kirkwall Airport on Papa Westray, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Wildlife
At the northern tip of the island lies North Hill (49m) the island's highest point and an RSPB nature reserve. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB) is a British Charitable organisation which works to promote conservation and protection Many sea birds breed on the island, including Arctic terns and Arctic skuas. The Arctic Tern ( Sterna paradisaea) is a Seabird of the Tern family Sternidae. The Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus, known as the Parasitic Jaeger in North America, is a Seabird in the Skua family Stercorariidae It was one of the last places where the Great Auk was found, the last individual being killed in 1813. The Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis, formerly of the Genus Alca, is a Bird that became extinct in the mid-19th century The reserve is also home to the rare and tiny purpled-flowered Scottish primrose Primula Scotica. Primula scotica, commonly known as Scottish primrose, is a species of Primrose that is endemic to the north coast of Scotland
History
The Knap of Howar Neolithic farmstead (Historic Scotland; accessible at all times) which is the oldest preserved house in northern Europe, dating from around 3500 BC. At Knap of Howar on the Orkney island of Papa Westray, a Neolithic farmstead has been wonderfully well preserved and is claimed to be the oldest preserved The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Historic Scotland is an Executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland. The 35th century BC in the Near East sees the gradual transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age. [6] The homestead, which consists of two roughly rectangular stone rooms side by side, linked by an internal door, and with doors to the outside at the west end, is partly subterranean, and virtually complete to roof height. Examples of the round bottomed Unstan ware have been found here, and provided the key to dating the settlement. Unstan ware is the name used by Archaeologists for a type of finely made and decorated Neolithic pottery from the 4th millennium BC [6]
According to tradition, in the 8th century, the Pictish King Nechtan attempted to seduce a young woman from the island named Triduana, who in response gouged her own eyes out. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century Nechtan, Nectan or Neithon may refer to Kings Nechtan Morbet (fl She later became abbess of a nunnery at Restalrig, now part of Edinburgh, and was in due course, canonised as Saint Tredwell. Restalrig is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is west of the A199 road. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints A chapel was consecrated to her on Papa Westray and became a place of pilgrimage for people with eye complaints. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance
The island is one of the "Papey"s or "islands of the papar. The Papar (from Irish pap, father or Pope) were according to early Icelandic historical sources, a group Joseph Anderson noted that:
- "The two Papeys, the great and the little (anciently Papey Meiri and Papey Minni), [are] now Papa Westray and Papa Stronsay. Papa Stronsay ( Old Norse: Papey Minni) is a small Island in Orkney, Scotland, lying north east of Stronsay. . . Fordun in his enumeration of the islands, has a 'Papeay tertia' [third Papey], which is not now known. John of Fordun (d c 1384 was a Scottish Chronicler. It is generally stated that he was born at Fordoun, Mearns. There are three islands in Shetland called Papey, and both in Orkney and in Shetland, there are several districts named Paplay or Papplay, doubtless the same as Papyli of Iceland"[7]
Also on the island is the 12th century parish church of St Boniface Kirk (recently restored; open in summer) with a carved Norse "hogback" gravestone (probably also 12th century) in the churchyard. Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language This stands on a substantial and largely unexcavated 9th century, or earlier, Pictish religious site – possibly including a bishop's residence. Remains of a heavily eroded broch can be seen on the shore. A Broch is an Iron Age Drystone hollow-walled structure of a type found only in Scotland. Early Christian carved stones found at this site are on display in Tankerness House Museum, Kirkwall and the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, is a building which together with the adjacent Royal Museum, comprises the National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow.
Another ancient monument that can be visited is a well-preserved Neolithic chambered cairn on the small island of Holm of Papa Westray, a little east of Papay itself (and readily visible from the larger island). The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos A chambered cairn is a burial monument usually constructed during the Neolithic, consisting of a Cairn of stones inside which a sizeable (usually stone chamber The Holm of Papa or Holm of Papay, known locally as the Papay Holm[http//www The long, stalled cairn, built of local stone, was once a communal burial place for the bones of an ancient community. It is protected by a modern roof and entered by a man-hole from above. This can be seen at any time of day, but visitors must arrange privately for a boat through the local Co-Op.
Papa Westray is the birthplace of the Orcadian educator and man of letters, John D. Mackay. John D Mackay (1909 Maeback Papa Westray, Orkney) Orcadian school-teacher taught on Stronsay and North Ronaldsay before working as headmaster
References
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ 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)
- ^ Working Lunch, BBC Television
- ^ a b c Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
- ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed. ) (1893) "Introduction to Orkneyinga Saga". Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
See also
External links
- http://www.papawestray.co.uk Papa Westray
- http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/n/papawestray/index.asp RSPB North Hill, Papa Westray
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