Wyre, Orkney

Coordinates: 59°07′N 2°58′W / 59.117°N 2.967°W / 59.117; -2.967
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Cubbie" redirects here. For the pastoral lease, see Cubbie Station.

Wyre
Orkney
Demographics
Population5[4]
Population density0.62 people/km2[2][4]
Largest settlementHawn
Lymphad
Referenceswww.aroundrousay.co.uk/wyre.shtml

Wyre (historically known as Viera and Veira) is one of the Orkney Islands, lying south-east of Rousay. It is 311 hectares (1.20 sq mi) and 32 metres (105 ft) at its highest point. It is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the archipelago.

Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland, Egilsay and Rousay.

History

Wyre's history is still very apparent, and it has two ancient monuments maintained by Historic Scotland, Cubbie Roo's Castle and St. Mary's Chapel.

Bishop Bjarni grew up on Wyre, and was the son of Kolbein Hruga (see Cubbie Roo's Castle below.)

Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland says that he:

"composed the only significant work of Norse poetry to have survived in the [Orkney] islands, his Lay of the Jomsvikings. He also played an important part in securing the canonisation of Earl Rognvald."[5]

The poet

Deerness on Mainland, Orkney [1], spent much of his childhood on Wyre. In his autobiography he said of himself - "I'm an Orkneyman, a good Scandinavian",[2] and commented that some of his happiest childhood years were spent here.[5]

Cubbie Roo's Castle

Main article: Cobbie Row's Castle
Cubbie Roo's Castle

Cubbie Roo's (or Cobbie Row's ) Castle was built in the mid-12 century by Norse landowner, Kolbeinn hrúga. The stone fortification originally consisted of a small, central tower set in an oval enclosure, surrounded by two ditches, a stone wall and an earthen rampart. It is the oldest surviving medieval

King Haakon's saga. Historic Environment Scotland established the site as a scheduled monument in 1929.[6][7][8]

St. Mary's Chapel

Main article: St. Mary's Chapel, Wyre
St. Mary's Chapel

In the centre of the island is the roofless, but largely complete, twelfth-century St. Mary's Chapel. It is thought to have been built by a Norse chieftain, Kolbeinn hrúga or his son, Bjarni Kolbeinsson, Bishop of Orkney. The Romanesque style building was originally constructed of local rubble and lime mortar. During the late 19th century, the building was restored.[2][7]

Geography and geology

Like most of Orkney, Wyre is made up of Old Red Sandstone of the Devonian period.[2]

The island is low lying, and is shaped like an

Ae in Dumfries and Galloway as being Britain's shortest name for a settlement.[9]

Wildlife

Wyre is also known for its

common seals, and for birdlife including divers and ducks
.

Wyre Sound

Wyre is separated from the neighbouring island of Rousay by the Wyre Sound. The sound experiences strong tides, which creates the perfect conditions for

beam trawling, demersal trawling or Seine fishing is permitted.[12]

See also

Footnotes

  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 c d e Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate.
  3. 2011 census
    .
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
  6. ^ "Wyre, Cubbie Roo's Castle". Canmore: National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1849170734
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0300096255
    .
  9. ^ Guinness Book of Records 1985. Guinness Books. p. 91.
  10. ^ "Wyre and Rousay Sounds Marine Protected Area summary leaflet". Scottish Government. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Sitelink: Wyre and Rousay Sounds Marine Protected Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. Queen's Printer for Scotland
    . Retrieved 29 November 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wyre.

External links

59°07′N 2°58′W / 59.117°N 2.967°W / 59.117; -2.967

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