Stromness

Stromness Map

STROMNESS (ON Straum-nes, Tidal Stream Point) and its excellent harbour is referred to in the Orkneyinga Saga as Hafna-vagr, Harbour Bay or Hamnavoe. Although the town looks older than Kirkwall in many ways, in fact as a settlement it is much newer. Like Lerwick in Shetland, Stromness owes its origins to its excellent harbour and the needs of shipping. The view from the ferry as it turns in past the Point of Ness and enters the harbour is of rows of stone-built houses with gable-ends facing the sea, each with a small pier or slipway. No doubt Kirkwall looked very similar early in the 19th century before Junction Road was built.

The town started to develop in the early 1600s and by 1627 there were 480 people attending the Cairston Kirk. Over the next two centuries growth was rapid so that by 1821 there were 2,944 people in the parish. In 1901 the population was 3,180, but this fell to 1,998 by 1961. Since then it has increased to 2,160.

Harbour Between 1688 and 1815 wars and privateers made the English Channel dangerous and much shipping chose to take the northabout route around Britain. Businesses were soon set up in Stromness to supply food, water and other stores to ships, which increasingly were calling here before departing far and wide. Login's Well supplied much of the south end of the town, as well as replenishing ships, as can be seen from the inscription.

Stromness from the ferry - houses with piers dominate the shore

and much more...