Wyre

WYRE (ON Vigr, Spearhead. This spearhead-shaped island is only 3.5km (2.2 miles) long, but it figures strongly in Viking history. The great 12th century personality, Kolbein Hruga lived here. He was married to a granddaughter of Earl Paul Thorfinnson and was said to be a very overbearing man. He also built a strong castle in about 1150, the Cubbie Roo's Castle (HY441262) of today. It withstood at least one remarkable siege in 1231, described in Haakon's Saga. Snaekoll Gunnason and his followers took refuge in the castle after killing Earl John, son of Harald Maddadson and the last Norse Earl of Orkney. The castle resisted all attempts by the Earl’s men to take it.

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