Place:North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland

Watchers
NameNorth Ronaldsay
Alt namesNorth Ronaldshaysource: old dialect name
TypeIsland
Coordinates59.373°N 2.426°W
Located inOrkney, Scotland
See alsoStronsay, Orkney, Scotland1615|1615
Cross and Burness, Orkney, Scotlanduntil 1831
the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

North Ronaldsay is the northernmost island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. With an area of 690 hectares (2.7 sq mi), it is the fourteenth-largest. It is mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga; in modern times it is known for its historic lighthouse, migratory bird life and unusual breed of sheep.

North Ronaldsay lies around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of its nearest neighbour, Sanday. It is around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long and is defined by two large sandy bays; Linklet Bay on the eastern shoreline and South Bay at the south. The west of the island is very rocky, with many skerries. North Ronaldsay is low-lying and exposed; its climate is extremely changeable and frequently inclement. The surrounding waters are stormy and treacherous, and have been a notorious "graveyard" for ships (hence the unusually early provision of a lighthouse on the island).

Hollandstoun at the south of the island is the most sizable settlement; it lies roughly equidistant from the airfield and the pier.

Contents

Parish

The island was listed as part of the parish of Stronsay in 1615, although later it was part of the "united parish" of Place:Cross and Burness, Orkney, Scotland, which were two of the three original parishes of Sanday Island.[1] In 1831 North Ronaldshay was created a "quod sacra" parish in its own right. [2]

Population

Year Population Comments Link
1693 220 Using 1.6 multiplier Poll Tax returns of 1693 for North Ronaldshay, Orkney, Scotland
1787 384 Increased since early 1700s due to Kelp Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791
1791 420 Statistical Account of Scotland
1811 384 Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, Frances Groome, 1884
1831 522
1841 481 "ten families have left the island since
1841 amounting I believe to about 60 individuals"
[1]
1861 532
1871 539
1881 547
1891 501
1931 298
1961 161
1981 109
1991 92
2001 70
2011 72

Divisions

For more information see Settlements in North Ronaldshay, Orkney, Scotland
Map naming the six townships in blue and the various crofts in red (click here for larger view)
Enlarge
Map naming the six townships in blue and the various crofts in red (click here for larger view)

The island is divided into six "townships". North of the Matches Dyke are Ancumstoun and East North Yard; between Matches Dyke and the Muckle Gersty is Linklet and south of the Muckle Gersty are Bustatoun, Hollandstoun and Nesstoun.[3]


References

  1. Island Saga, the Story of North Ronaldshay, Mary A Scott, page 130
  2. The National Gazetteer (1868)
  3. Island Saga, the Story of North Ronaldshay, Mary A Scott, page 58


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