A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
Papa Stour, an island of Walls parish, Shetland. Lying on the S side of the entrance of St Magnus Bay, 34 miles NW of Lerwick, it is separated by the Sound of Papa, 1 mile broad at the narrowest, from the north-western extremity of the Mainland section of Walls, and measures 27/8 miles in length west-north-westward, whilst its breadth varies between 4½ furlongs and 2¼ miles. It is engirt, at near distances, by picturesque porphyritic stacks, shooting vertically from the sea like stupendous towers or castellated keeps; on its S side is pierced by several magnificent and very curious caves, the abodes of numerous seals; is indented by several small voes or creeks, which afford shelter to fishing-boats; and has excellent beaches for drying fish, which were used for that purpose in last century by a great fishing company. The surface rises at Hoo Field to 115, at Virda Field to 288, feet above sea-level; and is disposed partly in arable land, with a generally fertile soil, partly in common pasture, naturally good, but much injured by maltreatment. Papa Stour was a northern centre of the early Culdees, serving as a sort of Iona to Shetland; and retained till a recent period the ancient Norwegian sword dance noticed in Sir Walter Scott's Pirate. It contains the Established church of Papa chapelry, a post office under Lerwick, and a public school. Pop. (1841) 382, (1861) 366, (187l) 351, (1881) 254.
(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)
| Linked entities: | |
|---|---|
| Feature Description: | "an island" (ADL Feature Type: "islands") |
| Administrative units: | Walls and Sandness ScoP Shetland ScoCnty |
| Place: | Papa Stour |
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