In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Lady like this:
Lady, a parish in the NE of Orkney, comprising the north-eastern part of Sanday island. Bounded SW by Cross parish, and on all other sides by the sea, it has an utmost length from NE to SW of 7 miles, a varying breadth of ½ mile and 2½ miles, and an area of 5233 acres. The coast, if one follows its ins and outs, has an extent of not less than 24 miles, being deeply indented on the NW by Otterswick Bay, on the S by Stywick Bay. ...
It projects the headlands of Tafts Ness on the N, Start Point on the NE, Tress Ness on the SE, and Els Ness on the S; and includes two lagoons adjacent to Els Ness and Tress Ness, dry at low water, and capable of easy conversion into fine harbours. The interior is mostly low and flat, and is divided into the districts of Northwall, Sellibister, Newark, Tresness, Coligarth, Overbister, and Elsness. The soil is very various, but in most parts is a fertile mixture of mould and sand. About one-third of the land is waste and heathy, and the rest either forms good natural pasture or is under cultivation. A lighthouse is on Start Point; remains of Scandinavian buildings are in several places; three pretty large tumuli, partly surrounded by a square enclosure, are near Coligarth; and each of the seven districts is supposed to have anciently had its church or chapel. The property is divided between two. Lady is in the presbytery of North Isles and synod of Orkney; the living is worth £183. The parish church was rebuilt about 1832, and is amply commodious. The schools are noticed in our article on Sanday. Pop. (1801) 830, (1831) 858, (1861) 1122, (1871) 953, (1881)
Lady through time
Lady is now part of Orkney Islands district. Click here for graphs and data of how Orkney Islands has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Lady itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Lady in Orkney Islands | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16652
Date accessed: 27th April 2024
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