Dragon History » Fran’s Facts

Of seas and ships and Spanish sailors

Fran — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:03:07 +0000

Orkney sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and is subjected to the turbulence of both! There are thought to be more than 5,000 shipwrecks in Orkney waters, victims of tide races, whirlpools, strong currents and treacherous skerries. Some of the wrecks are said to be part of the famous Spanish Armada of 1588, the remnants of which sailed across the top of Scotland after being defeated by bad weather and the navy of Elizabeth I of England. The Spanish ships left a legacy of flotsam (there are some very fancy bits of furniture about the islands!), knitting patterns (the famous Shetland/Fairisle designs, allegedly), and the Spaniards themselves, who stayed in Orkney, married local lassies, and whose descendants still live in Orkney today, many of them on the island of Westray (known as ‘the Dons’).

Great anorak fact

Fran — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:29:32 +0000

The shortest ‘A’ road in Britain is in Orkney. It is the A963 and is better known as Castle Street in Kirkwall. Yet another reason to visit!

Norwegian party

Fran — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:18:27 +0000

Saturday, May 17, is Norwegian Constitution Day! As Orkney used to be in Norway, we celebrate the occasion here with a parade known as a tog, concerts, speeches and dinners. Lots of Norwegian folk come dressed in national costume. Skal!

Literal Vikings!

Fran — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:17:19 +0000

The Vikings in Orkney gave really obvious names to things! Hoy = High Island, Flotta = Flat Island, Sanday = Sandy Island.

Say what you see, folks!