02.07.2024 Skara Brae and Skaill House

Today we were a bit later up and Master went online to get tickets for us all to visit Skara Brae. The new visitor facility is opening today. The weather started the day with a promise of sunshine and wind (of course) but later on deteriorated into misty drizzle. Never mind we were prepared. Our first Port of call (excuse the pun) today was to buy Ferry tickets to go to Hoy and the Skarpa Flow museum. We ended up going to Houton Ferry terminal because we couldn't take a car on the ferry from Stromness. We were lucky to get a booking for Sunday 07.07.2024, so we have to be up early that day as the boat sails at 9.30, we must be there in the queue before then. On to Skara Brae now.

Missus tells me that Skara Brae is an ancient Neolithic village that was uncovered in Skaill Bay after a great storm wind and a very high tide in 1850. In the 1760s though a James Robertson had commented about square Catacombs he had seen on Skara Down.  The village had lain undiscovered for 4500years. Archaeological investigations of this site has exposed well preserved dwellings that are believed to have been inhabited between 3500BC-2500BC, although there are signs of abandonment 3 times in this era. It is not known why it was finally abandoned, maybe weather, disease, crop failure. Seeing what has been found there it seemed to be a land of plenty. They hunted Deer and ate shellfish and fish. The midden's contained a wealth of information. Two types of pottery were found there, Unstan Ware this would have been used by the first inhabitants between 3500BC and 3100BC. Later on Grooved ware was found dating from 2900BC-2500BC. Excavations started in the 1860s which exposed 4 houses. A Sea wall was constructed to protect the site and in 1929 Prof. V Gordon Childe was engaged to start recording the finds. Many types stone and bone had been fashioned into various tools. Pottery had also been made on site. Building 8 was of particular interest as it lacked any signs of it being a residence but instead a workshop for making their tools etc. One item in the museum display was interesting, a Mattock had been made from an animal hinge joint.  Fun fact, Damp courses had been 5000 years ago, the foundations of the houses had a layer of blue clay in them. this acted like a damp course to keep the house dry at ground level. This site is on the Laird of Breckness's land, seems a bit ironical that his is a sandy domain and the word 'Breck' is in there and we come from the Brecklands in England also a very sandy place. In the 1600s there was a great sand storm and the village of Downham was buried. The neighbouring village of Santon was spared and is now Santon Downham! 

                                                                  Plan of Skara Brae

                                                            Houses from Skara Brae

After the Neolithic village we visited Skaill House, which is the original residence of the Laird.  Walking back from the village I spotted and arrow for the Disabled entrance to the house. we went that way and went in the first open door, which turned out to be the exit! a nice lady in the shop pointed us in the direction of the start of the tour.  There were photos on the table in the drawing room showing that the Queen Mother and the late Queen had visited the place. On the staircase we saw an unusual Flag that had been framed, it was the Colours of the 4th Western Infantry Regiment of the Russian Revolutionary Armies.

                                                       The Flag and the Plaque beneath it.

                                                                                                                   Skaill House

Today we also managed to suss out where the recycling bins were at the holiday cottage, so that got rid of a few things. Not sure what we are doing tomorrow, perhaps Ness of Brodgar. 

Night Night all.