Skaill House

 

This is Skaill House, overlooking the Bay of Skaill in west mainland, Orkney. Skaill is the Old Norse name for ‘hall’. The house was built in 1620 by Bishop George Graham who was the then Bishop of Orkney. Bishop Graham’s son, John became the first Laird of Skaill House. The house has since been passed down through 12 generations of Grahams. The 7^th Laird, William Watt was living in the house in 1850 when it is purported that an enormous storm dispersed the sand, revealing a stone wall.

 

William called in antiquarian George Petrie to assist in examining his find. Between 1850 and 1878, Petrie uncovered 4 houses and documented all of the artifacts that he had uncovered. The work was abandoned for a few years and later picked up by the University of Edinburgh. In all, there are 10 houses that make up the neolithic village at Skara Brae, including one structure that appears to have been used as a workshop.

All of the structures are made of flagstones which are layered to provide extra support. Each home has a hearth which would have been used not only for cooking but also for heat. It is central to the home. They also have a chest which would have been used as a cupboard, and as well there are beds in each home. The hearth and furniture were also made of stone. It is presumed that the homes would originally have had turf roofs, likely thatched with peat.

Together with the standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar, and at Stenness, and the chambered cairn at Maeshowe, Skara Brae makes up the heart of Neolithic Orkney which has a UNESCO World Heritage designation.

 I am forever in awe at the evidence of history that still exists in Scotland. It really does make you realize we are just a blip on the spectrum.