In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Papa Westray like this:
Papa Westray, an island of Westray parish, Orkney, 1¼ mile E of the northern part of Westray island, and 22¼ miles in a direct line N by E of Kirkwall, but 25 by the shortest sea-route. Its utmost length, from N by E to S by W, is 43/8 miles; and its breadth varies between ¼ and 11/8 mile. ...
The surface culminates in North Hill (156 feet), beyond which the northern extremity forms a bold and lofty headland, the Mull of Papa, well known to mariners, and pierced with a cavern, from 48 to 60 feet wide, and upwards of 70 feet high. The southern half is partly occupied by a freshwater lake, the Loch of St Tredwall (7 x 3½ furl.), on an islet in which are ruins of a pre-Reformation chapel. The soil, to the extent of some 1000 acres, is very fertile, and under regular cultivation. Midway along the E coast is a pastoral islet, the Holm of Papa, which is denizened by myriads of sea-fowl. The whole island of Papa Westray, with the exception of a small glebe, belongs to a single proprietor, Thomas Traill (b. 1822; suc. 1840), who holds 5780 acres, valued at £1629 per annum. His mansion, Holland, stands near the middle of the island, in which are also a remarkably large Picts' house and three vitrified cairns, and which was the scene of the death of Ronald, Earl of Orkney, by the hand of Thorfinn, Earl of Caithness. Anciently a separate and independent parish, Papa Westray, though now annexed to Westray, has still its own parish church, besides a Free church and a public school. Pop. (1838) 335, (1861) 392, (1871) 370, (1881) 345.
Papa Westray through time
Papa Westray 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 Papa Westray itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Papa Westray in Orkney Islands | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16377
Date accessed: 19th April 2024
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