Eynhallow
| Old Norse name | Eyinhelga[1] |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Holy island |
 Eynhallow viewed from Rousay, from the north-east, with the Orkney Mainland beyond | |
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference | HY359291 |
| Coordinates | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 75 hectares (0.29 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 168 [2] |
| Highest elevation | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0[3] |
 | |
| References | [4][5][6][7] |
Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island in Eynhallow Sound, between Rousay and the Mainland of Orkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is 75 hectares (0.29 square miles) in area. There is an unnamed skerry about 100 metres (330 feet) to the north-east of the island, separated by Fint Sound. Sheep Skerry adjoins the southern end of the island.
There is no ferry to the island, although Orkney Heritage Society organises a trip each July.[8] Otherwise, visitors have to arrange their own transport to the island by private local boat hire. Access can be problematic, as there are strong tidal surges in the surrounding strait, funnelled between Mainland and Rousay.[9]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The Norse named the island Eyinhelga,[1] meaning "holy island".[6] Johan Blaeu's 17th century Atlas Novus records the name as Alhallow.[10] Skene's 19th century translation of John of Fordun's 14th century Chronica Gentis Scotorum records the name as Enhallow.[11]
History
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The island's main attraction is Eynhallow Church, dating from the 12th century or earlier, and perhaps originally part of a monastery.[12] The site is maintained by Historic Scotland.
In 1841 the island had a population of 26.[12] It has been uninhabited since the landowner cleared crofters away in 1851. The clearing led to the discovery of the church ruins, forgotten until then.[13] The island is now a bird sanctuary.
Described as "perhaps the most mystical of the Orkney isles",[14] it has its own folklore concerning the initial finding of the island. Eynhallow was believed to be the summer residence of the shape-shifting mer-people the Finfolk before they were driven away by a farmer from Evie, the Guidman o' Thorodale.[15][16]
Cinderella stamps
[edit | edit source]Cinderella stamp issues have been made for Eynhallow since at least 1973. They have no postal currency.[17]
See also
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Anderson (1873) p. 176
- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent. 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census and 101 such islands in 2022.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Haswell-Smith 2004, pp. 381–383.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Orkney Placenames. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
- ^ Orkney Heritage Society website
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Irvine 2006, p. 30.
- ^ John of Fordun 1872, p. 41.
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Hewitson 2003, p. 187.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Turnbull, Catherine (29 July 2010) "Exploring the Mysteries of Eynhallow". Kirkwall: Orkney News.
- ^ "Scotland, Eynhallow: Cinderella Stamps," colnect.com. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
References
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Anderson, Joseph (ed.) (1873) The Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. Edmonston and Douglas. The Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
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External links
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