Coordinates: 58°58′52″N 2°57′36″W / 58.981°N 2.960°W
| Kirkwall | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Baile na h-Eaglais | |
| Scots: Kirkwaa | |
  Kirkwall
Kirkwall shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 8,686 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | Orkney |
| Lieutenancy area | Orkney |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Kirkwall |
| Postcode district | KW15 |
| Dialling code | 01856 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Orkney and Shetland |
| Scottish Parliament | Orkney |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046. It was established as the settlement of Rögnvald II, Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his successor, Thorfinn. In 1486, King James III of Scotland elevated Kirkwall to the status of a royal burgh; modern roadsigns still indicate "The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall".
The name Kirkwall is derived from the Norse name Kirkjuvagr (Church Bay), which was later corrupted to Kirkvoe, then Kirkwaa. English cartographers mistook the latter part waa as the Scots wa (meaning wall); hence the town became Kirkwall.
Situated on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney and with a population of about 8,500, Kirkwall is a port with ferry services to Aberdeen and Lerwick, as well as the principal north islands in the group. At the heart of the town stands St. Magnus Cathedral, which was founded in memory of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney 1108-1117 by Earl (later Saint) Rögnvald Kali. Next to the Cathedral are the ruins of the former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace. The town has two museums: Tankerness House Museum, which is contained within one of Scotland's best-preserved sixteenth century town-houses, contains items of local historical interest. The prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections are of international importance. The other museum is the Orkney Wireless Museum, dealing with the history of radio and recorded sound.
Apart from the main historical buildings mentioned above, Kirkwall has many 17th-18th century houses and other structures in the local vernacular style. The 'Kirk' of Kirkwall was not the Cathedral (which was originally at Birsay), but the 11th century church of Saint Olaf of Norway. One late medieval doorway survives from this church, and an aumbry from the original church survives within the late 19th Century structure of the present-day Saint Olaf's Church (Episcopal) in the town's Dundas Crescent. Kirkwall also once had a medieval castle, which was destroyed in the 17th century.
On the west edge of the town, surrounded by Hatston Industrial Estate, is a prehistoric ancient monument, Grain Earth House (Historic Scotland), a short low stone-walled passage deep underground leading to a small pillared chamber. This is the form of earth house or souterrain characteristic of the Northern Isles (although Grain is unusually deep below ground). It was originally connected to a surface dwelling, which has since disappeared, and the original purpose of these Iron Age structures remains unknown. The key for the monument comes from Ortak Visitor Centre and Factory.
One of the major annual events in the town is the Ba Game, held each Christmas Day and New Year's Day between the Uppies and the Doonies, each team representing one half of the town. Kirkwall also has the most northerly of the world's Carnegie libraries, which was opened by Andrew Carnegie and his wife in 1909. The building survives, although the library itself has since moved to a larger building on Junction Road.
Kirkwall was a parliamentary burgh, combined with Dingwall, Dornoch, Tain and Wick in the Northern Burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. Cromarty was added to the list in 1832. The constituency was a district of burghs known also as the Tain Burghs until 1832, and then as the Wick Burghs. It was represented by one Member of Parliament until 1918, when the constituency was abolished and the Kirkwall component was merged into the county constituency of Orkney and Shetland.
Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, an archipelago of islands some 10 miles off the north coast of Scotland. Kirkwall has two faces, depending on where you have just come from. If arriving from a large city such as Edinburgh or Glasgow, it is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. On the other hand, if you arrive from a more remote area, such as the outer islands of Orkney, Kirkwall seems like a buzzing metropolitan centre with shops, cafes, bars, traffic and areas of housing and industry sprawling south, east and west from it's busy harbour.
FlyBe[1], fly to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands from Kirkwall's airport.
Local routes also connect the other Orkney Islands to Kirkwall.
Northlink Ferries[2] travel several times a week during the night between Kirkwall and Lerwick and Aberdeen. The Northlink terminal is about 20 minutes walk from the town centre, although there is a connecting bus for the sailings.
Orkney Ferries[3] link Kirkwall at least daily with Eday, Sanday, Stonsay, North Ronaldsay and Westray. Several ferries a day go to and from Shapinsay, but only a couple a week to Papa Westray. The ferry port is right in the town centre.
Stagecoach in Orkney is the main operator of buses in and around Kirkwall. All bus routes focus on the Travel Centre, which is located on West Castle Street, just off Broad Street. This is where the tourist information centre is also located. Buses operate to most areas of the mainland, with buses goin to the main historic sites in the Summer months. Buses also operate to the linked South Isles and to ferry terminals which are not located in Kirkwall. A daily bus service has also recently started, which allows travel from Kirkwall to Inverness on the same bus, as the bus comes on the ferry too. Timetables and routes or all public transport services are available at [4]
Kirkwall has numerous car parks located in the town centre and harbour area. Praking around the harbour is free and mainly unlimited time, so it is the best place to park if you are exploring the town for a whole day. However, there can be a lack of parking in the town, even in the pay car parks..
Kirkwall has a good range of craft shops, One of Orkney's specialities. Also look out for the local Orkney Fudge.
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
Category: Outline articles
(There is currently no text in this page)
Kirkwall
   | Orkneyjar - The Royal Burgh of Kirkwall - Orkneyjar - The Royal Burgh of Kirkwall |
| | Undiscovered Scotland illustrated feature on Kirkwall - Kirkwall Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland |
| | Kirkwall pictures from www.orkneycommunities.co.uk - Orkney Image Library | Home |
| | Listen to recordings of a speaker of Kirkwall Scots - Dialects of English: Northern and Insular Scots |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
