New Orkney Antiquarian Journal - Volume 8

Volume 8, 2018.

Commemorating two significant milestones in the historiography of Orkney: the death of Willie Thomson in 2016 and the 50th Anniversary of the Orkney Heritage Society in 2018.

All but one of the authors of the papers were either peers or former pupils of Willie Thomson, or are past or present Chairs of the Society. The exception is Else Mundal, whose contribution makes a trilogy of new perspectives on early 12th-century Orkney.

Barbara Crawford offers some fresh interpretations on the monastic context of the Brough of Birsay. Sarah Jane Gibbon offers fresh interpretations of Willie Thomson’s 2002 paper on the Ladykirk Stone. Else Mundal offers a fresh interpretation of the life of Earl Rognvaldr. Leslie Burgher traces the history of the Hall of Clestrain. James Irvine updates a paper on Sandwick’s agricultural history first written for one of Willie’s whiteboard courses. Jocelyn Rendall adds to Willie’s research on the Little General in India. Sheila Garson writes up the role of women in agriculture in Shapinsay. Sheena Wenham edits the diaries of two Orkney ladies during the Second World War. Peter Anderson recollects his visits to Orkney in the 1950s. Ray Fereday records his memories of the saving of Papdale House and the founding of the Orkney Heritage Society. Spencer Rosie brings the history of the Society up to the present day. Finally Brian Smith supplements his obituary of Willie Thomson with perceptive insights into some of his publications.

The volume concludes with one of Willie Thomson’s many innovations, ‘Recent Books and Papers’.

Contents include;

- The Brough of Birsay Continued: Further Thoughts on its Monastic Foundation.

- 'With a good boat under me': St. Magnus and the Ladykirk Stone.

- Rognvaldr Kali Kolsson: Orkneyinga Saga's portrait of a good ruler.

- The Hall of Clestrain: History and Context.

- Agricultural Improvement in Sandwick Parish.

- The Little Captain and the years before Rousay.

- Women in Agriculture during the 20th Century.

- The Wartime Jottings of Two Orkney Ladies, September 1939 - June 1940.

- Going Away and Coming Back: Visiting Orkney in the '50s.

- Papdale House and the Founding of OHS.

- Orkney Heritage Society: 50 Years of Action.

- Willie Thomson: Historian of Orkney and Shetland.

- Recent Books and Papers.