Muckle Roe

Template:Short description Template:Infobox Scottish island Muckle Roe is an island in Shetland, Scotland, in St. Magnus Bay, to the west of Mainland. It has a population of around 130 people, who mainly croft and live in the south east of the island.<ref name=Keay /><ref name=HS440>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 440</ref>

'Muckle' is Scots for 'big' or 'great'.

HistoryEdit

The island is referred to in the Orkneyinga saga.<ref>Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). Template:ISBN</ref>

In 1905 a bridge was built between Muckle Roe and the Shetland Mainland over Roe Sound at a cost of £1,020 met from public subscription and a grant from the Congested Districts Board. The construction was of iron and concrete<ref name=Keay /><ref>Nicolson (1972) p. 108</ref> and its completion was followed by a reversal in the population decline seen in the 19th and earlier 20th centuries. The bridge was later widened and strengthened, and opened on 22 October 1947 by the Convener of Zetland, W. Thomson Esq. Construction of a replacement bridge commenced in May 1998, the work being completed in January 1999. It was opened officially by Councillor Drew Ratter on 3 April 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Muckle Roe was part of the civil parish of Delting until the abolition of civil parishes in Scotland by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929.

Geography and geologyEdit

Muckle Roe is approximately Template:Convert in diameter, with high cliffs in the south. Its highest point is Mid Ward Template:Convert. It is the seventh largest of the Shetland islands.

The island's rock is red granite,<ref name=HS440 /> which gives the island its name – a combination of Scots and Old Norse meaning "big red island".<ref name=Smith /><ref name=Keay />

There are crofts in the east and south east. The rest of the island is lochan-studded moorland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PopulationEdit

**Muckle Roe population**
1851	290
1871	216
1881	230
1961	103
1971	94
1981	101
1991	115
2001	104
2011	130
source:<ref name=NRS /><ref name=Smith />

Notable residentsEdit

Gilbert Williamson Wood (2 September 1828 – 24 September 1886), a merchant seaman, was born at Little Ayre and emigrated to Adelaide, Australia in 1853. He founded G. Wood, Son & Co. along with his eldest son Peter in 1876. The company produced goods under a number of brand names, including Anchor, Snowflake, Viking, and Medallion. He donated sums of money back to Muckle Roe, including funds towards the building of the first bridge to mainland Shetland, and the Muckle Roe Church of Scotland, which was completed in 1911. The remaining funds were used to purchase books and school bags for every child attending the local school. Some profits from the sale of Anchor butter went towards paraffin lamps for the chapel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

GalleryEdit

Roesound IMG 3968 (20654476344).jpg

Roesound
Bridge over Roe Sound to Muckle Roe Island - geograph.org.uk - 335197.jpg

Former Muckle Roe Bridge
Bridge to Muckle Roe, Shetland - geograph.org.uk - 144993.jpg

Modern Muckle Roe Bridge
Muckle Roe Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 629940.jpg

Muckle Roe Lighthouse looking west
No Visitors ! IMG 5787 (23639939921).jpg

The former Muckle Roe Lighthouse, which now sits at the foot of Sumburgh Head
Town Loch and Sandhill Ruin - geograph.org.uk - 910929.jpg

The North Ham and the Town Loch
Church of Scotland, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 535057.jpg

Muckle Roe Chapel
Murbie Stacks, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 886923.jpg

Murbie Stacks
Stack and Gilsa Ayre, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 886947.jpg

Birkie Ayre
Muckle Roe Hall.jpg

Muckle Roe Hall

NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

Template:Haswell-Smith
Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
Nicolson, James R. (1972) Shetland. Newton Abbott. David & Charles.
Waugh, Doreen "Placing Papa Stour in Context" in Ballin Smith, Beverley; Taylor, Simon; and Williams, Gareth (2007) West over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300. Leiden. Brill. Template:ISBN