STRONSAY-AND-EDAY, parishes (two, ancient), in the
county of Orkney, one of them 14 miles (N. E. by E.)
and the other 15 miles (X. N. E.) from Kirkwall; containing
'Z'Z'g inhabitants, of whom 12fiS are in Stronsay,
and 1011 in Eday. These parishes, which have been
united from a remote period, are named after two of the
Orkney Islands, one of which is supposed to have derived
its appellation from the rapidity of the tides that
sweep along its coasts, and the other from the heathy
aspect of its surface. The island of Stronsay, which is
situated to the south-east of the Northern Orkneys, is
bounded on the east by the German Ocean; on the
west by Stronsay Firth, which separates it from the island
of Shapinshay; and on the north by the sound of
Sanda, which divides it from the island of that name.
It is about seven miles in length, five miles and a half in
extreme breadth, and of very irregular form, its coast
being indented with spacious and long bays, which almost
subdivide it into three separate islands. These
three several portions were anciently distinct parishes.
The island of Edaij, nearly in the centre of the Northern
Isles, is bounded on the south-east by Eday sound, which
separates it from the island of Stronsay. It is about
seven miles and a half in lengthy and three miles in average breadth.
The coast of Stronsay is marked by numerous headlands
and promontories, of which Linksness and Huipness
to the north, Griceness, Odness, and Burrowhead,
to the east, and Lambhead, Torness, and Rousholmhead,
to the south, are the principal. Of these, Burrowhead
and Rousholmhead are lofty and precipitous, and the
others comparatively Ion'. The headlands of Eday are,
Veness to the south-east, Warmess to the south-west,
Fersness to the west, and Redhead to the north, the last
a boldly projecting rock of red granite. The chief bays
in Stronsay are. Mill bay on the east side, the bay of
Erigarth on the west, and Hollands bay on the south,
each of which has a sandy beach about a mile in length.
Here are also two excellent harbours, each of which has
two entrances, viz. Linga sound on the west, and Papa
sound on the north-east. There are likewise several bays
in Eday, affording occasional shelter for vessels; and
two fine harbours, Fersness on the west, and Calf sound
on the north, each of which has two entrances. Numerous
smaller islands are connected with the two principal
islands. Those belonging to Stronsay are Papa-Stronsay
and Lingholm, with the holm of Huip near the northern
shore, and the holm of Auskerry about three miles
to the south. Connected with I'.day are, Pharay and the
holm of Pharay, on the west; the small holm between
the latter and Redhead; and the Calf island on the
north-east, this last protecting the harbour of Calf sound.
The SURFACE is of very moderate elevation both in
Stronsay and Eday, with the exception of an elevated
ridge which extends through the centre of each, in a
direction from north to south, and rising in the latter
to the greater height. There are several fresh-water
lakes; one in Stronsay is nearly of circular form, and
about a mile in diameter. The whole number of acres
is estimated at 16,000, of which 8960 are in Stronsay
and 7040 in Eday. Of the former area about one-third
is arable, one-third pasture and meadow, and the remaining
tliiril undivided cotnmon, generally heath; of the
land in Eday, about 1000 acres are arable, JW pasture
and meadow, and the rest heath. The soil is various,
consisting of clay, sand, gravel, loam, and moss, which
last is very prevalent in Eday; marl is occasionally
found in Stronsay, and has been used successfully as
manure. Oats and bear are grown, for which the great
quantity of sea-weed prepares the land; potatoes, peas,
and turnips are also raised, as well as different artificial
grasses. On the lands belonging to Mr. Laiug of Papdale,
barley has been cultivated with success; and under
the auspices of that gentleman, considerable progress
has been made in the reclamation of waste lands. The
greater number of the horses and cattle are of the small
Orkney breed, but several of a superior kind have been
introduced from Angus-shire and the southern counties j
and the sheep, of which the prevailing breed is naturally
small, have been considerably improved by a cross with
the Cheviot and the Merino, introduced by Mr. Laing,
and which thrive well. The farm buildings and offices
are progressively improving; inclosures have taken place
on several of the farms, and the system of husbandry
generally is advancing. Improvements on an extensive
scale were commenced in 1845 on a farm of about 600
acres, belonging to Mr. Traill of Ratter, in such a style
of excellence, as to buildings, dykes, drains, manner of
tillage, and management in general, as would merit the
approbation of farmers in the best-cultivated parts of
Scotland. The lands of Eday, being chiefly moss, afford
great abundance of excellent fuel, of which considerable
quantities are sent to the adjacent islands.
The village of Papa-Sound was built by Mr. Laing,
for the accommodation of the numerous fishermen that
reside in this part. It contains about 200 inhabitants,
who, since the decrease of the kelp manufacture, have
paid more attention to the fisheries, for which the convenient
harbours of these islands present the most extensive
accommodation. The fish principally taken here
are cod, lobsters, and herrings, with the young of the
coal-fish. These last afford an abundant supply of
nutritious food for nearly three-quarters of the year.
The cod-fishery employs about fifty boats, part-decked,
belonging to Stronsay and Eday; and about 200 tons of
cod are annually cured for exportation. The lobsterfishery
commences in April, and continues till the end
of June; it is conducted in boats having two men each,
and the fish when caught are preserved in floating chests,
and sent weekly during the season to the London
markets by smacks which call here for the purpose.
The herring-fishery commences in July, and is continued
for six or eight weeks: the number of boats
assembled here from all parts of Orkney during that
time is seldom less than 400, managed by four or five
men each; and in general, duritig the season, about
twenty vessels (sloops and brigs) from the south-west
of Scotland, connected with the herring-fishing, lie at
anchor in the harbour of Papa sound. A convenient
pier has been erected for the loading of the fish, in curing
which several hundreds of females are employed. On the
average about 20,000 barrels of herrings are cured annually.
Shoals of small whales are occasionally seen off
the coast, and are driven on shore by the boats; one of
these shoals, containing 300 whales, was driven ashore on
the western side of Eday, and the proceeds amounted to nearly £400.
For Kcci.icsiASTicAi, puri)oses this parish is within
the limits of the presbytery of North Isles and synod
of Orkney; patron, the Earl of Zetland. The minister's
stipend is about £210, including £10 for communion
elements; with a manse, and a glebe valued at £14. 10.
per annum. There are two churches; the church at
Stronsay, erected in 1821, is a neat structure containing
."SOO sittings, and that of Eday, erected in 1816, contains
300. Divine service was formerly performed at each,
for three successive Sabbaths at Stronsay, and for the
fourth at Eday, by the minister of the parish, who
resides at Stronsay; but in 1834 a missionary was
appointed by the General Assembly, with a stipend of
£50, to officiate at Eday, where he has a manse, erected
by subscription. There are places of worship for members
of the United Presbyterian Church at Stronsay
and Eday, and at the former a place of worship for
Wesleyan Methodists. The parochial school at Stronsay,
and a school supported by the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge, are both well attended;
the roaster of the former has a salary of £25. 13. 3.,
with a house and garden, and school fees averaging
£5 J and the master of the latter, a salary of £15, with
fees amounting to£l. 10. There is also a school at Eday
supported by the General Assembly, who pay a salary
of £25 to the master, whose fees average about £5 per
annum. Remains exist of several ancient chapels, and
likewise numerous graves, one of which, at Housebay,
in Stronsay, contains a number of bodies separated
from each other at the head and foot by thin stones, placed
edgewise, and at the head supporting a slab which
covers the face only. In the north of Eday is a large
upright stone, seventeen feet in height above the
ground; and there are several Picts' houses scattered
through both districts, one of which, of greater dimensions
than the others, is situated at the peninsula of
Lambhead, on the south-east of Stronsay. It contains
several apartments; and below it are the remains of an
ancient pier of loose stones, in a state of dilapidation,
about ninety feet broad and nearly 800 feet in length.