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Post by georgeg on Aug 3, 2009 19:48:08 GMT 1
I went to tingwall today, took some photos of the cemetery and the Murder Stone at Asta Loch.. The stone. and a wee bit of the history of it.. This 2m high standing stone stands on a golf course, immediately to the east of the Scalloway-Tingwall road, between the lochs of Asta and Tingwall (Shetland). It has a rectangular cross-section. It is also locally known as Murder Stone. Noel Fojut in his A Guide to Prehistoric and Viking Shetland writes: "There is a tale, probably recently invented, which relates a Norse tradition of a pardon for murderers who could run from the Law Ting Holm to the Murder Stone unscathed, against the efforts of the victim's family and friends.
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Post by georgeg on Aug 3, 2009 20:14:36 GMT 1
Tingwall church and cemetery. Tingwall ( Old Norse : Þingvöllr = field of the parliament ), is in the centre of the Shetland Mainland, and extends north as far as Girlsta. The Tingwall valley extends north from near Scalloway to Laxfirth. Tingwall includes the settlements of Veensgarth and Gott, and the Vallafield housing estate. It is also the name of one of the old parishes of Shetland, the centre of which was the Tingwall Kirk. Tingwall was the home from the 1920s of the literary brothers Laurence I. Graham and the late John J. Graham. All there is left of St. Magnus Church is the burial vault of the Mitchells of Westshore, Scalloway, in the Churchyard. It contains several graveslabs from the 17th and 18th century, among them, the one of Andrew Crawford, Master of Work to the Earl of Orkney, responsible for the Earl's Palace in Kirkwall, and Scalloway Castle, and most likely also Muness Castle. Some of the photos taken by me today.. In picture eight, bottom right is what looks like a sand-timer, its upright, i believe that an upright sandtimer means old age, where as one on its side means youngish.. correct me if i'm wrong.. george.
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Post by georgeg on Aug 3, 2009 20:35:32 GMT 1
Scalloway: 'The Ancient Capital' The fishing port of Scalloway, Shetland's capital until the 18th century, is a picturesque and surprisingly leafy village, shielded from Atlantic gales by the rugged isles of Trondra and Burra. To the north lie Tingwall's fertile valley and the promontories of Whiteness and Weisdale. Scalloway Silhouette of Scalloway CastleSilhouette of Scalloway Castle Overlooking the fine new harbour is Earl Patrick Stewart's Scalloway Castle, built by forced labour in 1600. It's a grand example of a Scottish fortified house, but was occupied for less than a century and is now roofless. Beneath the grand banqueting hall are large kitchens and a dungeon where 17th century 'witches', condemned to die on nearby Gallows Hill, awaited their fate. The castle is in the care of Historic Scotland and open to the public.
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Post by georgeg on Aug 3, 2009 20:44:40 GMT 1
The Booth, Scalloways oldest building was rebuilt and is now an art studio and can be rented out to visitors.. Traditional boats drawn up on shore recall the Viking past: in Norse times Scalloway (meaning `the bay of the booths') was the landing place for delegates attending Shetland's annual parliament or 'Ting', held on the Lawting Holm in Tingwall Loch, two miles north of the village. In those days there were no roads and most traffic went by sea - as it did well into the 19th century.
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Post by hampdenquilts on Jan 6, 2010 3:57:49 GMT 1
George - your photos are beautiful. I am VERY interested in the stone ruins and the stories behind them. I took a lot of photos when I was in Shetland, but my camera was not a good one, I'm afraid. I am making sure I have a very good one this June when I come over. I also wasn't sure about the laws of the land concerning walking over fields to ruins. In the States, people get very cranky if you walk across their land. I'll need to find out what is allowed before I get there again! Wish I were there now after looking at all your photos on the forum!
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Post by georgeg1 on Jan 6, 2010 8:52:28 GMT 1
Hi. Hampdenquilts.. I've never had any bother wandering about the fields, as long as you close any gates you open.. if the field has any crops growing, then keep to the edges, just use common sense.. if in doubt, just ask the crofter if its all right, i find the crofters very helpful with questions about the old ruins..
george..
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Post by allen on Jan 6, 2010 13:31:45 GMT 1
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Post by hampdenquilts on Jan 6, 2010 17:32:52 GMT 1
Thank you George and Allen! The links were perfect. I printed them and will put them in the packets I am putting together for our group.
This forum has been a wealth of information. Thank you all so very much
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Post by allen on Jan 6, 2010 18:47:17 GMT 1
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Post by hampdenquilts on Jan 6, 2010 19:47:15 GMT 1
Thanks Allen. I sent along an email request.
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Post by georgeg1 on Mar 21, 2010 21:31:07 GMT 1
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Post by allen on Mar 22, 2010 10:41:16 GMT 1
This is few photos of a statue erected at Stenness, it shows the volcano which formed at Eshaness, one side shows the inside of the core, the other side shows the lava flow.. but if Allan drops in, he might give a more detailed discription.. It’s not really representing a section through the whole volcano as such, but rather a section through an individual lava flow – the rocks at both sides of the bay at Stenness were lava flows piled up on top of each other. The brightly coloured section is supposed to show how gas bubbles form in the hot lava and get preserved when the lava cools leaving behind holes (called vesicles). The stand on which the model sits is made of blocks of lava and on George’s photo you can see vesicles in some blocks quite clearly. Long after the lava cools some of the holes will fill with water carrying minerals in solution – mainly the mineral silica but others as well such as iron or titanium but in much smaller quantities. Eventually these minerals come out of solution and solidify filling the vesicles with minerals or crystals which we see today filling the holes as agates or, rarely, amethysts. If you go down to the beach there and sift the shingle and sand you may find small chips of brightly coloured agate. See also www.geoparkshetland.org.uk/downloads/volcanotrail_stennes.pdfJust outside the door of the Braewick Cafe you will see a large boulder from Steness with some agates in it.
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Post by georgeg1 on Mar 22, 2010 11:22:44 GMT 1
Thanks Allan for the detailed information, and your very interesting download.. Folks, it only takes a few mins to download, and it gives a really clear idea of what happened all these years ago. well worth reading.. george..
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Post by hampdenquilts on Mar 22, 2010 23:45:58 GMT 1
Do you really find agates on the beach?
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Post by georgeg1 on Mar 23, 2010 0:54:17 GMT 1
Yes you can if you know what they look like..
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