The Cairns Dig Diary…..News From Stromness Museum…… BBC Pics of Scotland….
by Bernie Bell - 07:44 on 22 June 2025
The Cairns Dig Diary…..
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2025/06/19/cairns-d9-2025/
I have a very vague memory of pots with raised ‘bumps’ on the bottom which might have helped to disperse the heat? A very vague memory – but thought I’d throw it into the mix.
And……
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2025/06/20/cairns-d10-2025/
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News From Stromness Museum……
“Stromness Museum welcomed representatives from the Mi’kmaw community on 1 May 2025. The trip was coordinated by Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn (KMK) who work on behalf of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs (Assembly), which is the collective Mi’kmaw governing body for the province of Nova Scotia. The visit was hosted by local company Orbital Marine.
Visit our Summer Exhibition
A fair few of you came to the Powered by People exhibition launch on 15 May 2025. It was lovely to see Museum Friends engaging with Orkney's renewable energy story. As Dr. Rebecca Ford, Development Officer for Community Energy Scotland and Relief Lecturer with UHI’s Institute for Northern Studies, aptly put it:
“Stories have energy and power. Stories about energy have power.”
Powered by People showcases Orkney's rich renewable energy heritage, exploring its pioneering role in clean energy innovation and the human stories behind it. The exhibition encourages conversations about energy fairness, innovation, and community impact.
You'll find a fascinating array of artefacts, many generously loaned by members of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum. These include rare items like the first subsea cable that connected Burray and South Ronaldsay to the public electricity supply chain in 1954.
A key highlight is the story of the late Pete Oswald, whose groundbreaking work led to the creation of synthetic aviation fuel using green hydrogen produced in Orkney. The exhibition also features large-scale objects, from a Lucas Freelite wind turbine to a modern tidal turbine blade test version.
Stromness plays a central role, being home to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and Heriot-Watt's Orkney campus. The new interconnector cable also makes landfall at Warebeth, near the wave test site at Billia Croo.
Powered by People is not an exhaustive history but serves as a significant step in recognising Orkney's energy heritage alongside its archaeology and wartime legacy. The exhibition runs until April 2026.
The Pirate Gow
300 years ago the Orkney pirate John Gow was hanged at Execution Dock in London on 11 June 1725. The telescope Gow used during his doomed standoff at the Calf of Eday is now on display at Stromness Museum, alongside some ballast from his ship Revenge and an original copy of Daniel Defoe’s fictional account of his life and death. Published in 1726, it is one of only five copies known to exist. The title of the book is quite a lengthy one:
An Account of the Conduct and Proceedings of the late John Gow alias Smith, Captain of the late Pirates, Executed for Murther and Piracy Committed on board the George Gally, aftewards call’d the Revenge; with A Relation of all the horrid Murthers they committed in cold Blood; as also of their being taken at the Islands of Orkney, and sent up Prisoners to London.
Tales of John Gow’s mutinous and murderous exploits became notorious and were said to be the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Pirate.
John Gow’s infamy has prevailed to the present day, and he now lends his name to an Orkney distillery that produces every pirate’s favourite tipple, rum. The J. Gow Rum Distillery has recently been working with UHI’s Institute for Northern Studies to create The John Gow Heritage Trail, which will be available as a leaflet and online, to mark the tricentennial anniversary of his death. Stromness Museum will be one of the many highlights on this new, swashbuckling route.
Loans and Acquisitions
Fitzroy barometer acquisition
Now on display in Stromness Museum is a barometer invented by the pioneering meteorologist Admiral Robert Fitzroy in 1854.
He became the first superintendent of a new government department dealing with meteorological matters, now known as The Met Office.
Fitzroy created the first weather forecasts in order to warn seamen and fishermen about incoming bad weather. In 1861 he introduced a national Storm Warning Service for coastal communities . He also introduced the collection of weather data from set locations around the British and Irish coasts. This was used for Daily Weather Reports sent out by telegraph.
Fitzroy recognised the need to understand the air pressure to successfully predict storm warnings. He encouraged the making of relatively inexpensive barometers which could be supplied to all the coastal weather stations.
Barometers, which are often called Fitzroy barometers, have suitable wording which describes the results of changes in the mercury column on the barometer. This was Fitzroy’s main claim to barometer fame.
The museum was delighted to be offered the donation of this beautiful example by Christina Corser of Sanday, whose aunt was related to Admiral Fitzroy. It is displayed in the Pilot’s House at Stromness Museum.
Summer Events Programme
We have a full programme of events for all ages to enjoy this summer, whatever the weather!
Summer Programme
Museum Tours
7 May to
26 Sept 2025
Our exclusive guided tours are given by one of our Museum team to offer an informative, engaging and in-depth experience, one which will enable you to connect with people from our past through the stories behind the artefacts.
https://www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/whatson/2025/book-museum-tour?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
Shoreline Rambles 4 June to
5 August 2025
Join us on a walk that links the museum's natural history collection with the Stromness shoreline. You'll get a sneak peek at our research collections before heading outdoors to explore the beaches and discover the local plants and animals.
https://www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/whatson/2025/book-museum-tour?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
Snorkel Safari
20 July 2025
In collaboration with Kraken Diving, this is your chance to experience life under the waves whilst learning about local marine life and ocean conservation. You can also chat with artist Jenny Pope about her new Shoogly Holm floating scultpure project, delivered in partnership with Stromness Museum, The Blide Trust and OISF. Email info@krakendiving.co.uk for further details.
Blue Plaque Trail
Explore the lives and stories that shaped Stromness with the ‘Blue Plaque’ audio trail, available to download through Smartify, the world’s most downloaded museum app. Discover local buildings and notable figures, including surgeon John Rae, an Arctic explorer, and eminent writer George Mackay Brown. The audio tour is self guided and narrated by Stromnessian Cameron Stout.
Community Events
Orkney 2025
Island Games
12 to 18 July 2025
https://www.orkney2025.com/?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
Stromness Shopping Week
23 to 26 July 2025
Stromness Shopping Week is a lively community festival established in 1949, run and organised by volunteers. Stromness Museum will be delivering activities with local artist Jenny Pope, who is launching her Shoogly Holm floating sculpture project in Stromness Harbour, delivered in partnership with The Blide Trust and OISF.
Stromness Museum is also part of ‘The Renewables Revolution’ Family Fun Day at the Orkney Research & Innovation Campus on the afternoon of Wednesday 23 July 2025.
Within the Museum, we have photographs of past Shopping Week events and celebrations available to view.
https://stromnessshoppingweek.co.uk/?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
Nature Portal
If you’re planning to explore the great outdoors this summer, we have a fantastic online Nature Portal to help you. This is a ‘one-stop shop’ to find out about Orkney’s amazing wildlife and wild places, with free resources such as walking trails, identification guides, gardening advice and activities for young naturalists available. It also has a directory of organisations and groups in Orkney who help to promote and protect our wonderful wildlife.
Find out more about Orkney’s different habitats and species, as well as where to go to see them on our website’s Nature Portal. This resource has been funded by “Rural CommunitiesTesting Change”, a Scottish Government project delivered through the Scottish Rural Network.
https://www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/nature-portal?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
Retail Corner
Tea-rrific Museum Mugs!
We have fresh stock of our iconic ‘German Ships in Scapa Flow’ bone china mugs for sale, showing some of the ships scuttled in July 1919 that remain under the sea.
We also have a charming new line of bone china mugs featuring Buddo, the Neolithic figurine carved from whalebone discovered at Skara Brae, on permanent display in Stromness Museum. Created by Orcadian graphic designer and illustrator Iain Ashman, this ochre and graphite mug is guaranteed to add a spoonful of cheer to your cuppa.
https://shop.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/?mc_cid=05e16e0693&mc_eid=1af27f3b3d
52 Alfred St, Stromness, KW16 3DH
Tel: 01856 850025
Scottish Charity No. SC021455
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BBC Pics of Scotland….
13th – 20th of June 2025…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6mrzp5n5zo
I’m not the only one who appreciates old ‘phone boxes, Kath Manners does too!....
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16467
An Orkney offering…..Juliet Rawkins was on Brinkies Brae, above Stromness….and so were we!....
https://theorkneynews.scot/2018/12/30/up-brinkies-brae-on-a-weathery-sort-of-day/
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