Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

DIRECTORY
ORKNEYS
STROMNESS,
WITH THE PARISHES OF STENNESS AND SANDWICK, AND THE ISLANDS OF HOY, GR3SMSAY AND FLOTTA.
STROMNESS is n burgh or barony and seaport, 14% miles from
Kirkwall, situated, as that town is, on the mainland (or Pomona
Island) of the Orkneys, adjoiuing the sound of Hoy, opposite
Groemsiiy Island. This place, which has risen within the last
century from being a fishing hamlet, composed of a few shattered
huts, to a populous town, owes its increase to its admirable
harbour and convenient position, by which it is rendered a place
of safe resort, in these stormy seas, to vessels trading with the
north of the eastern or western hemispheres. Its harbour is a
fine natural basin, extending from south to north more than a
mile, and ^is sheltered from the Atlantic on the west by a high
ridge of moorish ground, the southern extremity of which
forms the north side of Hoy Sound; while its entrance is
protected partly by the island of Grffltnsay, which lies midway in
the sound, and partly by a ness or point of land which stretches
from the westward. On the east side it is defended by two Bmall
islands or holms which extend along the back of it; and ev.n
beyond these, in a sort of outer harbour or roadstead, there is ex-
cellent anchorage for shipping. It was formerly no uncommon
thing in the spring months to see in these havens upwards of
fifty largo vessels on their way to the whale fishery in Davis
Straits and Greenland; they called here for the purpose of com-
pleting their complement of men, which was generally about
twenty for each ship. In some years there were upwanls of
seven hundred men furnished from this port to Davis Straits,
bosideB one hundred and fifty apprentices ; these are now
reduced to about one hundred and fifty men and boys.
Lobster fishing is carried on extensively and profitably. About five
hundred men are engaged in the herring fishery, and employed by
POST OFFICE, Stromness, Elizabeth Sinclair, Post Mistress.— Letters from the South arrive daily at G a.m. in summer and 3 SO
p.m. in winter, and are despatched at 2 45 p.m. in summer and 11 p.m. in winter.— Letters from Finstown, Stennesa, Kirkwall, Sandwick
and Quoyloo arrive aud are despatched once daily. — Letters from Longhope and Flotta arrive and are despatched three times a week.—
Letters from Hoy arrive and are despatched twice a week. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
the Hudson's Bay Company, who have a resident agent. In this
harbour captains may be supplied with necessaries to prosecute
their voyage; and for repairs of vessels most ellicient and expedi-
tious means are afforded by two patent slips. The machinery of
the slips is of the most substantial description, and by it a ship of
seven hundred tons can betaken into the yards. A very extensive
warehouse is situated at the north end of the town ; and there is an
excellent pier, with eighteen feet of water atspriug tides. Boat and
ship building is carried on. Branchos respectively of the National,
the Commercial, and the Union Bank of Scotland aro established
here, and there are two principal inns. The Orkney Natural His-
tory Society's Museum contains Hugh Miller's celebrated Astero-
lepis, and many other specimens of much interest, aud has been
enriched by assortments from the collection of the late Dr. Baikie.
Stromness is a very irregularly built town, the habitations
having been erected without any regard to uniformity of arrange-
ment, and generally as ne.'ir the sea as possible; some are even
within flood mark, and protected by bulwarks, quays, and jetties,
which each individual appears to have constructed as suited his
own convenience and taste. Stromness is an independent burgh of
barony by a charter held from the Crown, granted in 1817, when the
government was vested in two bailies and nine councillors. The
market days are first Wednesday of each month. An annual fair,
held on the second Tuesday in September, continues for a week.
The streets are paved, and there aro gas works in the town. The
population of Stromness in 1881 was 2,403. The parish of Stenness
contained 625 inhabitants; Sandwick, 1,198 ; Hoy and Groemsay, 608*
and Walls and Flotta, 1,506.
GENTRY & CLERGY.
Allen Rev. Alexander, Stenness
Hilton Mr. George, Maya Cottage
Burgess Rev. Robert, Stenness
Cheesman Mr. Thomas, Old Bank House
Clouston Mrs. Christina, Alfred st
Coghill Mr. Alexander, Victoria st
Copland Mr. John S. Craigholm
Dryden Mr. George, The Braes
Garson Mr. George, Bea Cottage
Grant Mr. James, Victoria st
Hay Mr. William, Victoria st
Heddleston Mrs. Isabella, Heath hill
Lang Rev. John D. Free Church Manse
Loutitt the Misses — , Manse la
Lowe Rev. W. T. Hoy
Lyon Mr. Magnns, Dundas st
M'Kay Mrs. Ann, John st
Mowat Mr. James, Springfield Cottage
Ritchie Rev. James, The Corner
Robertson Mr. James, White House
Sinclair Mrs. Janet, Alfred st
Spence Mrs. Elizabeth, Belle Vue House
Spence James, Esq. j.p. Victoria st
Stanger Mrs. Eleanor, Ness House
Stanger Mr. F. The Ness
Watt W. S. T. Esq. Sandwick
'Watt William, Esq. Stromness
Wingate Rev. Thos. D. Viewfield
Woodside Rev. David, IT. P. Manse
SCHOOLS.
Public Schools:—
Flotta — Jane Nicholson, mistress
Hoy — Ebenezer Moar, master
Ki rb uster— David Brass, master
Rackwick — Miss Adams, mistress
Sandwick (South)— James Mnir, master;
(North)— James Sinclair, master
Stenness— M. Spence, master
Stromnese— David F. Reith, master
George F. Duncan, assistant; Elizabeth
Geddes, infants' mistress
Society School, Grsemsay— William Tait,
master
APARTMENTS.
Brown Mrs. — , Victoria st
Burnes James, Victoria st
Chalmers Mary Ann, Dundas st
Corston William M. Victoria st
Davie William, Sandwick
Garriock H. John st
George — , Dundas st
Irvine Edward, Dundas st
Linklater — , Sandwick
Moar James, Victoria st
Oag — , Sandwick
Kendall John, Church rd
Robertson William, Victoria st
Sabiston A. Alfred st
Spence Ann, Kirk rd
Tuit Betsy, Sooth end
Thomson May, Alfred Bt
Waterman Elizabeth, Dundas st
White W. Victoria st
Wood Margaret, Graham pi
AGENTS.
Corrigall & Rossie (for Singer's sewing
machines), Victoria st
Garriock James R. (emigration), Victoria st
Johnston Thomas (for agricultural imple-
ments), John st
Mowatt & Hay (genoral), Victoria st
Murrell Joseph (for London fishing smacks),
Dundas st [Victoria st
Mowatt James (for Lloyd's, and surveyor),
Peace William, jun. (for J. Pullar & Sons,
dyers, Perth), Graham pi
Rae John (emigration), Victoria st
Shearer John A. (agricultural implements),
Victoria st
Spence James (for the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany), National Bank
Towers David C. (for Inman Line of
steamers), Victoria st
BAKERS.
Porteous Peter, Dundas st
Scott David, Victoria st
Spence Peter, Dundas st
Woolrige John 0. Graham pi
BANKS.
Commercial Bank of Scotland, Limited
(Branch), Stromness — draws on the parent
bank, Edinburgh, & London & Westmin-
ster Bank, London — Alexander Coghill,
agent
National Bank op Scotland, Limited
(Branch), Stromness— draws on the parent
establishment, Edinburgh, and own office,
London— James Spence, agent
Union Bank of Scotland, Limited
(Branch), Stromness— draws on the parent
banks, Edinburgh, Glasgow, & London, &
Bank of England, London— William Hay,
agent
BLACKSMITHS.
Budge William, Flotta
Garson T. Sandwick
Johnston Thomas, John st
Kirkuess William, Dundas st
Linklater James, Sandwick
Lyon Thomas, Stenness
Marwick James, Sandwick
Nicolson Edward, Flotta
Park Robert, John st
Redland Thomas, Sandwick
Scott William, Sandwick
Smith David, John st
Smith John, Sandwick
BOAT BUILDERS.
Anderson John, John st
Baikie Edward, Alfred st
Brass Peter, Sandwick
Copland G. & P. Waterside
Flett William, above the town
Louttit P. Dundas st
Moar James, Alfred st
Stanger F. (& patent slip), Stromness
Sutherland John, Stromness
BOOKSELLERS & STATIONERS. -
Clouston Margaret, Dundas st
Rae John, Victoria st
Stove William, Victoria st
~BOOT & SHOE'mAKERS^
Bews James, Stenness
Brown John, Alfred st [Victoria st
Clouston William (& leather merchant),
Corrigall Abraham, Alfred st
Creelman William, Above the town
iBbiter D. Stenness
Johnston — , Sandwick
Kirkness Alexander, John st
Merriman Thomas, Sandwick
Moar J. Grey's Bigging
Mowat H. Grffimsay
Paplay John, Stenness r a t
Peace William (& leather merchant), Dundas
Rosie Daniel, Flotta
Ross John, Dundas st
Sabiston William, Dundas st
Spence Thomas, Dundas st
Sutherland James, Dundas st
Thomson Samuel, Flotta
Thomson Thomas, Hoy
Tomison Robert, Flotta
Towers James, Sandwick
Walter Caleb, Stenness
Work William, junior, Flotta
Wright James & William (& leather mer-
chants), Dundas Bt
BUILDERS.
Drever James, John st
Flett T. Grey's Bigging
Robertson William, Victoria st
CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS.
Gunn Donald, Victoria st
Spedding James S. Victoria st
COAL, LIME, & SLATE MERCHANTS,
Baikie Samuel & Sons, North end
Brass David, Victoria st
Brown John C. Dundas st
Millar James, Victoria st
Mowat & Hay, Victoria st
Rosey John B. Dnndas st
Shearer John A. Victoria at
Thomson A, John st
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