16 Facts You Didn't Know About Stromness and Orkney Islands

Stromness in Orkney is packed with history which ignites the interest of many travellers, explorers, adventure seekers, and holidaymakers.

Stromness is a fascinating seaport with a population of about 2,500 residents. The town is a perfect combination of winding streets, paths, alleys, and little lanes. Edged with homes, shops, and small businesses, many of which were built from local stone. Every street corner tells a tale. Fly in or catch a ferry to Stromness and let the discovery begin. Stromness gets its name from the parish where it lies. The name comes from the old Norse word “straumnes”. 

Here are 16 interesting lesser-known facts about Stromness and Orkney.

1. Back in the day

Stromness was a safe haven for ships in the late seventeenth century. 

Stromness became an important post during the late seventeenth century, while Britain was at war with France. Ships were unable to traverse the English Channel. The shores of Hamnavoe offered ships a safe shelter moored in the deep water. Writer Jo Ben refers to the waters around Stromness stating that “The French and Spanish very often avoid storms here.”  

2. A vibrant place during the Second World War. 

During World War ll The Stromness Hotel was the headquarters of the OSDEF, the Orkney and Shetland Defence Forces, and Stromness became an army town. During all the plight residents of Stromness could see the latest films and attend dances and balls. 

Celebrities such as George Formby, Flannigan and Alan entertained the troops. Just imagine when the gorgeous Dame Gracie Fields, star of many movies, appeared on the balcony of the Stromness Hotel. She sang and entertained soldiers and local residents. The atmosphere must have been electric and for a brief moment the effects of war were forgotten.

By 20th Century Fox - eBayfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58971987

3. The town started with an inn built in 1590

Due to the visiting ships, William and Mareon Clark built an inn on the shores of Hamnavoe around 1590, selling homemade ale and beverages to passing sailors. Gradually homes were built in the area, slowly developing into the town that Stromness is now.

4. Captain Cook

Captain Cook's ships, Discovery and Resolution, docked in Stromness in 1780 on their return voyage from the Hawaiian Islands, where Captain Cook had been killed. 

5. Relics and artefacts from across the seas

The Stromness Museum gives great insight and many displays into the town’s history with a variety of “tale-telling” and fascinating collections of Inuit artefacts and whaling relics. They were believed to have been brought back as souvenirs from Greenland, the Arctic and Canada.

By Unukorno - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62847861

6. Literally speaking

The award winning world renowned poet, George Mackay Brown was born in Stromness in 1921. 

Sylvia Wishart was a renowned artist who was born in Stromness.

The star of Jaws, Robert Shaw, spent part of his childhood in Stromness. Robert acted in a play right here in the Stromness Town Hall. Stromness is also the title of a 2009 novel by German author Herbert Wetterauer.

7. Digging up the past

Hugh Miller, a stone mason, geologist and theologian regularly contributed to the Stromness Museum. He found the oldest vertebrate remains discovered in Orkney, which is now on display. His 1850’s book about it; ‘Footsteps of the Creator or the Asterolepis of Stromness’ went on to have an influence on Darwin’s “The Origin of Species”.

By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32607498

8. Setting the town to music

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's popular piano piece "Farewell to Stromness", was written to protest plans to open a uranium mine in the area. The Revue was first performed by the composer at the Stromness Hotel on 21 June 1980, as part of the St Magnus Festival. Plans for the uranium mine were cancelled later that year.