Westray

Westray

Norse name	Vestrey
Meaning of name	Old Norse for 'west island'
A view of the western side of the island, with West and East Kirbest in the foreground and Langskaill beyond
Location
Westray Westray shown within Orkney
OS grid reference	HY461461
Coordinates	59°18′N 3°00′W / 59.3°N 3.0°W / 59.3; -3.0
Physical geography
Island group	Orkney
Area	47.13 square kilometres (18.2 sq mi)
Area rank	24
Highest elevation	Fitty Hill 169 metres (554.5 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Orkney Islands
Demographics
Population	588
Population rank	20
Pop. density	12.5 people/km2
Largest settlement	Pierowall
References

Westray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a usual resident population of just under 600 people. Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the 15th-century Lady Kirk church and ferries to Papa Westray.

With an area of 18.2 square miles (47 km²), it is the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands. The underlying geology is Rousay type Middle Old Red Sandstone, the flagstones of which make excellent building materials. There is very little peat and the soil is noted for its fertility.

At the time of the earliest known settlements, c. 3500 BC, in Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, it is believed that the two islands were joined. A Neolithic and Bronze Age site at the Links of Noltland is in the care of Historic Scotland. The site is severely threatened by the rapid erosion of the overlying sand dunes. Ongoing excavations have revealed over 30 buildings of Neolithic and Bronze Age date, the earliest of which overlaps in use with the Knap of Howar on the neighbouring island of Papay, the oldest standing structure in NW Europe. The Westray Wife, 4 cm carved Neolithic figurine was discovered on the Noltland dig in 2009.- this is the oldest carving of a human found in the British Isles . In 2010 some local businesses reported a 45% increase in turnover since the discovery of the figurine. Since then, four further figurines have been found, together with a wealth of other artefacts (carved stone ball, decorated grooved ware pottery, numerous carved bone objects and beads etc.). In 2015, a substantial subterranean building dating from the Bronze Age was uncovered; this was very well preserved and is interpreted as a sauna. The excavations won 'Best Rescue Dig' of the year in the prestigious 2014 Current Archaeology awards. Several of the figurines and other artefacts from the site can be seen at Westray Heritage Centre and the excavation is open seasonally to visitors (free of charge). The Heritage Centre also exhibits the 'Westray Stone'- a neolithic carved stone from a chambered tomb which closely resembles the art style of the Boyne Valley in Ireland.