Finstown
Finstown in the parish of Firth on Mainland, Orkney is the third largest settlement on the island. According to travel author Linklater, the homes in Finstown are tidy and well cared for.[1] This settlement is situated along the Bay of Firth, whose fringe is a shallow intertidal mudflat.[2]
History
Prehistoric finds have been made in the form of ancient cists, somewhat west of the primary school.[3] Further east towards Kirkwall is the Rennibister Earth House, estimated to be 3000 years old.
Landmarks
Finstown has a post office, Firth Primary School, two pubs (one closed at present), a shop and a garage. Most of these buildings are situated on the main Stromness to Kirkwall road.
Name and culture
Formerly called "Toon o' Firth", the origin of the name is thought to come from an Irishman named David Phin who came to the area in 1811. A soldier with the 9th Royal Veteran Battalion, he married a Kirkwall girl in 1813. In 1820 he opened an ale house which was called the 'Toddy Hole' by arrangement with John Miller of Millquoy. Four years later they quarrelled and Phin left for Aberdeen, but his name remained. Today the hostelry is called the Pomona Inn, after an old name for Mainland Orkney.
Line notes
References
- C. Michael Hogan. 2007. HY3613 : Beach and mudflats at Finstown Centre waterfront, Mainland Orkney, Geograph British Isles/United Kingdom Ordnance Survey
- Eric Linklater. 1965. Orkney and Shetland: an historical, geographical, social, and scenic survey, Page 122
- Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 1981. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, page 58
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