General History

 

The Norse name ‘Papey Stjora’ meaning the big island of the Priests, was given to Papa Stour by the Vikings suggesting that missionary priests of Celtic origin may have formed an isolated community here, perhaps as early as the sixth or seventh century.

There is the site of a Ting at the head of Housa Voe that consisted of a circle of at least 46 stones. This was the site of Norse meetings or assemblies convened to settle disputes.

By 1299 there was a Norwegian royal farm on the island, a fact attested to by documentary evidence. A dig carried out at the Biggins by Dr Barbara Crawford of St Andrews University between 1977 and 1982 uncovered the remains of a mediaeval Norse House or Stofa. This was a wooden building of notched log timbers brought over from Norway and protected from the prevailing weather by stone walls on two sides.

Until the 17th Century, Papa Stour remained under the rule of the Lords of Norway despite Shetland having been pledged to Scotland as a royal dowry payment.

The Mowat family became the factors for these Norwegian aristocrats and until recently their armorial stone was still visible in a byre at North House.

By the 18th Century two lairds owned the island, Thomas Gifford of Busta and Arthur Nicolson of Lerwick. They maintained a prosperous fishing industry known as the Haaf – carried out during the summer season using six man boats known as sixareens.

In the 19th Century the population of  360 inhabitants was stabilized by the opening of the Crabbaberry fishing station at West Voe. However with the coming of the steam drifter that centralised the fish curing industry in Lerwick combined with the lack of peat in the island for household fuel reduced the population dramatically. By 1940 only 100 people remained and they received help through Government war grants.

After the war, with the men away at the whaling and the children having to go to mainland Shetland for their secondary education the population continued to fall. By  1970 it had reached a critical level. Only sixteen people remained and there was talk of evacuation.

However a far- sighted islander placed an advertisement in the national press and a number of hardworking young couples came and settled. They worked the land, rebuilt derelict houses and brought new life to the few remaining islanders. The school was re-opened and a teacher appointed.

This was the hippy era and for almost twenty years the island prospered. A guest house was established; holiday makers and families as well as a variety of university research groups, archaeologists, church groups; young peoples groups; school parties; disadvantaged children; the Shetland Canoe Club; all came and found peace, tranquillity and enjoyment in Papa Stour.

But once again, by 2007, the population has dwindled to less than twenty; the school, and post office have closed and there is now an urgent need to re-populate the island.