The South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust are hoping to achieve a community buy-out of the Tomb of the Eagles and visitor centre. They aim to reopen and restore it as a community hub and tourist attraction. They have set up a crowdfunding page and would appreciate any support.
Orkney Heritage Society are happy to support this project and have donated £500 towards the target.
“The internationally famous Neolithic chambered cairn at Isbister, known as the Tomb of the Eagles, occupies a spectacular clifftop location in the South Parish of South Ronaldsay. The 5,000+ year-old burial tomb is currently in private ownership. For over 20 years it was a successful family-run, and family-friendly, visitor attraction comprising the chambered cairn, scenic walks, a Bronze Age burnt mound, and a visitor centre. The Tomb provided employment opportunities for young people, and established itself as a much-loved and unique part of South Ronaldsay and Orkney’s tourism scene.”
Follow the link below if you would like to make a contribution.
The 2024 Laura Grimond Award has been presented to Albert and Aileen Bruce for their superb restoration of Grainbank Mews.
Here are some ‘before and after’ shots of the work undertaken and the couple with their framed certificate. A full article will appear in this year’s OHS Newsletter.
For more information on The Laura Grimond Award for Architectural Projectssee this page.
Another year has gone by and we are rapidly approaching the AGM, which this year will be held in the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall at 7.00pm on Thursday 14th November 2024.
2024 has been a particularly busy year for the Society, the highlight of which has been an oral history project on St Magnus Cathedral. Forty-six people have been interviewed for this project giving their memories of this most iconic of buildings as well as describing what the building means to them. The interviews were conducted by Tom Rendall and Annie Thuesen, with the recordings now available in the Orkney Library and Archive. Summaries of the interviews have been made into a small publication, St Magnus Cathedral Memories and Meanings costing £10 which will be launched at the conclusion of the AGM business. Tom Rendall will give a talk on the project.
For those that cannot attend in person, you can join online. This will be via Microsoft Teams, and you will need to register via Eventbrite to attend online. Please follow this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1061964156379
The link to attend will then be accessible via the Eventbrite event page, and will also appear in your confirmation email.
The AGM provides an opportunity for members to get together to exchange ideas for future activities of the Society. As ever there is an opportunity to get involved and we are always keen to welcome new board members.
Normally, meetings are held every six weeks or so on an evening in Kirkwall and last for up to two hours. During winter and in times of expected bad weather, meetings are held online.
“The internationally famous Neolithic chambered cairn at Isbister, known as the Tomb of the Eagles, occupies a spectacular clifftop location in the South Parish of South Ronaldsay. The 5,000+ year-old burial tomb is currently in private ownership. For over 20 years it was a successful family-run, and family-friendly, visitor attraction comprising the chambered cairn, scenic walks, a Bronze Age burnt mound, and a visitor centre. The Tomb provided employment opportunities for young people, and established itself as a much-loved and unique part of South Ronaldsay and Orkney’s tourism scene.”
