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ANCIENT MONUMENTS Two important ancient monuments are maintained by Historic Scotland in the parish, and bring many visitors to the area in summer. These are the settlement on the small tidal island of Brough Of Birsay and the ruins of the Earl's Palace on the Mainland opposite, at the northern end of the village. (''Fulmarus glacialis'') and Guillemot (''Uria aalge'') on the Brough of Birsay]] BROUGH OF BIRSAY The island is uninhabited, and is approached at low tide by a causeway. At its east end are extensive remains of an excavated Norse settlement and church. Archaeological investigation has shown that these overly an earlier Pictish settlement. The twelfth century church is small, but architecturally sophisticated, and the remains of adjoining buildings round three sides of an open court suggest that it may once have been a small monastery (though there is no documentation for such a foundation). The Norse settlement has been partly removed by coastal erosion, and the cliffs are reinforced by concrete 'rocks' to prevent further damage. There is a small site museum. The Pictish settlement is attested by a small well and an important collection of artefacts (now in date are also very rich, forming one of the best collections of such material in the British Isles . Church:[http://www.orkney.org/birsayheritage/STMAGNUS1.jpg ,[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/stmagnuschurch/images/church-450.jpg],[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/broughofbirsay/images/churchview.jpg]] EARL'S PALACE The late sixteenth century Palace was built by Robert Stewart , 1st Earl of Orkney (1533-93). Though extensively ruined, it can be seen to have consisted of four ranges round an open courtyard, with small towers at the corners, an unusual form of building in Scotland at this date, and unprecedented in the north of the country. The date 1574 was formerly carved above the main (south-facing) entrance. The building has been uninhabited since the late seventeenth century. It was originally adjoined by walled garden enclosures, an archery range and a bowling green. This building, along with the Earl's Palace in Kirkwall , and Scalloway Castle on Shetland (all Historic Scotland ), were the main residences of the Stewart Earls of Orkney in the Northern Isles. Near the palace is the church of the parish of Birsay and Harray ( Church Of Scotland ; open in summer). Architectural fragments in the walls, and archaeological investigation of the foundations, suggest that this was the site of the first cathedral of Orkney in the eleventh-twelfth centuries, known as ''Christchurch'', founded by Earl Thorfinn the Mighty (d. ''c''1065) after his return from a Pilgrimage to Rome . The seat of the diocese was transferred to St Magnus Cathedral , Kirkwall in the later twelfth century, though the Bishops of Orkney continued to have a residence in Birsay (known by the Latin name ''Mons Bellus'') into late medieval times. Ruins:[http://www.worldtour-of-scotland.com/tour/images-tour/2907-birsay-palace2.jpg ,[http://members.fortunecity.com/gaulois/birsay-p.jpg],[http://www.worldtour-of-scotland.com/tour/images-tour/2907-birsay-palace1.jpg]] The nearby bridge may also be medieval in origin. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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