Quendale

Quendale Beach and Bay

Quendale is a settlement and coastal district in the southwest area of Dunrossness in Shetland.[1] Quendale beach is a long beach formed at the north end of the Bay of Quendale.[2] Quendale beach is the longest beach in Shetland and the beach has extensive sand dunes.[2]

History

In 1588, the Captain and crew of the shipwrecked Spanish Armada ship El Gran Grifón were landed in Quendale after having been rescued off the rocks of Stroms Hellier.[3]

In the 1940s and 1950s, the area immediately NE of Quendale farm was the site of a military camp.[4]

In January 1993, the oil tanker MV Braer grounded just off the area, hitting rocks in Quendale Bay that caused significant oil pollution along the coastal environment.[5][6]

Sites of interest

Cross Kirk, is a formed ruined church site and burial ground located just north of Quendale beach beside the Eel burn.[7] The church was a collegiate church that dated to at least 1590 but was abandoned about 1790 due to the encroachment of sand.[7]

Quendale Haa is a former laird's house in ashlar stone that is now abandoned.[8][9] The house was the seat of the Grierson family.[8] The house itself was built circa 1800 and is now Category B listed.[9]

There is an abandoned farmstead to the north-west of the current farm named East Nifland (beside the valley), comprising several unroofed buildings and a former kiln.[10]

Quendale Water Mill

Quendale Water Mill, a museum in Quendale

Quendale Water Mill is a working museum mill.[11][12] The mill was built in 1867 and is fitted with an 8-spoke iron overshot water wheel that rotates with water from a wooden adquaduct.[12][13] The mill was originally used as a commercial grain mill but fell out of use.[13] It was restored to working order in the 20th century and became a museum with financial assistance from the Shetland Amenity Trust.[12] It is open to visitors.[11] It is a Category A listed building.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Quendale". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Quendale Beach". Shetland.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. ^ Flinn, Derek (1989). Travellers in a Bygone Shetland, an Anthology. Edinburgh, U.K: Scottish Academic Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-7073-0524-1.
  4. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Quendale, The Shurg (279556)". Canmore. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Braer disaster: Storms like the one that caused Shetland oil spill set to become more common in vicious climate change circle – Dr Richard Dixon". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Braer: The huge oil spill that Shetland survived". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "The Shure, Cross Kirk (570)". Canmore. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Quendale Haa (217204)". Canmore. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "QUENDALE HAA, INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALL, AND GATEWAY (Category B Listed Building) (LB44546)". Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  10. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "East Nifland (190788)". Canmore. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Quendale Water Mill". Shetland.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "Shetland, Mainland, Quendale Mill And Steading (561)". Canmore. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "QUENDALE MILL, INCLUDING DAM, STEADING, WALLS, AND BRIDGE (Category A Listed Building) (LB5417)". Retrieved 10 May 2023.