Bressay

Bressay ( ) is a populated island in the Shetland archipelago of Scotland.

Geography and geology

Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of the Isle of Noss, and north of Mousa. With an area of , it is the fifth-largest island in Shetland. The population is around 350 people,

History

The name of the island may have been recorded in 1263 as 'Breiðoy' (Old Norse "broad island"). In a 1490 document the island is referred to as "Brwsøy" – "Brusi's island" which name may indicate it was the 11th century base for Earl of Orkney Brusi Sigurdsson. This possibility is supported by a later reference to his son Rögnvald as "Lord of the Shetlanders" and Thompson (2008) is in "no doubt " that Shetland specifically was in Brusi's possession during his joint earldom with his brothers.

The Bressay Stone is an outstanding example of Pictish art.

:a slab of chlorite slate, about wide at the top, tapering to less than a foot [300 mm] at the bottom. Bressay also hosts the UK’s northernmost parkrun.

Frequent car ferries sail from Maryfield to Lerwick on the Shetland Mainland. During the summer months, a passenger ferry service links the east coast of Bressay with the nature reserve Isle of Noss.

Lerwick and Bressay Parish Church (of the Church of Scotland) has three places of worship. The Bressay Church building is located close to the Marina, near the centre of the west coast of the island.

Gallery

File:Wind Bound Lerwick around 1880.jpg|Full-rigged ship Maella, of Oslo, in Bressay Sound circa 1922

File:Crossbeddingbressay.jpg|Cross-bedding in Middle Old Red Sandstone on Bressay

File:Lochofsetterbressay.jpg|Loch of Setter

File:Lerwickbressay.jpg|View of Lerwick from Bressay

File:Bressay Crosses St Mary's Church.jpg|A replica of the Pictish Bressay Stone in St Mary's churchyard where the original stone was found.

Geography and geology

History

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

External links