The Shetland mini-conference experience had some memorable high spots. Certain aspects of getting there and back by way of the Aberdeen ferry (12.5 hour each way) also stand out, but hopefully only in my short term memory. The Shetland Museum and Archive centre at Hay's Dock, Lerwick, was a wonderful venue. Archivist Brian Smith and his new colleague, Craig Gould, could not have been more welcoming, as were the volunteers who guided us through the collections and staff who served up a delicious lunch. The conference was informative, with excellent speakers presenting talks on a range of topics on the theme of ‘Holding Archives in Trust’. Instant camaraderie was assured from the start by company well met, resulting in plenty of good *craic over coffee and lunch. A guided tour of the museum and archive revealed an astounding array of artefacts representing the complex history and cultural heritage of the Shetland Isles. Alongside the great many original items on display are some very convincing reconstructions, including the model head of a young female reconstructed from an actual skull found at the Old Scattness Broch and Iron Age Village archaeological site. Other items from the site include bone, stone and metal implements and stone slabs engraved with animal symbols.One of the earliest documents is 13th century manuscript written in 'Norn', an old language once peculiar to the Shetlands, which refers to a local woman's complaint against her overlord, who having the upper hand and a lot to lose was in complete denial. Among the many fine examples of handicrafts on display are gossamer thin shawls and a wide variety of the intricately patterned knitwear for which the Shetland Isles are renowned. Hardships of a seafaring society are exemplified by traditional crafts such as the 'sixareeen', a six seater boat used by the inshore fishing fleet, and somewhat incongruously elsewhere by a vintage Singer saloon car set beside its ex owner and whaling tycoon's harpoon gun. Our guide told us that she often finds visitors (generally male) attempting to get inside it or lifting the bonnet to inspect the engine; on one occasion she spotted a pair of feet sticking out from beneath it.
On the domestic side, reconstructed kitchen has a model of a 'grice' (an extinct kind of boar or pig) tethered by the hearth. A domestic cow and dairy equipment are also to be seen, as is an ancient block of butter that most likely served for barter. An astonishing horde of Pictish silver found by a school boy on St Ninian's Isle had been replicated for the museum. Sadly there was not enough time to see everything, but a straw pole of delegates suggested that most of us will be back to look around.Moving on to the swish archive store our intrepid group of 'mini-conference archivists' did what they generally tend to do on such occasions - gather in the rolling stacks to marvel at shelves of neatly packed standard archival cardboard boxes. The electronic stacking system can move of its own volition: a novel way to squish staff.A memorable Conference Dinner was partaken at the Grand Hotel, with yet more guid craic (I blame the wine), and with **guisers having a hooley in the snow below. Brian Smith delivered a highly original after dinner speech with his usual dry and ready wit; proving something of an impressionist in a hilarious account of the more unusual curios he has dealt with in his archival career, not to mention staff. His several abortive attempts to reach the Isle of Fetlar, along with Orcadian exile Peter Anderson, to collect one particular acquisition was undoubtedly a high point. The Sunday tour began with a trip to Scalloway Castle. This was led by Peter, who enlightened us as to the scandalous life and inevitable fall from grace of Robert Stewart, Earl and Sheriff of Orkney, an illegitimate ne'er do well son of King James V. Who amongst us will ever forget Peter's detailed account of how the metal ring at the top of the tower rumoured to have been used to dangle miscreants and complainers from couldn't possibly have worked as a hanging device because victims would have to be launched from a nearby turret, and in doing so would smash into the battlements rather suffering a fatal drop, receiving little more than a nose bleed and ***sair heid rather than a broken neck? Why bother going to the trouble anyway when there was an ****Iron Maiden with which to pulverise folk? History brought to life and, indeed, death! Who amongst that same glad company wasn't secretly wishing Brian would hurry up with the key to the castle for fear of freezing to death whilst ruminating on the dubious pros and cons of public execution? Our next stop was Scattness archaeological site, which consists of a system of amazingly well preserved brochs and wheelhouses discovered when builders of the Sumburgh airport road smashed through the North wall of the largest building during excavation. The site has since yielded over 40,000 artefacts, including some of those we saw in Shetland Museum and Archives. A fascinating place. Not even the worsening weather kept us back, but the peat fire in the reconstructed broch was very welcome, as was lunch at Sumburgh Hotel, where we eventually thawed out. On the personal comfort front, mine was assured by a cosy room at the Queens Hotel on Saturday night, with stunning views to the beach and seawall below. Indeed, I thought I was still at sea. How nice to be lulled to sleep by waves beating off same wall, and awoken by the cry of gulls; not unlike being back home in the East Neuk. There is no escape. Quite a treat though after a sleepless night on the ferry the evening before in a force 8 North-Easterly with raging seas crashing off the hull like Neptune gone berserk with a lump hammer ... How ironic then that the return trip on Sunday evening met with the full swelling, swaying, clanging, banging, nerve-jangling glory of a Force 6 Southerly. Sleep no more …and heave-ho me hearties! All in all a most enjoyable weekend, organised to perfection by Alison Diamond, Rachel Hosker, Peter Anderson and Brian Smith. I will be returning to Shetland. A boat trip in calmer weather seems a pleasant idea. Flying is always an option.
* Chat.
** As 'in disguise' or costume. Perhaps stragglers from Up Helly Aa?
*** Sore head
**** With apologies to all heavy metal fans.
Pamela Cranston
Photographic Research and Preservation Officer
University of St Andrews Special Collections
On the domestic side, reconstructed kitchen has a model of a 'grice' (an extinct kind of boar or pig) tethered by the hearth. A domestic cow and dairy equipment are also to be seen, as is an ancient block of butter that most likely served for barter. An astonishing horde of Pictish silver found by a school boy on St Ninian's Isle had been replicated for the museum. Sadly there was not enough time to see everything, but a straw pole of delegates suggested that most of us will be back to look around.Moving on to the swish archive store our intrepid group of 'mini-conference archivists' did what they generally tend to do on such occasions - gather in the rolling stacks to marvel at shelves of neatly packed standard archival cardboard boxes. The electronic stacking system can move of its own volition: a novel way to squish staff.A memorable Conference Dinner was partaken at the Grand Hotel, with yet more guid craic (I blame the wine), and with **guisers having a hooley in the snow below. Brian Smith delivered a highly original after dinner speech with his usual dry and ready wit; proving something of an impressionist in a hilarious account of the more unusual curios he has dealt with in his archival career, not to mention staff. His several abortive attempts to reach the Isle of Fetlar, along with Orcadian exile Peter Anderson, to collect one particular acquisition was undoubtedly a high point. The Sunday tour began with a trip to Scalloway Castle. This was led by Peter, who enlightened us as to the scandalous life and inevitable fall from grace of Robert Stewart, Earl and Sheriff of Orkney, an illegitimate ne'er do well son of King James V. Who amongst us will ever forget Peter's detailed account of how the metal ring at the top of the tower rumoured to have been used to dangle miscreants and complainers from couldn't possibly have worked as a hanging device because victims would have to be launched from a nearby turret, and in doing so would smash into the battlements rather suffering a fatal drop, receiving little more than a nose bleed and ***sair heid rather than a broken neck? Why bother going to the trouble anyway when there was an ****Iron Maiden with which to pulverise folk? History brought to life and, indeed, death! Who amongst that same glad company wasn't secretly wishing Brian would hurry up with the key to the castle for fear of freezing to death whilst ruminating on the dubious pros and cons of public execution? Our next stop was Scattness archaeological site, which consists of a system of amazingly well preserved brochs and wheelhouses discovered when builders of the Sumburgh airport road smashed through the North wall of the largest building during excavation. The site has since yielded over 40,000 artefacts, including some of those we saw in Shetland Museum and Archives. A fascinating place. Not even the worsening weather kept us back, but the peat fire in the reconstructed broch was very welcome, as was lunch at Sumburgh Hotel, where we eventually thawed out. On the personal comfort front, mine was assured by a cosy room at the Queens Hotel on Saturday night, with stunning views to the beach and seawall below. Indeed, I thought I was still at sea. How nice to be lulled to sleep by waves beating off same wall, and awoken by the cry of gulls; not unlike being back home in the East Neuk. There is no escape. Quite a treat though after a sleepless night on the ferry the evening before in a force 8 North-Easterly with raging seas crashing off the hull like Neptune gone berserk with a lump hammer ... How ironic then that the return trip on Sunday evening met with the full swelling, swaying, clanging, banging, nerve-jangling glory of a Force 6 Southerly. Sleep no more …and heave-ho me hearties! All in all a most enjoyable weekend, organised to perfection by Alison Diamond, Rachel Hosker, Peter Anderson and Brian Smith. I will be returning to Shetland. A boat trip in calmer weather seems a pleasant idea. Flying is always an option.
* Chat.
** As 'in disguise' or costume. Perhaps stragglers from Up Helly Aa?
*** Sore head
**** With apologies to all heavy metal fans.
Pamela Cranston
Photographic Research and Preservation Officer
University of St Andrews Special Collections