Barrel of Butter explained

Location Map:Scotland Orkney
Caption:Barrel of Butter shown within Orkney
Coordinates:58.8905°N -3.126°W
Gridreference:HY351008
Local Authority:Orkney Islands
References:[1]
Module:
Qid:Q28869310
Embed:yes
Location:Barrel of Butter
Scapa Flow
Orkney
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates:58.8904°N -3.1264°W
Yearbuilt:1980
Construction:masonry tower, metal platform
Shape:conical frustum tower with platform and light
Marking:unpainted tower, grey platform
Height:6m (20feet)
Focalheight:6m (20feet)
Characteristic:Fl (2) W 10s.
Managingagent:Northern Lighthouse Board[2]

The Barrel of Butter, formerly known as Carlin Skerry, is a skerry in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.

Geography and geology

The rock is old red sandstone of the Devonian period. There is no soil of any significance on it.

Located in Scapa Flow, between Mainland and Cava, it has a section permanently above sea level. It is to the north east of Cava, and south of Orphir. It is also north of Flotta.

History

Formerly known as Carlin Skerry,[3] the rock gained its strange name, not from its shape, or position, as is often the case, but from the annual rent paid on it, by the residents of Orphir. In return for a barrel of butter per year, they gained permission from the local laird to hunt the seals on it.

On 21 June 1919, the waters between the Barrel of Butter and Cava became full of scuttled German ships, including the,,, and . Some of these are still popular with divers.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Orkney Islands (Kirkwall) - Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961. National Library of Scotland. 2016-01-23. Ordnance Survey.
  2. 2016-05-27.
  3. Web site: The Barrel of Butter . Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme . 2014-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140318180439/http://www.scapaflow.co/index.php/activities/remote_places/the_barrel_of_butter . 18 March 2014 . dead .