Quendale Explained

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.

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.[4] [5]

Sites of interest

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

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

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.

Quendale Water Mill

Quendale Water Mill is a working museum mill.[6] 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. The mill was originally used as a commercial grain mill but fell out of use. It was restored to working order in the 20th century and became a museum with financial assistance from the Shetland Amenity Trust. It is open to visitors.[6] It is a Category A listed building.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Quendale . Gazetteer for Scotland. 10 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Quendale Beach . Shetland.org . 10 May 2023.
  3. Book: Flinn, Derek . Travellers in a Bygone Shetland, an Anthology . 1989 . 6 . 0-7073-0524-1 . Scottish Academic Press . Edinburgh, U.K.
  4. Web site: 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 . 10 May 2023.
  5. Web site: Braer: The huge oil spill that Shetland survived . BBC News . 10 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Quendale Water Mill . Shetland.org . 10 May 2023.