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Wyre, The Bu
Farmstead (19th Century), Midden (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Mound (Medieval)(Possible)
Site Name Wyre, The Bu
Classification Farmstead (19th Century), Midden (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Mound (Medieval)(Possible)
Canmore ID 289895
Site Number HY42NW 104
NGR HY 44295 26405
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/289895
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Rousay And Egilsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY42NW 104 44295 26405
HY 44295 26405 The Bu farm complex. Complex consists of a detached one-and-a-half storey detached dwelling and a seperate long range of farm buildings perpendicular to the main farmhouse. Occupies a settlement mound and midden material is visible eroding in the garden. Site identified as part of a desk-based assessment followed by a broad-scale landscape survey.
Antonia Thomas, 2006.
Orkney Smr Note (2006)
The present farm of The Bu, Wyre, is built into a mound, reminiscent of a settlement mound. The presence of black 2peaty2 soil and shells in the mound is suggestive of midden material and from analogy with investigated settlement mounds it is likely that this was the focus of medieval settlement.
The place-name Bu is an Old Norse name denoting a high-status settlement. It is very likely that the original Bu farm dates back to at least the twelfth century. The Orkneyinga Sage records that in c.1154, Kolbein Hruga, a Norwegian chieftain, built a stone keep on his estate in Wyre. From analysis of the landscape and comparison with other sites it is likely that St. Mart's Chapel and The Bu formed part of this estate and also date to the twelfth century.
SJG 2006
Information from Orkney SMR, 2006
