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Swona
Farmstead (Post Medieval)
Site Name Swona
Classification Farmstead (Post Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Keefa Hill; Keifa
Canmore ID 297828
Site Number ND38SE 18
NGR ND 39011 84572
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/297828
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish South Ronaldsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND38SE 18 39011 84572
See also ND38SE 17
An abandoned farmstead has been identified on oblique aerial views taken in 2008 (RCAHMSAP 2008), situated on the N-facing slope of Keefa Hill. The farmhouse is roofed, but all other outbuildings would appear to be unroofed. The current OS digital maps show three roofed buildings.
The farmstead is depicted as roofed on the 1st Edition of the OS 6-inch map ( (Orkney and Shetland (Orkney) 1882, sheet cxxv), which shows a range of three buildings.
It is possible that this farmstead was one of those abandoned in the last 50 years.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), February 2009
Field Visit (21 August 2014)
Abandoned by the Norquay family in 1927, this farmstead, known as Upthra, is situated in an elevated position at the SE edge of the improved arable ground on Swona and comprises a group of roofless buildings which were not recorded in detail on the date of visit. The 1st edition of the OS 25-inch map (Orkney 1882, Sheet CXXV.4) depicts three ranges of roofed buildings, three enclosures and a well, a plan that remained effectively unchanged into the 20th century (Orkney 1903, 6-inch sheet CXXV) and to its eventual abandonment. The enclosure immediately SW of the buildings may incorporate an earlier structure.
Visited by RCAHMS (GFG) 21 August 2014.
