Dangerous Waters

The strong tides and a lack of natural harbours surrounding the Orkney isles have always been problematic for fishermen and sailors and none more so than North Ronaldsay. The island is surrounded by a littering of dangerous shoals and reefs and the many shipwrecks over the years were the imputus for the lighthouses that still stand today.

The first, and still most famous recorded wreck was the Svecia, which crashed into the reef dyke in 1740 losing both 90 lives and the vast treasures that it was rumoured to be carrying.

Excavations in 1982 uncovered precious dydewood, copper, glass, porcelain and cannonballs. But where was the gold? Diving continued, but after seven years spent mapping and searching the wreckage in the 70’s and 80’s, it was decided that the ocean had hidden it too well. Only time will tell as to whether the deep will ever relinquish its bounty…

Orkney’s Pirate Gow was the last pirate to be hanged for treason in the British Isles.

Posted at 02:26 PM