History of the LDS church in Scotland

When Elder Holland was here, a nice video was prepared though we didn't see it. Doug found it in the Meridian Magazine. Check out the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53APVvcYDNM

Happy Father's Day

To all the wonderful men in our lives. HAPPY FATHER's DAY.

Inside the Lerwick Town Hall

These beautiful stained glass windows are intricately painted with beautiful detail that you have to enjoy in person.

There are many windows that show the ties to Norway. The window to the left is called the Masonic Window.

This is called the Marriage Window. It contains figures representing Princess Margaret of Norway and her husband King James III. Her father King Christian I of Norway, Denmark and Sweden could not raise the money for his daughter's dowry and so his royal estates in Orkney and Shetland, together with the sovereignty over the islands were pledged to James instead, with the understanding that the islands would be returned to King Christian I when money exchanged hands. Three times the money has been presented, and three times not accepted. So the islands remain in Scottish hands.

Broch

This is an iron age structure built between 100BC and 100AD. The ancestors of the PICTS were building these towers. There are  about 100 in the Shetland Islands.The towers rose from 12-13 meters. The stones fit perfectly together without any mortar. The bottom was for the animals, the next level for the family and the
top level for drying meat and fish.



There is a small opening at the base of the tower and no windows are present. Most of the towers were built around coastal areas.

The opening of our Broch. It used to be taller. We all had to bend over to get in.

CROFT HOUSES

 

These homes were built to last.

Croft Houses were originally from the mid 1800's to late 1960's. However many people on the Shetlands live in restored Croft Houses now. The original ones were usually owned by people who earned their livelihood by the sea. Grandparents, parents and children all lived in one croft house. When the men were at sea, the wife and family worked the land. The thatch roof is held down by the fishing nets. This is a restored Croft House.

 

The home was basically 2 rooms with  "the Ben END" holding the bedroom and the "But END" holding the kitchen. The barn and byre were all accessible under the same room without going outside, which was a good idea with their difficult mate. Everything was made with things found and collected from the floors to the kitchen appliances. There were only necessities in this way of life. Peat was burned in the fireplaces.






Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter that is unique to certain areas. It takes thousands  of years to develop peat deposits. The peat is cut and then laid out to dry. Once dry it can be burned in the fireplaces.

Stacks of peat to dry.

This man was cutting peat when we passed by. He has a special shovel to cut the peat.

FORT CHARLOTTE

Fort Charlotte is a 5 sided artillery fort. In 1793, during the British and the Revolutionary War 100 men were stationed here.

Brother Williamson with daughter Judith Ann.

Not a shot was ever fired from this fort built in 1652-43 during the first Anglo-Dutch War.

The view from the top of Fort Charlotte. 

Cliffs at Eshaness

Brothers Williamson and Ladle

SCENERY-Shetland Mainland

Notice the one lane road?

Old church and graveyard dating back to 1700s.

It broke my heart not to be able to read so many of the tomb stones.

SHETLAND PONIES

These are the cutest of the Shetland ponies. I didn't see these specific ones wearing the Shetland sweater however.

They have a heavier mane and tail and coat to withstand the harsh winters in the Shetlands.

Where else would the Shetland ponies come from EXCEPT from the Shetland islands.? They are gentle horses and very intelligent.

This one especially wanted a carrot and unfortunately we had none.

They come in all colors. They can live up to 30 years and typically are 7-11 hands tall. That is 28-44" tall.

They pull carts, carry peat and also worked in the coal mines because of their size. They are he strongest of all the horses and ponies and can carry 130 pounds.