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Coordinates: 60°13′44″N 1°33′54″W / 60.229°N 1.565°W / 60.229; -1.565
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name= Walls
| official_name= Walls
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| coordinates = {{coord|60.229|-1.565|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|60.229|-1.565|display=inline,title}}
| post_town= SHETLAND
| post_town= SHETLAND
| postcode_area= ZE
| postcode_area= ZE
| postcode_district= ZE2
| postcode_district= ZE2
| dial_code= (01595) 809xxx
| dial_code= (01595) 809xxx
| constituency_westminster= [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]]
| constituency_westminster= [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]]
| civil_parish= Walls and [[Sandness]]
| civil_parish= Walls and [[Sandness]]
| unitary_scotland= [[Shetland]]
| unitary_scotland= [[Shetland Islands Council|Shetland Islands]]
| lieutenancy_scotland= [[Shetland]]
| lieutenancy_scotland= [[Shetland]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Shetland]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Shetland]]
}}
}}


'''Walls''', known locally as '''Waas''', ([[Old Norse]]: ''Vagar'' = "Sheltered Bays" (voes) - the [[Ordnance Survey]] added the "ll" as they thought it was a corruption of "walls". Cf [[Vágar]] and [[Vágur]] in the [[Faroe Islands]]), is a settlement on the south side of [[West Mainland, Shetland|West Mainland]], [[Shetland Islands]] in [[Scotland]]. The settlement is at the head of Vaila Sound and sheltered even from southerly storms by the islands of Linga and [[Vaila]]. Walls is within the parish of Walls and [[Sandness]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails637.html|title=Details of Walls|publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]|accessdate=2 January 2015}}</ref>
'''Walls''', traditionally pronounced '''Waas''', is a settlement on the south side of [[West Mainland, Shetland|West Mainland]], [[Shetland Islands]] in [[Scotland]]. The settlement is at the head of Vaila Sound and sheltered even from southerly storms by the islands of [[Linga, Vaila Sound|Linga]] and [[Vaila]]. Walls is within the parish of Walls and [[Sandness]] which includes the islands of [[Foula]], [[Papa Stour]], Vaila and Linga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails637.html|title=Details of Walls|publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]|access-date=2 January 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234906/http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails637.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name is from the [[Old Norse]]: ''Vágar'' meaning [[wiktionary:voe|voes]] or bays.{{sfn|Jakobsen|1897|pp=114-15}} This became Waas in the [[Shetlandic dialect]] - but how this then came to be spelled "Walls" is not certain. MacBain quotes [[F. W. L. Thomas]]: "How, I ask, could ''vágr'' come to be represented by wall? Whence came the ''ll''? Was it that Scottish immigrants finding the sound of ''vá'' represented it in writing by 'wall,' the ''ll'' at first being silent?"{{sfn|MacBain|1922|p=114}}

One form of the area's old name was ''Vágarland'',{{sfn|MacBain|1922|p=114}} hence the pen name of local poet '[[Vagaland]]'.


==History==
==History==
One of its old names is "[[Vagaland]]", hence the name of the local poet.


A pier was built at Walls in the 18th century, and from 1838, it was a center for fish curing. Walls itself is a quieter place than once it was. The large houses of Bayhall, now converted into flats, and Voe House are signs of past wealth, as are the three churches visible around the head of the sound. Two are still in use, while the third bears a sign showing its later conversion to a bakery.
A pier was built at Walls in the 18th century, and from 1838, it was a centre for fish curing. Walls itself is a quieter place than once it was. The large houses of Bayhall, now converted into flats, and Voe House are signs of past wealth, as are the three churches visible around the head of the sound. Two are still in use, while the third bears a sign showing its later conversion to a bakery.


Waas was the childhood home of two fine poets, [[Vagaland]] and [[Christine de Luca]], and in 1884 was the birthplace of both [[Peter Fraser (1884-1966)]], musician and founder member of the [[Shetland Fiddlers' Society]], and William Moffatt, the author.
Walls was the childhood home of two poets, [[Vagaland]] (Thomas Alexander Robertson, 1909–1973) and [[Christine De Luca]] (born 1947). In 1884 it was the birthplace of both Peter Fraser (1884–1966), musician and founder member of the [[Shetland Fiddlers' Society]], and William Moffatt, author.


==Community==
==Community==
A little to the east of the centre of the village is the marina, making this a popular base for leisure sailors. The fishing vessels that are still based in Walls tend to use the pier a few hundred yards along the west side of Vaila Sound. This is also the terminus for the ferry service to the island of [[Foula]] which lies 20 miles west, out into the Atlantic.
A little to the east of the centre of the village is the marina, making this a popular base for leisure sailors. The fishing vessels that are still based in Walls tend to use the pier a few hundred yards along the west side of Vaila Sound. This is also the terminus for the ferry service to the island of [[Foula]] which lies {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=off}} west, out into the Atlantic.<ref>[https://www.bkmarine.co.uk/foula-ferry "Foula Ferry Booking Information"]. BK Marine Ltd. Retrieved 29 June 2024.</ref>


Today it is home to the dialect children's writer [[Iris Sandison]], also secretary to the local history group.
Today it is home to the [[Shetland dialect]] children's writer Iris Sandison, also secretary to the local history group.


Waas has long been famed for its annual Agricultural Show. A short film of 'da Waas Show' in the early 1960s, by the late Dr. Albert Hunter, is available at the link below.
Walls has long been noted for its annual [[agricultural show]]. A short film of 'da Waas Show' in the early 1960s, by the late Albert Hunter, is available at the link below.


==References==
==See also==
* [[List of listed buildings in Walls and Sandness, Shetland Islands]]
* [[Vágar]] and [[Vágur]] in the Faroe Islands
* [[South Walls]], Hoy, Orkney

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924026356406|title=The dialect and place names of Shetland; two popular lectures|last=Jakobsen|first=Jakob|author-link=Jakob Jakobsen|publisher=Lerwick, T. & J. Manson|others=Cornell University Library|year=1897|location=Lerwick|chapter=The old Shetland place-names|type=Lecture|lccn=03002186|access-date=2019-10-07|via=archive.org}}
* {{cite book|last=MacBain|first=Alex|year=1922|title= Place Names: Highlands and Islands of Scotland|publisher=Eneas MacKay|location=Stirling|isbn=0-7185-1197-2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Walls, Shetland Islands}}
{{commons category|Walls, Shetland Islands}}
{{wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.walls.shetland.co.uk/shetland/west/walls/walls_map.html map]
*[http://www.walls.shetland.co.uk/shetland/west/walls/walls_map.html map]
*[http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/dialects/nis.html Listen to recordings of a speaker of Walls Scots]
*[http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/dialects/nis.html Listen to recordings of a speaker of Walls Scots]
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{{Shetland}}
{{Shetland}}


[[Category:Villages on Mainland, Shetland]]
[[Category:Villages in Mainland, Shetland]]



{{Shetland-geo-stub}}
{{Shetland-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:56, 2 September 2024

Walls
  • Waas
Boats at Walls on a warm summer afternoon
Walls is located in Scotland
Walls
Walls
Location within Scotland
OS grid referenceHU240494
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSHETLAND
Postcode districtZE2
Dialling code(01595) 809xxx
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
60°13′44″N 1°33′54″W / 60.229°N 1.565°W / 60.229; -1.565

Walls, traditionally pronounced Waas, is a settlement on the south side of West Mainland, Shetland Islands in Scotland. The settlement is at the head of Vaila Sound and sheltered even from southerly storms by the islands of Linga and Vaila. Walls is within the parish of Walls and Sandness which includes the islands of Foula, Papa Stour, Vaila and Linga.[1]

Etymology

[edit]

The name is from the Old Norse: Vágar meaning voes or bays.[2] This became Waas in the Shetlandic dialect - but how this then came to be spelled "Walls" is not certain. MacBain quotes F. W. L. Thomas: "How, I ask, could vágr come to be represented by wall? Whence came the ll? Was it that Scottish immigrants finding the sound of vá represented it in writing by 'wall,' the ll at first being silent?"[3]

One form of the area's old name was Vágarland,[3] hence the pen name of local poet 'Vagaland'.

History

[edit]

A pier was built at Walls in the 18th century, and from 1838, it was a centre for fish curing. Walls itself is a quieter place than once it was. The large houses of Bayhall, now converted into flats, and Voe House are signs of past wealth, as are the three churches visible around the head of the sound. Two are still in use, while the third bears a sign showing its later conversion to a bakery.

Walls was the childhood home of two poets, Vagaland (Thomas Alexander Robertson, 1909–1973) and Christine De Luca (born 1947). In 1884 it was the birthplace of both Peter Fraser (1884–1966), musician and founder member of the Shetland Fiddlers' Society, and William Moffatt, author.

Community

[edit]

A little to the east of the centre of the village is the marina, making this a popular base for leisure sailors. The fishing vessels that are still based in Walls tend to use the pier a few hundred yards along the west side of Vaila Sound. This is also the terminus for the ferry service to the island of Foula which lies 20 miles (32 kilometres) west, out into the Atlantic.[4]

Today it is home to the Shetland dialect children's writer Iris Sandison, also secretary to the local history group.

Walls has long been noted for its annual agricultural show. A short film of 'da Waas Show' in the early 1960s, by the late Albert Hunter, is available at the link below.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Details of Walls". Gazetteer for Scotland. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ^ Jakobsen 1897, pp. 114–15.
  3. ^ a b MacBain 1922, p. 114.
  4. ^ "Foula Ferry Booking Information". BK Marine Ltd. Retrieved 29 June 2024.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walls, Shetland Islands.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Walls, Shetland.

This article incorporates text from the article Walls on Shetlopedia, which was licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence until September 14, 2007.


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