Stroma is in the Pentland Firth and is part of Caithness. Its near northern neighbour, Swona, is part of Orkney. The population of the 1.45 sq mile Stroma once exceeded 500. In 1901 it was 375, but the appeal of working on the mainland was such that around 1962 the last two families left. A harbour had been constructed at the island's south end, barely in time to serve permanent residents and then to assist their departure.
Scottish Islands Explorer - helping visitors discover what is off-shore
4 comments:
I think the islanders petitioned for a harbour then the money they earned labouring on the project funded their flit to the mainland. Great blog, John, I enjoy it with my toast, coffee and paper each morning.
A friend in my Sussex village, who's maiden name is Kennedy- had ancestors who lived on Stroma.
It would be good to know about more evacuees from any island. The one childhood survivor from St Kilda lives in Ipswich and is occasionally interviewed by the media.
There is a very nice videopresentation about Stroma's past in the magnificent Caithness Horizons exhibition in Thurso's Town Hall. The story is told by former islanders. Well worth a visit - no admission.
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