Gossabrough

Gossabrough is a coastal hamlet, wick and ness on the southeast side of the island of Yell, Shetland, Scotland. The Wick of Gossabrough lies between the northern extremity of Gossabrough Ness and the Saddle of Swarister.[1] The hamlet is accessed via the B9081 road. The Loch of Hudon lies just to the southwest.

Gossabrough

Sheep at Gossabrough, with a ruined haa in the background
Gossabrough
Location within Shetland
OS grid referenceHU525831
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSHETLAND
Postcode districtZE2
Dialling code01957
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

History
Wick of Gossabrough
Holligarth, Gossabrough

The remains of rectangular structures found in the area indicate that this was a settlement inhabited by early Norse peoples.[2] There is a ruined broch here. In 1924, the "White Lady", known locally as the "Widden Wife", was shipwrecked in the vicinity.[3]

In the very early part of the 20th century, there were only three or four houses scattered in the hamlet.[4] Now two more houses have been built. A local trading steamer called periodically at Gossabrough.[5]

A native of Gossabrough, John Hughson, a warehouse assistant was involved in a notable court case in Dundee around 1940, under the Firearms Act of 1937.[6] Gossabrough House was the main house of note here, but the old haa is now in a ruined state;[7] it was at one time the seat of Cecil H. Robertson.[8]

Geography

Gossabrough is a coastal hamlet on the southeast side of the island of Yell in Shetland. Adjoining settlements are Otterswick and Swarister. The nearest airports are Fetlar 4.4 mi away and Out Skerries Airport 12.8 mi away.[9] Gossabrough is connected to Yell by a side road, the B9081.[10] Gossabrough beach is one of the beaches along with others at Hamnavoe, Westsandwick and Breckon, which has earned the award of the “Keep Scotland Beautiful Rural Seaside Award” for Yell.[11] Between Gossabrough Ness and the Quheyin Ness is a bay 0.75 miles (1.21 km) wide and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) deep; the wicks of Gossabrough and Otters are located here. A rock named Wick Skerry lies about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) northeastward of Gossabrough Ness.[5] Upon approaching the southern portion of a ridge named Lamghoga from Gossabrough is the south-western corner of a rock named Ramshorn point.[12]

Climate

The climate of the island is cold temperate. The average temperature and rainfall for each month of the year are given in the table below.[9]

Climate data for Gossabrough, United Kingdom
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 7
(45)		 6
(43)		 7
(45)		 7
(45)		 8
(46)		 13
(55)		 15
(59)		 15
(59)		 13
(55)		 11
(52)		 8
(46)		 7
(45)		 15
(59)
Average low °C (°F) 3
(37)		 2
(36)		 3
(37)		 4
(39)		 6
(43)		 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 11
(52)		 9
(48)		 7
(45)		 5
(41)		 3
(37)		 2
(36)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 118.3
(4.66)		 92.1
(3.63)		 100.1
(3.94)		 53.3
(2.10)		 41
(1.6)		 53.6
(2.11)		 41
(1.6)		 58.4
(2.30)		 80.8
(3.18)		 103.7
(4.08)		 118.5
(4.67)		 124.5
(4.90)		 985.3
(38.77)
Source: [9]

Fauna

The Wick of Gossabrough attracts many birds, of note here in particular are the great black-backed gulls.[13] In the first decade of the 20th century, it was documented that herring populations had declined.[14] Anatidae ducks have been reported here and eider duck flocks are common.[15]

References
  1. United States. Hydrographic Office (1950). Sailing directions for the north and east coasts of Scotland: Cape Wrath to Fife Ness and including the Orkney, Shetland and Faeroe Islands. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. p. 331. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  2. Fojut, Noel (August 1994). A guide to prehistoric and Viking Shetland. Shetland Times. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-900662-91-1. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  3. Abram, Dave; Dunford, Martin (1 April 1996). Scotland: the rough guide. Rough Guides. p. 507. ISBN 978-1-85828-166-7. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  4. The Churchman. George S. Mallory. July 1905. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  5. United States. Hydrographic Office (1915). Publications. pp. 150, 188. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  6. Scottish Law Review and Sheriff Court Reports. W. Hodge & Company. 1956. p. 57. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  7. Fenton, Alexander; Walker, Bruce (1981). The rural architecture of Scotland. John Donald. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-85976-020-1. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  8. Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1902). Sessional Papers (Public domain ed.). H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 15–. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  9. "Gossabrough Weather, United Kingdom". Worldweatheronline.com. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  10. "Yell Community Council Area Statement" (pdf). Shetland City Council. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  11. "Area Guide Yell". Scotland Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  12. Tudor, J. R.; Horne, John; Fortescue, William Irvine; Benjamin Nieve Peach; Peter White (1883). The Orkneys and Shetland: their past and present state (Public domain ed.). Edward Stanford. pp. 552–. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  13. Mitchell, William Reginald (1983). Birdwatch around Scotland. R. Hale. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7090-1248-1. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  14. Great Britain. Parliament (1907). The Parliamentary Debates. Reuter's Telegram Co. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  15. "Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Sound Effects". BBC, Soundeffects.ch. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
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