Orphir

Orphir (pronounced /ɔːrfɪr/, Old Norse: Jorfjara/Orfjara[1][2][3]) is a parish and settlement on Mainland, Orkney. It is approximately 9 miles (14 kilometres) southwest of Kirkwall, and comprises a seaboard tract of about 7 by 3 1⁄2 mi (11.5 by 5.5 km), and includes Cava and the Holm of Houton. The coast includes Houton Head, about 300 feet (90 metres) tall, but all elsewhere is nearly level; and the interior is an assemblage of vales and hills, the latter culminating at about 700 ft (210 m) above sea level, and commanding fine views.

Not to be confused with Ophir.
The Hall of Clestrain, birthplace of John Rae, and currently derelict

A chief residence was the Hall of Clestrain; and chief antiquities include the ruins of Earl Paul's Palace, remains of pre-Reformation chapels, the Round Kirk and several tumuli.

The ferry terminal of Houton is also located in Orphir, the ferries to Flotta and Hoy (Lyness) leave from this departure point.

Notable people
  • John Rae (30 September 1813 – 22 July 1893), the explorer of Canada's Arctic was born at the Hall of Clestrain in this parish.
  • Henry Halcro Johnston, botanist and international rugby union player was born and died at Orphir.
  • Heather Hourston (1984-present), Zwartbles sheep breeder and property developer.
  • Margaret Manson Graham (1860-1933), missionary nurse in Nigeria, born in Orphir[4]

References
  1. Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
  2. Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
  3. Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. "Margaret Manson Graham" in Elizabeth L. Ewan, Sue Innes, Sian Reynolds, and Rose Pipes, ed., The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women (Edinburgh University Press 2006): 142-143. ISBN 9780748626601

This article incorporates text from - Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone

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