The fifteen hearths of Quoygrew
Quoygrew is a 1,000 year old house on Westray which was lived in by Vikings from 950 AD, shortly after they arrived in Orkney, and only stopped being used sometime in the 1930s. In the house there were 15 hearths discovered, one on top of another, from the 13th to the 16th Century with one replacing another as the floor grew thicker with dust, dirt and debris. If I don’t vacuum my lounge soon the same will happen to my place.
More about Quoygrew
Westray Coast 50 – Day Two My adventures on the second of five days walking the entire coast of Westray. read more
Sitting in a stall of hay at Quoygrew A dirt floor. A stone hearth. An open fire. No glass or windows. A turf roof. Stone stalls with hay… read more
Down the garden path at Quoygrew My favourite part of the ruined house at Quoygrew is the garden path of the 13th to 16th Century house.… read more