Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Later 18th century. Two 2-storey kelp stores; forestairs to SE gables. Exposed local rubble stone; slaister pointing.

NW STORE

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central door; flanking windows (openings have been altered); 2 1st floor windows centred above. Forestair set back to right; open dog-leg stone stair; access from SW.

NW ELEVATION: plain gable; large entrance at ground floor; modern sliding double doors. Lean-to to left; large entrance.

NE ELEVATION: Store: central door; blocked up window to right; 1st floor window centred above door. Lean-to extends length of store: central door; window to left.

SE ELEVATION: forestair to left leads to 1st floor door. Ground floor window to right of stairs.

Crowstepped gables to roofless store; roofless adjoining lean-to, some slates remaining.

INTERIOR: exposed stone at ground floor; plastered 1st floor walls. Central ground and 1st floor fireplaces in SE gable. Flagstone floor remains in places.

SE STORE

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: plain elevation; large central door; replacement door. Stone steps to right lead to 1st floor door in SE gable.

NW ELEVATION: plain gable.

NE ELEVATION: blocked up central door; window to right.

SE ELEVATION: forestair leads to 1st floor door positioned off centre to right.

Replacement, corrugated roof.

INTERIOR: not seen, 2000.

Tall stone walled enclosure to rear of SE store.

PIER

L-plan pier to E of stores. Flagstones. 2 sets of steps built into wall to E. Later wall to W and later slip to W of wall.

Statement of Special Interest

Seaweed was often used as a fertiliser and spread out onto the fields; however by the 18th century the burning of seaweed to create kelp became an industry which dominated the Orkney economy during the late 18th to early 19th centuries, diverting labour from farming and fishing. The buildings stand as a reminder of this important period in the Orkney economy and its contribution made by Papay, and of the processes of kelp production no longer continued in Orkney. Seaweed was harvested from the shore; laid out to dry on the grass or on top of stone foundations (steethes) and burnt in shallow, circular, stone lined pits to form a liquid which when cooled; became a solid lump of kelp (alkaline ash). Kelp was used in a number of processes, especially the production of soap and glass and became a flourishing industry in Orkney by the mid 1700's, reaching a peak in 1825 which fell by 1830, 1840. Lairds built kelp stores to prevent the spoilation of the kelp by rain. Here, the kelp would be weighed, (payment was by the ton) and stored before being transported by boat. Kelp stores are therefore often found close to piers as are Nouster Stores. Orkney kelp was shipped to many places in England and Scotland, but especially to Newcastle where it was used for crown glass production. The Nouster kelp stores belonged to Thomas Traill of Holland Farm. His sloop, the Mary Traill was stored in a boathouse by the pier and transported the kelp. The remains of the boathouse walls are situated to the rear of the SE store. The date of the kelp stores is uncertain but they were probably built at the height of the kelp making period. The NW store is a shell at present (2000) without a roof; the 1st floor joists have gone; there are some remains of the roofing timbers in the wallhead. The SE store continues to be used for storage (2000).

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.