Ollaberry

Ollaberry (Old Norse: Olafrsberg, meaning Olaf's Hill) is a village on Mainland, Shetland, Scotland on the west shore of Yell Sound, 10.9 miles (17.5 km) north by road from Brae. Ollaberry Churchyard contains a Listed B monument, sculpted by John Forbes in 1754. Ollaberry Primary School was established in 1873.

Ollaberry
The waterfront at Ollaberry
Ollaberry Location within Shetland
OS grid reference	HU362804
Civil parish	Northmaven
Council area	Shetland
Lieutenancy area	Shetland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Ollaberry
Postcode district	ZE2
Dialling code	01806
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Orkney and Shetland
Scottish Parliament	Shetland
List of places UK Scotland 60.507°N 1.339°W / 60.507; -1.339

Geography

Road approaching Ollaberry

Ollaberry is situated within the parish of Northmaven in the Northmavine area of the Mainland of the Shetland Islands. Ollaberry was formerly a separate parish but united with Northmaven in the 16th century.^[1] By road, Ollaberry is 10.9 miles (17.5 km) north of Brae and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) east-northeast of Hillswick. It lies on Ollaberry Bay on the west shore of Yell Sound, with the island of Lamba about 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) to the east. There is a small beach and pier at Ollaberry, and a steep cliff falling to the sea to the northeast of the settlement.^[2]

Landmarks

The village contains Ollaberry Kirk. In the churchyard is a large memorial with Corinthian-like columns, the work of sculptor John Forbes in 1754. Known as Ollaberry Kirkyard Monument, it was designated a Historic Scotland Category B listed monument on 18 October 1977.^[3]

Education

Following the 1872 Act, a school board was formed in the Shetland Islands the following year, establishing schools in Ollaberry, North Roe, Collafirth, Eshaness, Urafirth, and Sullom. Ollaberry Primary School had been formed, and all of the schools were completed by 1880. Education Authority of Shetland gained authority of the schools in 1919.^[4] In 2014 it was proposed to close both North Roe and Urafirth schools and merge with Ollaberry. the merge proposal would save a projected £156,000 a year in costs.^[5]

Notable people

Andrew Cheyne, the father of Sir William Cheyne, 1st Baronet the famous surgeon was from here.^[6] Sir William himself was born at sea off Tasmania.

Andrew Rodger Waterston FRSE (1912–1996) was born and raised in Ollaberry, the son of Rev James Waterston minister of the United Free Church of Scotland.^[7]