Weydale
| Weydale | |
| Caithness | |
|---|---|
 Weydale | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ND132650 |
| Location: | 58°33’54"N, 3°29’33"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Thurso |
| Postcode: | KW14 8 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
Weydale is a remote, scattered crofting settlement, lying three miles southeast of Thurso in Caithness. Its name is from Old Norse and means just what it appears to mean: “Way [path] dale”.
Despite a sparse population Weydale covers a large area of the farming land south-east of Thurso, which is mainly used for grazing of livestock. Within the area are four former flagstone quarries, which despite no longer producing the stones are now noted for the excellent preservation of the fossil fish Osteolepis.
Weydale was previously served by a small primary school, which was created more for a local gypsy settlement, whom up until the early 1900s were banned form entering Thurso and settled in the area.
The former school and the quarries are part a number of sites and buildings within Weydale that hold some historical significance, however a more modern bungalow, "Stoneybank", made the news when originally built as at that time its west-facing side contained Britain's largest single-pane window. The window has since been removed.
The area did make the news again in late 1990s when the Bomb Disposal Unit undertook a controlled explosion at Bulliemore Farm, following the find of a Second World War weapons and explosives store left over by the Auxiliary Unit which trained in the area.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Weydale) |