iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 3h

I think between us, we've got Friday night fish support sorted! 😉

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Natural history collections are time capsules of life on Earth, in some cases, records of living species stretch back hundreds of years. Each specimen captures a moment in time, with records showing what species it is, where it was collected and when.

Photograph showing a wooden specimen drawer containing numerous compartmentalised seashells and marine fossils.

1275

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 7h

We see your Record Conger, and raise you a 29 lbs brown trout caught in Loch Stenness in 1889. 🎣

LOCH OF STENNESS TROUT
WEIGHING 29 Ibs
This trout was taken in the Stenness Loch near the Brig o' Waithe on 15th March 1889 by Mr J. McLeod. At 29lbs, measuring 3 ft 2 in. in length and 2ft. in girth, it is the largest estuarine trout ever caught in Britain.

111

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 7h

🩸 Self Heal 'was one of the most trusted wound herbs in the medieval apothecary's kit'. 🛌 Dried Ladies Bedstraw was used as a flea repellent in mattresses. 🔗 Learn the history behind the herbs in our Planters Project: shorturl.at/6YHjl

Herbarium sheet: Self Heal Prunella vulgaris

Herbarium sheet: Ladies Bedstraw Galium verum

056

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 7h

Many of the plants growing on our pier were traditionally used as healing and household remedies. ❤️‍🩹 🩹 Kidney Vetch was used for cuts and sores, hence the folk name "Woundwort". 🥛 Sea Pink or Thrift roots boiled with milk was an Orcadian remedy for pulmonary consumption. 🔗 shorturl.at/6YHjl

Herbarium sheet: Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria

Herbarium sheet: Thrift Armeria maritima

184

Reposted by Stromness Museum

UHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

TRANSECTS talk in Svalbard as part of 2026 international symposium Associate Professor Jen Harland is north of the Arctic Circle after being invited to present at the 2026 Svalbard Archaeology Symposium.... archaeologyorkney.com/2026/10/07/sv…

042

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

There's just two tickets remaining for 'An Evening with the Shipwreck HMS Royal Oak' on Tue 13 Oct 2026 in Stromness. Emily Turton, Project Leader of the HMS Royal Oak Survey will present their 2025-2026 findings followed by a Q&A session. 🎟️ Book now via: buytickets.at/stromnessmus...

Underwater photo taken in HMS Royal Oak 80 years remembrance week. NDG divers recovering a White Ensign and flying and stowing a new White Ensign. Royal Oak 80 Survey team was recording these events and poppy planting and memorial service at sea, Scapa Flow.

020

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

See this and and other surprising beachcombing finds in our current Sea Stories exhibition, exploring Orkney’s far-reaching maritime connections. #WorldAnimalDay 🔗 www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/whatson/2026...

Green_sea_turtle_(Chelonia_mydas)_Moorea

080

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It’s #WorldAnimalDay 🐾 We hold a large range of zoological specimens, many of animals native to Orkney. 🐢 But this Green Turtle's shell was found far from home, on Stenness Loch by Orkney Naturalist Martin Gray in 1980, the first record of a vagrant of this species in British and Irish waters.

Photo of Green Turtle shell in display case, behind which is displayed a photo of Martin Gray beachcombing.

1121

Reposted by Stromness Museum

RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Look to the coasts for Barnacle Geese winging their way into today’s Autumn Arrival Spotlight. 👀 Arriving from Greenland, Svalbard & Russia, spot them feeding in coastal marshes. Fun fact: Never seen nesting here, people once believed they hatched from Goose Barnacles at sea!

119623

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

🎖️ The Arctic Medal is displayed alongside relics of the Franklin Expedition and items brought back from the arctic by Dr John Rae in Stromness Museum. #ScottishMuseumsDay #ABCofScottishMuseums @scottishmuseums.bsky.social

Powder horn made from natural horn with a metal tip and top lid. The letters L * D and number 19 are carved on it. It was brought back from the Arctic by Dr John Rae as a relic from the Franklin expedition of 1845.

Physical attributes
Dimensions
Length 300mm (Approx)
Inscription "L D 19"

110

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

❄️ Orcadian explorer Dr John Rae discovered their fate in 1853 but was not thanked for his report, which was falsely derided as "wild tales" by author Charles Dickens. #ScottishMuseumsDay #ABCofScottishMuseums @scottishmuseums.bsky.social

Miniature portrait of Arctic Explorer Dr John Rae in an oval brass frame. Based on the portrait of Rae by Stephen Pearson

Physical attributes
Dimensions
Height 105mm
Width 70mm
Depth 10mm
Inscription John Rae MD, FRS. Born 1813 D 1893 on ivory (not thought to be ivory) Arctic Explorer, Ashmoleom, Oxford., Hand written on the back of frame.

130

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

🌊 Franklin led the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of the North West Passage Arctic sea route, departing the UK aboard the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror after stopping for water at Login's Well, Stromness in 1845. #ScottishMuseumsDay #ABCofScottishMuseums @scottishmuseums.bsky.social

1st Arctic Medal "For Arctic Discoveries 1811-1855. Octagonal silver, missing ribbon and hanger. Paper on side 'F A M'. Believed to be Sir John Franklin's Arctic Medal.

100

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

To celebrate #ScottishMuseumsDay we're kicking off the #ABCofScottishMuseums with 'A' for Arctic Medal: Believed to be Sir John Franklin's "For Arctic Discoveries 1811-1855." @scottishmuseums.bsky.social

1134

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Scottish Museums Federation @scottishmuseums.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Just 2 days to go until #ScottishMuseumsDay! 🎉🔤 On 3 October, we’ll bring together remarkable objects from across Scotland for our #ABCofScottishMuseums. Every letter is claimed, but there’s still time to add a second object at the link in our bio. Then share your object with both hashtags above!

031

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Why? Just Beak-ause" Puffin (Fratercula arctica) on Westray, #Orkney, in July. For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BestBeaks. #OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirding #BirdsOfBluesky #BirdsSeenIn2026 #birdsoftheworld #Puffin #Auk 🪶

0499

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Today @cerysmatthews.bsky.social & Andrew Appleby of @johnraesociety.bsky.social paid us a visit, enjoying a guided tour by our Collections Manager Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller (centre). Here’s Cerys with Siobhan & Andrew, looking very #coolcymru by sporting a stylish Stromness Museum tote bag! 😎 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Three people standing outside Stromness Museum’s front entrance from left to right: Cerys Matthews, Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller and Andrew Appleby.

050

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Online booking is open for 'An Evening with the Shipwreck HMS Royal Oak' on Tue 13 Oct 2026. Emily Turton, Project Leader of the HMS Royal Oak Survey will present their 2025-2026 findings + Q&A session. 🎟️ Free entry but advance booking essential: www.tickettailor.com/events/strom...

tickettailor.com

Select tickets – An Evening with the Shipwreck HMS Royal Oak - with Emily Turton – Orkney Research and Innovation Campus (ORIC)

An Evening with the Shipwreck HMS Royal Oak - with Emily Turton – Orkney Research and Innovation Campus (ORIC), Tue 13 Oct 2026 - Orkney Natural History Society Museum and Scapa 100 presents An Evenin...

011

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Stromness Museum is looking for new Trustees to join our Board and help shape the next chapter of this much-loved local museum. Find out more in our latest blog post: shorturl.at/hfC9Y

Trustee Ann Marwick at Stromness Museum talking to a member of staff with their back to camera.

042

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Orcadian Gothic A Neolithic couple stand before the chambered cairn of Wideford Hill #Orkney Painting by Brian Lee, spotted on the Historic Scotland site interpretation board, in homage to Grant Wood's famous 1930 painting Well played 👏 📷 Aug 2024 #TombTuesday #Archaeology

A woman with yellow hair and man with grey, both dressed in Neolithic textiles and furs, the man holding a shovel, stand infront of a stone built structure with thatched roof. Neither look happy

729168

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

📆 On Tue 13 Oct 2026 we're hosting 'An Evening with the Shipwreck HMS Royal Oak' alongside Scapa 100. Emily Turton, Project Leader of the HMS Royal Oak Survey will present their 2025-2026 findings plus a Q&A session. 📍orkneycampus.co.uk in Stromness. ℹ️ & 🎟️ Details will be posted soon.

010

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

September 2026 marks 360 years since the Great Fire of London which took place in September 1666. It also reminds us of that time we found a letter in the Archive dated 1661, sent from #Orkney to an address in Pudding Lane, London - the very place the fire began. 🔥

A scan of the letter addressed to Pudding Lane in London

215431

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It’s a day to take naturalist Magnus Spence’s advice. 🌞 “The privilege of spending a few hours every week with Nature is one of the most exhilarating out-door pleasures one can enjoy.” ☀️ 🌼 While you’re out and about, enjoy the wildflowers of the Planters Project on our pier: shorturl.at/ER2Y3

Oval framed black and white head and shoulders photographic portrait of Magnus Spence.

040

Reposted by Stromness Museum

RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Autumn migration is kicking off! 🍁 Have you noticed any of our winter visitors arriving? Stay tuned: we'll be shining a daily spotlight on the birds joining us for the colder months. Check out the Arrival Boards to see who’s flying in and when! 👇

Graphic titled “Arrivals”, showing when a selection of wintering birds arrive in the UK and when they typically leave. Bar-tailed Godwit arrives July–October and departs March–April; Grey Plover July–November, departing April–May; Knot arrives in August and leaves April–May; Sanderling arrives in August and leaves in May; Pintail arrives August–September and leaves March–April. Redwing arrives in September and leaves in March, while Lapland Bunting arrives late September–October and leaves March–April. October arrivals include Purple Sandpiper, Brent Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Shoveler, Bewick’s Swan, Barnacle Goose and Fieldfare. Brambling arrives October–December. Most of these birds depart between March and April, although Pink-footed Goose leaves February–March and Bewick’s Swan in March.

Graphic titled “Arrivals”, continuing a seasonal guide to wintering birds in the UK. Goldeneye arrives August–December and departs March–April. Snow Bunting arrives September–November and leaves February–March, while Pochard arrives September–October and leaves March–April. Great Grey Shrike, Red-throated Diver, Rough-legged Buzzard, Teal, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Long-tailed Duck and Shore Lark all begin arriving from October, mostly staying until March or April. Water Pipit arrives in late October and leaves in April, while Whooper Swan arrives late October–November and departs March–April. Waxwing arrives November–December and leaves February–March, and Smew arrives November–January and departs March–April.

119437

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Did you know that seaweed is older than dinosaurs? 😮🌿 Learn more about the fascinating world of seaweed our series, Natural History Museum Showstoppers!

27313

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Red Clover is just one of the wildflowers growing in the Planters Project on our pier, to celebrate 100 years since the Magnus Spence Herbarium was gifted to Stromness Museum. 🔗 Find out more in our latest blog post by Katy Firth: shorturl.at/ER2Y3

Magnus Spence Herbarium sheet: pressed Red Clover with handwritten labels.

043

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

📕 Facsimile editions of the trial of Daniel Defoe’s 18th century book are available to buy in our shop and online. #talklikeapirateday 🏴‍☠️ ☠️ shop.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/products/the...

Book by Daniel Defoe, c1726. Original cover missing. Book by Daniel Defoe, c1726. An Account of the Conduct and Proceedings of the late John Gow alias Smith, Captain of the late Pirates, Executed for Murther and Piracy Committed on board the George Gally, aftewards call'd the Revenge; with A Relation of all the horrid Murthers they committed in cold Blood; as also of their being taken at the Islands of Orkney, and sent up Prisoners to London. One of five known to exist.

010

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

You can download the John Gow Heritage Trail of Orkney on our Digital Trails page. 🧭 Created by @insuhi.bsky.social and the J. Gow Distillery, which features Stromness Museum. stromnessmuseum.org.uk/resources/to...

Leather bound telescope which belonged to Pirate John Gow. Aquired byJames Fea of Eday on the capture of Pirate Gow after his ship grounded on the Calf of Eday.

001

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It’s #talklikeapirateday 🏴‍☠️ John Gow was ‘The Orkney Pirate’. His bad deeds caught him up after his ship ran aground off the Calf of Eday. He was captured and executed in 1725. Stromness Museum has his telescope and a 1st edition copy of Daniel Defoe’s account of his trial, 1 of 5 known to exist.

John Gow, Execution of Gow, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Wikimedia Commons

272

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This #internationalequalpayday spare a thought for the fisher girls of Stromness during the late 19th century. Gutting and packing fish was tough, mucky work and they’d be paid by the amount of barrels they filled with fish, so had to work fast for long periods. 📷 Houston photographic collection

Hourston Photographic Collection

Black and white photo of Fisher girls cleaning fish at Stromness Pier, date unknown. Plate broken.

041

Reposted by Stromness Museum

RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Pretending Monday isn't here... 📷️ @aintright.bsky.social

A Dipper stands in a shallow stream with its head completely submerged beneath the water, leaving only its rounded back, folded wings and tail visible above the surface. Small ripples spread around the bird as it searches underwater, creating the comical impression that it's pretending not to be there.

430130

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

You’ll find no-one in a state of modern undress in Orkney. They’d catch a chill 🥶

131

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Kirkdale Bookshop @kirkdalebooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Buddo says you're nearly home & dry.

Wahey! It's Buddo, the OG Neolithic whalebone figurine from Orkney!

081

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

We're also always saying this to visitors! ⬆️

141

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Stromness Museum's pier has been buzzing this summer thanks to our new Planters Project! 🌼🐝 Read about the wildflower planting initiative in our latest blog post by our Museum Climate Change Exhibitions and Outreach Officer Katy Firth: shorturl.at/mRy5e

0132

Reposted by Stromness Museum

UHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Dan Lee, one of the project directors, is giving a talk at 7pm in the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, tonight on the 2026 season of excavation at Skaill farm, Rousay.

archaeologyorkney.com

Archaeology Festival: An update on the 2026 Skaill farm excavations

Dan Lee, one of the project directors, is giving a talk in Kirkwall tonight on the 2026 season of excavation at Skaill farm, Rousay.

094

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We're nominated in @rspb.bsky.social Nature of Scotland Awards for Outstanding Contribution, for 'Turning Tides on Climate Change through Museum Engagement' 🌱 Thanks to the advocacy of our Museum Climate Change, Exhibition & Outreach Officer Katy Firth. 🔗 shorturl.at/bocTk @rspbscotland.bsky.social

Katy's pictured here at Orkney Science Festival 2026 workshop on artist Jenny Pope's environmental #shooglyholm project with Stromness Museum. The photo shows Katy wearing a white science lab coat, kneeling in front of seaweed samples in trays and buckets, collected from Shoogly Holm.

070

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

#onlineartexchange: ‘life by the sea’ 🌊 🎨 Nelson White’s ‘MV Norholmen’ shows the Norwegian whaler after she was grounded in 1966 🐋 🇳🇴 Whaling ships came via Stromness in 1950-60’s, recruiting here ⚓️ Learn of Orkney’s Antarctic whaling past in Sea Stories: alturl.com/nmsuz @artukdotorg.bsky.social

Painting 'MV Norholmen'

Oil painting on board of the Norwegian whaler M V Norholmen by amateur artist Nelson White. It shows the boat washed up on the shore at Stromness. It is depicted at an interesting angle with 3 men unloading timber. Hoy is in the background.

Height 465mm (board)
Length 574mm (board)
Inscription Signed

0112

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Here are pressed seaweed specimens (collected 1839-1962) of seaweed found on/near #shooglyholm Stromness mooring this year, artist Jenny Pope's project in oisf.org. They inc. Mermaid's Tresses🧜‍♀️and Sea Lettuce 🥬 📷 via our Natural History Digitisation Project. Read about this at: shorturl.at/CCP7o

Specimen, seaweed - Chorda filum 'Mermaids Tresses'
Other name(s):
Chorda filum (Linnaeus) Stackhouse

Specimen, seaweed - Plocamium coccineum
Other name(s):
Plocamium cartilagineum (Linnaeus) P.S.Dixon

Specimen, seaweed - Ulva lactuca 'Sea Lettuce'
Other name(s):
Ulva lactuca Linnaeus

0113

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Join us today for #shooglyholm studying in Stromness as part of oisf.org! 🔬 Marine Life Colonisation at 11.30 am, a Plankton Creative Workshop at 2pm and a 3.30 pm Plankton Dip. ✏️ Plus there’s a Nature Journalling Workshop at 11am with Elizabeth Mills. 🎟️ & ℹ️ shorturl.at/Fo262

Studying Shoogly Holm September 8 at 11.30am to 4.30pm various Stromness locations

020

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Join us tomorrow for a day of oisf.org workshops in Stromness on Tue 8 Sep, to take a closer look at the residents of the #shooglyholm floating sculpture 🔬 Get crafty and create some new creatures from old materials ♻️ And there’s a Nature Journaling Workshop at the Museum ✏️ ℹ️ shorturl.at/Fo262

Orkney international science festival graphic: nature journaling workshop at Stromness museum on Tuesday 8 September at 11am

011

Reposted by Stromness Museum

Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Picture the scene. It's 1769. You're William Aberdeen and you're drawing a map of Sebay in Tankerness, #Orkney. It's going well but then you realise there are some blank bits so you decide to add some decoration. You think about what to draw for a moment. It's an obvious choice.

A section of an old hand drawn map of Sebay in Tankerness, Orkney

419148

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Thanks to all who came to the Raising of #shooglyholm yesterday! 🌊 We've a day of oisf.org workshops in Stromness tomorrow Tue 8 Sep, to see what made Jenny Pope's floating sculpture home 🔬 Plus a Nature Journaling Workshop with Marine educator Elizabeth Mills at the Museum ✏️ ℹ️ shorturl.at/Fo262

People standing beside the floating sculpture on shore inc. Jenny Pope.

Katy Firth showing a man a specimen in a petri dish.

010

Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It's #WorldBeardDay, so we're appreciating the rather magnificent facial hair sported by Stromness Museum's first president, the Rev. Dr. Charles Clouston (1800-1884). He was also a Physician, Minister, Meteorologist, Naturalist, Phycologist, Geologist, Writer and Antiquarian.

B&W photo portrait of Charles Clouston sitting in a chair, holding a magnifying glass in one hand and A5 card in the oter.

Cover page of book: An Explanation of the Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland on Scientific Principles by the Rev Charles Clouston Minister of Sandwick. Published by Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh in 1867.

052