Quarff is a small village on Mainland in the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is located on the main A970 road, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Shetland's only town, Lerwick. The village is spread along a classic glacial valley[1] that runs east–west across the island between high hills to north and south,[2] with centres of population at Easter Quarff which is near the main road and the east coast, and Wester Quarff which is 11⁄2 miles (2.4 km) west and faces the Atlantic Ocean.[3] A narrow road runs along the valley between the two.
Quarff
View of Easter Quarff and Quarff church, with Scrae Field in the distance (March 2010)
The name "Quarff" comes from Old Norse "Hvervi" and means a bending shape(John Stewart - Shetland Place-names Page 175). The north hill does indeed have a bend shape. The village has long been a site where goods and boats could be transported between the east and west coast, avoiding what would otherwise be a sea journey of about 40 miles (64 km) round Sumburgh Head. Sir John Sinclair reported in 1794 that "The people of Quarff are frequently employed in transporting goods from one side of the country to the other, which brings them in considerable sums."[4]
In 1830, when the church was built, the villagers were reported to be mostly sea fishermen, catching cod, ling and herring. They also cultivated small patches of land, growing potatoes and corn.[5]
There is evidence of Stone Age occupation in the area. In 1900 a local crofter excavated a mound on his croft and found a stone slab covering a stone-lined chamber containing a skull and a bowl. Similar chambers were found in the locality.[6]
Populationedit
In recent years the population of Quarff has increased. Twenty-five years ago, Easter Quarff had 12 crofts and 28 houses; by 2004 there were over 70 dwellings. Wester Quarff, however, has remained fairly constant with thirteen dwellings in small clusters.[7]
Infrastructureedit
The Quarff water supply is from the Sandy Loch reservoir at Lerwick. There is currently no mains drainage in Quarff; each property has its own septic tank.[7]
Regular buses between Sumburgh Airport and Lerwick pass through Easter Quarff.[7]
Quarff has a community hall used for youth clubs, play groups, as a venue during the folk festival and for other events.
Quarff churchedit
Quarff church
Quarff Government church and manse in Easter Quarff were completed in 1830,[8] to a design by Thomas Telford.[9] It is located on a rising bank about 500 yards (460 m) from the sea-shore,[5] and its first minister, Mr James Gardner, was inducted in September 1830.[2] In 1843 his allegiance was called into question however,[10] and in June 1843 his name appears in a list of ministers who had given their adhesion to the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland[11] in the so-called Disruption of 1843. The "parish living" in Quarff became vacant[12] and the Rev. Alexander Webster was appointed on 31 July 1843.[13]
The church was described in 1845 as "a beautiful and commodious building built to contain 320."[2] The area experienced a Christian revival in 1863; a contemporaneous report reads: "Formerly Quarff was noted for its coldness and apathy in matters of religion ... Now, however, the people are in the deepest concern about the interests of their souls".[14]
The church is no longer in use;[9] services are held in the Old Manse on the Lerwick Road each Sunday at 11:30 am.[15] The churchyard is well maintained, however, and is still used for burials.[9]
Educationedit
The Quarff Primary School catered for local children in the 5 to 12 age range, and was open from 1879[16] until it was closed by the council in 2003. In 2001 the school won an award from the National Association for Gallery Education for a long-term art project involving the whole school (12 pupils with teacher Anne Halford-MacLeod), Bonhoga Gallery and artist Ruth Brownlee.[17]
The number of pupils decreased from a peak of 25 in 1987 to only 12 in 2001, thought to be a result of parents working in Lerwick taking their children to Lerwick schools.[7] When the teacher moved to Cunningsburgh School in 2003 the school was closed and the pupils were transferred to the school in Cunningsburgh 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south. School transport is available.[19]
The nearest secondary schooling is at Sandwick or Lerwick.[19]
^ abcThe New Statistical Account of Scotland: Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland. Vol. 15. William Blackwood and Sons. 1845.
^ "Quarff". Shetlopedia – the Shetland Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
^ Sir John Sinclair, ed. (1794). The statistical account of Scotland: Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes. Vol. 10. William Creech. p. 202. ISBN0-7306-2717-9.
^ abHOUSE OF LORDS THE SESSIONAL PAPERS 1801–1833. Vol. 291. 1831. p. 21.
^ "The Stone Age in Shetland". The Yorkshire Herald. 27 January 1900. p. 12. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
^ abcd "Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh Community Council Area Statement" (PDF). Shetland Islands Council. 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
^HOUSE OF LORDS THE SESSIONAL PAPERS 1801–1833. Vol. 291. 1831. p. 35.
^ abc Lerwick, Trevor (9 January 2007). "Quarff Chapel – Thomas Telford". BBC. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
^ "Non-Intrusion in the Far North". The Morning Chronicle. 13 April 1843. Issue 22900.
^ "List of Ministers who have given their adhesion to the Free Presbyterian Church, Scotland". The Newcastle Courant etc. 2 June 1843. Issue 8791.
^ "Scotland". Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper. 11 June 1843. Issue 29.
^ "The London Gazette of Tuesday, Aug. 1". The Morning Chronicle. No. 22996. 2 August 1843.
^ "The Revival: a weekly summary of events connected with the present Revival of Religion". VIII (188). Morgan and Chase. 26 February 1863: 101. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "Contact – Find your local church and parish minister: Presbytery of Shetland". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
^ "Teachers, Governesses, &c". Glasgow Herald. 23 January 1879. page 1, column H (Issue 12196). Retrieved 1 June 2011.
^ "Artworks – Gallery of Winners – Quarff Primary School, Shetland". engage, the National Association for Gallery Education. 2001. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
^Shetland in Statistics(PDF). Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Unit. 2005. ISBN0-904562-80-8.
^ ab "The Punds, Quarff, ZE2 9EZ". Dowle, Smith & Rutherford. 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quarff.
Canmore - Easter Quarff Cist site record
January 01, 1970
quarff, small, village, mainland, shetland, islands, scotland, located, main, a970, road, miles, south, shetland, only, town, lerwick, village, spread, along, classic, glacial, valley, that, runs, east, west, across, island, between, high, hills, north, south,. Quarff is a small village on Mainland in the Shetland Islands in Scotland It is located on the main A970 road 5 miles 8 0 km south of Shetland s only town Lerwick The village is spread along a classic glacial valley 1 that runs east west across the island between high hills to north and south 2 with centres of population at Easter Quarff which is near the main road and the east coast and Wester Quarff which is 11 2 miles 2 4 km west and faces the Atlantic Ocean 3 A narrow road runs along the valley between the two QuarffView of Easter Quarff and Quarff church with Scrae Field in the distance March 2010 QuarffLocation within ShetlandPopulation100 OS grid referenceHU424356Civil parishLerwickCouncil areaShetlandLieutenancy areaShetlandCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townSHETLANDPostcode districtZEDialling code01950PoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottishUK ParliamentOrkney and ShetlandScottish ParliamentShetlandList of places UK Scotland 60 06 14 N 1 14 13 W 60 104 N 1 237 W 60 104 1 237 Contents 1 History 2 Population 3 Infrastructure 4 Quarff church 5 Education 6 Gallery 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe name Quarff comes from Old Norse Hvervi and means a bending shape John Stewart Shetland Place names Page 175 The north hill does indeed have a bend shape The village has long been a site where goods and boats could be transported between the east and west coast avoiding what would otherwise be a sea journey of about 40 miles 64 km round Sumburgh Head Sir John Sinclair reported in 1794 that The people of Quarff are frequently employed in transporting goods from one side of the country to the other which brings them in considerable sums 4 In 1830 when the church was built the villagers were reported to be mostly sea fishermen catching cod ling and herring They also cultivated small patches of land growing potatoes and corn 5 There is evidence of Stone Age occupation in the area In 1900 a local crofter excavated a mound on his croft and found a stone slab covering a stone lined chamber containing a skull and a bowl Similar chambers were found in the locality 6 Population editIn recent years the population of Quarff has increased Twenty five years ago Easter Quarff had 12 crofts and 28 houses by 2004 there were over 70 dwellings Wester Quarff however has remained fairly constant with thirteen dwellings in small clusters 7 Infrastructure editThe Quarff water supply is from the Sandy Loch reservoir at Lerwick There is currently no mains drainage in Quarff each property has its own septic tank 7 Regular buses between Sumburgh Airport and Lerwick pass through Easter Quarff 7 Quarff has a community hall used for youth clubs play groups as a venue during the folk festival and for other events Quarff church edit nbsp Quarff church Quarff Government church and manse in Easter Quarff were completed in 1830 8 to a design by Thomas Telford 9 It is located on a rising bank about 500 yards 460 m from the sea shore 5 and its first minister Mr James Gardner was inducted in September 1830 2 In 1843 his allegiance was called into question however 10 and in June 1843 his name appears in a list of ministers who had given their adhesion to the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland 11 in the so called Disruption of 1843 The parish living in Quarff became vacant 12 and the Rev Alexander Webster was appointed on 31 July 1843 13 The church was described in 1845 as a beautiful and commodious building built to contain 320 2 The area experienced a Christian revival in 1863 a contemporaneous report reads Formerly Quarff was noted for its coldness and apathy in matters of religion Now however the people are in the deepest concern about the interests of their souls 14 The church is no longer in use 9 services are held in the Old Manse on the Lerwick Road each Sunday at 11 30 am 15 The churchyard is well maintained however and is still used for burials 9 Education editThe Quarff Primary School catered for local children in the 5 to 12 age range and was open from 1879 16 until it was closed by the council in 2003 In 2001 the school won an award from the National Association for Gallery Education for a long term art project involving the whole school 12 pupils with teacher Anne Halford MacLeod Bonhoga Gallery and artist Ruth Brownlee 17 School roll Quarff Primary School 18 Year 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2004 Population 17 19 23 21 15 10 12 n a The number of pupils decreased from a peak of 25 in 1987 to only 12 in 2001 thought to be a result of parents working in Lerwick taking their children to Lerwick schools 7 When the teacher moved to Cunningsburgh School in 2003 the school was closed and the pupils were transferred to the school in Cunningsburgh 4 miles 6 4 km to the south School transport is available 19 The nearest secondary schooling is at Sandwick or Lerwick 19 Gallery edit nbsp Easter Quarff and the oil rig GSF Arctic IV nbsp Wester Quarff nbsp Quarff Public Hall nbsp House in Easter Quarff with Scrae Field behindReferences edit Catpund amp Ponies Shetland Amenity Trust 2000 2008 Retrieved 12 June 2010 a b c The New Statistical Account of Scotland Sutherland Caithness Orkney Shetland Vol 15 William Blackwood and Sons 1845 Quarff Shetlopedia the Shetland Encyclopaedia Retrieved 11 June 2010 Sir John Sinclair ed 1794 The statistical account of Scotland Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes Vol 10 William Creech p 202 ISBN 0 7306 2717 9 a b HOUSE OF LORDS THE SESSIONAL PAPERS 1801 1833 Vol 291 1831 p 21 The Stone Age in Shetland The Yorkshire Herald 27 January 1900 p 12 Retrieved 1 June 2011 a b c d Gulberwick Quarff and Cunningsburgh Community Council Area Statement PDF Shetland Islands Council 2004 Retrieved 11 June 2010 HOUSE OF LORDS THE SESSIONAL PAPERS 1801 1833 Vol 291 1831 p 35 a b c Lerwick Trevor 9 January 2007 Quarff Chapel Thomas Telford BBC Retrieved 13 June 2010 Non Intrusion in the Far North The Morning Chronicle 13 April 1843 Issue 22900 List of Ministers who have given their adhesion to the Free Presbyterian Church Scotland The Newcastle Courant etc 2 June 1843 Issue 8791 Scotland Lloyd s Weekly London Newspaper 11 June 1843 Issue 29 The London Gazette of Tuesday Aug 1 The Morning Chronicle No 22996 2 August 1843 The Revival a weekly summary of events connected with the present Revival of Religion VIII 188 Morgan and Chase 26 February 1863 101 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Contact Find your local church and parish minister Presbytery of Shetland The Church of Scotland Retrieved 12 June 2010 Teachers Governesses amp c Glasgow Herald 23 January 1879 page 1 column H Issue 12196 Retrieved 1 June 2011 Artworks Gallery of Winners Quarff Primary School Shetland engage the National Association for Gallery Education 2001 Retrieved 12 June 2010 Shetland in Statistics PDF Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Unit 2005 ISBN 0 904562 80 8 a b The Punds Quarff ZE2 9EZ Dowle Smith amp Rutherford 2010 Retrieved 13 June 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quarff Canmore Easter Quarff Cist site record Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Quarff amp oldid 1114861525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
