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St. Ninian's Isle

The St. Ninian’s Isle Treasure is a hoard of silverware discovered in St. Ninian’s Kirk.

The hoard was found on the 4th of July 1958 in a larch box under a cross-inscribed stone slab in the floor of the church. It has been suggested that the silver was hidden for safekeeping upon the approach of Norse raiders at the end of the 8th century or beginning of the 9th century.

The hoard contained Pictish silver penannular brooches, bowls and other artefacts including sword decorations. The brooch pictured above was found to have been only 40% pure silver, indicating that it was made from heavily diluted silver possibly as a result of recycling. One of the bowls can be seen in the top left of the photo below.

A probably 8th century Pictish brooch can be seen labelled “4” in the photo below (along with brooches from Aldclune labelled “5” and Rogart labelled “6” dating to a similar period).

The silverware was donated to the then National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, now the National Museums of Scotland, in 1965-6, and replicas are housed in the Shetland Museum.

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Alternative names for St. Ninian's Isle

St. Ninian's Isle Treasure

Where is St. Ninian's Isle?

St. Ninian's Isle is in the parish of Dunrossness and the county of Shetland.

Grid reference: HU 3685 2090

Lat / long: 59.971415, -1.341628

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OS Map for St. Ninian's Isle

OS map 466
Shetland – Mainland South (Lerwick, Sumburgh & Fair Isle)
OS Explorer map 466


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Directions to St. Ninian's Isle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at St. Ninian's Isle

13°C
max 13°C / min 13°C
13km/h WSW
1026mb
88%
20%
02:41 21:32

Few clouds
Weather observed at Sandwick at 15:42
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References (websites)

Canmore

Pictish sites near St. Ninian's Isle

Gaulcross hoard

268.9km away

Burghead fort

279.3km away

Parkhill silver chain

309.2km away

Nigg silver chain

320.6km away

Torvean silver chain

322.5km away

Dunnicaer fort

339.0km away

Norrie's Law hoard

422.9km away

Traprain Law silver chain

451.6km away

Haddington silver chain

454.1km away
more Pictish sites....

Pictish stones near St. Ninian's Isle

Breck of Hillwell Class I symbol stone

6.3km away

Mail Class I symbol stone

9.5km away

Sumburgh Class I carvings

10.5km away

Papil Stone Class III cross slab

10.6km away

Lerwick Class I symbol stone

22.5km away

Bressay Stone Class III cross slab

26.2km away

Eswick Class I carving

35.0km away

Sandness Class I symbol stone

40.7km away

Uyea Class I symbol stone

81.6km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish placenames near St. Ninian's Isle

Pittulie

256.8km away

Pitsligo

257.0km away

Aberdour

260.3km away

Aberscross

269.6km away

Pitgrudy

275.5km away

Aberchirder

277.5km away

Pitlurg

289.3km away

Pitmedden

296.2km away

Aberlour

297.2km away
more Pictish placenames....
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Ancient sites near St. Ninian's Isle

Old Scatness broch

10.5km away

Green Hill broch, cists

161.1km away

Green Hill of Scarton broch

165.2km away

Outer Green Hill broch

165.2km away

Burrowston (possible) broch

165.6km away

Green Hill broch

165.9km away

Green Hill of Hestigeo broch

166.0km away

The Skeo broch

169.9km away

Duncansby Head (possible) (site of) broch

175.0km away
more ancient sites....

Castles near St. Ninian's Isle

Scalloway Castle

18.6km away

Castle Holm

26.8km away

Muness Castle

84.3km away

Carrick House

114.1km away

Noltland Castle

117.5km away

Sealskerry Bay Castle (site of)

121.2km away

Castle Of Stackel Brae

121.3km away

Cubbie Roo's Castle

131.4km away

Westness Castle

133.5km away
more castles....
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Accommodation near St. Ninian's Isle

Lerwick SYHA Hostel
hostelLerwick
22.8km away
Kveldsro House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLerwick
23.0km away
Hurdiback Backpackers Hostel
hostelPapa Stour
43.7km away
St Magnus Bay Hotel
hotelHillswick
56.9km away
Saxa Vord Hostel
hostel, restaurant, barUnst
96.4km away
Ayre's Rock Hostel (Sanday SYHA Hostel)
hostel, campsiteSanday
106.0km away
Papay Youth Hostel
hostelPapa Westray
110.8km away
Eday SYHA Hostel
hostelEday
114.6km away
Lav rockha Guest House
hotelKirkwall
142.6km away
Orcades Hostel
hostelKirkwall
143.0km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near St. Ninian's Isle

Kveldsro House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLerwick
23.0km away
Saxa Vord Hostel
hostel, restaurant, barUnst
96.4km away
The Storehouse
caféJohn O'Groats
176.2km away
Ackergill Tower
hotel, restaurant, barWick
193.3km away
Holborn Hotel
hotel, barThurso
195.4km away
Red Pepper Restaurant
restaurantThurso
195.4km away
Royal Hotel Thurso
hotel, restaurant, barThurso
195.4km away
Rockpool Café
caféCullen
266.6km away
Castle of Park
bed and breakfast, caféCornhill
273.9km away
Royal Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
276.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 20th of April 2015 at 10:43 am. Updated on the 21st of February 2018 at 7:02 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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