Stroma

The ferry from Orkney has just passed the deserted island of Stroma where there are remains of many houses still with roofs. In 1911 I think there were almost 400 people and the last 2 left in 1962 so now only the shepherd spends an occasional night there. After the first world war people realised that there were easier ways of making a living rather then by their meagre fishing and crofting. Then requirements for schooling up to the age of 14 and the opportunities at the newly built Dounreay nuclear power station hastened the depopulation.