The Lammas market was held in August every year. This great annual event attracted people from all over Orkney into Kirkwall, especially before the age of the Steamship.

It is difficult for modern Orcadians to realise that the coming of the steamer added a new dimension to island life. Before that time, people travelled little from island to island, and seldom visited Kirkwall except at Lammas – from An Orcadian Anthology, Selected Works of Ernest Walker Marwick ed. by John D Robertson

Goods of all kinds were available at the Lammas Fair and islanders would meet up reuniting friendships at this ancient traditional festival. There were days of great celebration for the bringing in of the harvest and marked an important time of the year in islands where farming was the chief occupation.

The Lammas Market in Kirkwall was held over several days. Before online shopping goods were shipped in for sale.

In 1868 an auction was held of the goods from the wrecked cargo ship Lessing of Bremen which had become grounded off Fair Isle. The auction was described as ‘unprecedented’ and the goods up for bidders included:

• 2,000 and 3,000 yards of material: double milled German wool of fine quality
• 1,000s of pairs of ladies cotton stockings
• 1,000s of pairs of socks for men and boys
• gloves in cotton and wool
• fancy baskets of all sizes
• toys and china
• new rigging
• casks of water, pork and beef
• wood and cabin fittings

At the 1861 Lammas Fair islanders flocked to see Robert Flett demonstrate the first steam engine made wholly in Orkney.

“Tuesday morning dawned beautifully clear, and early in the forenoon crowds were moving towards the market stance. Small droves of cattle were moving upwards, and many a sonsy cow with rope around its horns, led by hooded housewife, or rosy, buxom maid, was conducted to the great annual tryst at Sunnybank. “

“All day long crowds of well dressed persons kept thronging to and fro between Sunnybank and the town, while an omnibus from the hotel made the pilgrimage several times in the course of the day, a boon to those who wanted to save their shoes and shanks and enjoy their ease and dignity.”

“In the afternoon especially a large crowd had assembled at the market , and there was no lack of eccentric vagrants befooling themselves for the general amusement, but trying to turn a penny for their clap trap nonsensical vagaries. Happily the “Artful Dodgers” had met with a cautious and sagacious people who were not to be plundered and ‘done’ by such scheming vagabonds.”

The Orkney Herald 20th August 1861

There were Fairground booths of all kinds of games of chance and perhaps some skill in which you might be lucky to win a small prize. The shops were buzzing with customers too.

Click on this link for an image of the Lammas Fair in 1923.

The celebration of Lammas was an important traditional festival for Orcadians but no longer celebrated. A part of our farming and Orkney heritage which is no more.

Fiona Grahame