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Photo of Midgarth Crescent Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Midgarth is a common Norse placename, and Anglicisation of Miðgarðr, meaning in this case 'Middle Enclosure / Farm' . Miðgarðr is also the 'Middle Realm', and home of mankind, in Norse Mythology.
Photo of Copeland Pier Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Copeland is a common placename and surname deriving from Old Norse kaupa land, meaning 'bought land'. This example is from Lerwick in Shetland.
Photo of Twageos Road Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Twageos is a place name incorporating the common Norse place name element 'gjá', meaning 'ravine' and rendered in Shetland as 'geo' or 'gjo'. Twageos may refer to the 'two ravines'.
Photo of Tait's Closs Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Tait is a common Scottish surname derived from the Old Norse 'teitr', meaning cheerful. Many surnames and place names in Shetland have a Norse origin.
Viking Bus Station in Lerwick, Shetland
Lerwick's central bus station is named 'Viking Bus Station', in a very clear nod to the island's Norse heritage.
The Zetland Window in Lerwick Town Hall
The Zetland Window depicts Haraldr Hárfagri (Harald Fairhair), first King of Norway, who conquered Shetland in around 870, and Rognvald Eysteinsson, who was offered the first Earldom of Shetland but declined in favour of his brother Sigurd. For more…
Depiction of Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri) on the Zetland Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre), who rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
The Arrival of Harald Fairhair in Shetland on the Zetland Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Depiction of Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre) arriving in Shetland. He rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
Depiction of the investiture of Earl Sigurd on the Zetland Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Rognvaldr, Earl of Møre and of Orkney, is said to have gifted Shetland (the Earldom of which he was offered by Harald fairhair) to his brother, Sigurd Eysteinsson (Sigurd the Mighty), who ruled c. 875–892. He is depicted here being invested with…
The Thoms Window in Lerwick Town Hall, Shetland
Stained glass window depicting the third Bishop of Trondheim, Eysteinn Erlendsson and the first bishop of Ornkey and Shetland, William the Old, who probably acceded to the Bishopric around 1102. He is pictured here with a model of St Magnus…
The Coronation of King Magnus Erlingsson of Norway on the Thoms Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Detail from the Thoms Window, depicting the coronation of King Magnus Erlingsson of Norway in 1162. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Thoms-Window.asp
Depiction of the Founding of St Magnus Cathedral on the Thoms Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Detail of the Founding of St Magnus Cathedral by William the Old, on the Thoms Window in Lerwick Town Hall, Shetland.
Olaf Tryggvason on the Olaf and Thyra Window in Lerwick Town Hall
The Olaf and Thyra Window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts the Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason (Óláfr Tryggvason) who officially brought Christianity to Shetland in 995. See item 624 for Thyra and…
Thyra of Denmark depicted on the Olaf and Thyra Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Thyra of Denmark (Tyri Haraldsdatter) was daughter of Harald Bluetooth of Denmark, and final wife of Olaf Tryggvason, who she married against the will of the Danish King. More information about the window can be found at…
The Magnus and Harald Window in Lerwick Town Hall
This window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) who ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. On the right is Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði),…
St Magnus depicted on the Magnus and Harald Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. The Cathedral in Kirkwall was dedicated to him after his death at the hands of Hákon Pálsson.
Harald Hardrada on the Magnus and Harald Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði) was King of Norway from 1046 until 1066 and led an unsucessful invasion of England in 1066. He was killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge. This…
Rögnvald Brusason on the Oriel Window of Lerwick Town Hall
Rögnvald Brusason shared the Earldom of Orkney with Thorfinn Sigurdsson from c. 1037 until his death in conflict with Thorfinn in 1046, and his eventful life is recorded in some detail in Orkneyinga saga. More information about the Oriel Window can…
The Hakon and Rognvald Window in Lerwick Town Hall
This window in Lerwick Town Hall in Shetland depicts the early tirteenth-century King of Norway, Haakon Haakonsson (Hákon Hákonarson, Håkon Håkonsson, Haakon the Old), who died in Orkney and is buried in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. The other…
Haakon Haakonsson on the Hakon and Rognvald Window in Lerwick Town Hall
Haakon Haakonsson (Hákon Hákonarson, Håkon Håkonsson, Haakon the Old) was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263, and died in Orkney and is buried in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.