Cunningsburgh
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name= Cunningsburgh
| label_position=left
| country= Scotland
| static_image_name= Aithsetter.jpg
| static_image_caption= Aithsetter, with Mousa in the distance
| population=
| os_grid_reference= HU430301
| coordinates = {{coord|60.054|-1.226|display=inline,title}}
| post_town= SHETLAND
| postcode_area= ZE
| postcode_district= ZE2
| dial_code= 01950
| constituency_westminster= Orkney and Shetland
| civil_parish= Dunrossness
| unitary_scotland= Shetland
| lieutenancy_scotland= Shetland
| constituency_scottish_parliament= Shetland
}}
Cunningsburgh, formerly also known as Coningsburgh ({{langx|non|Konungsborgr}} meaning "King's castle"), is a new hamlet and ancient parish in the south of Mainland, Shetland, Scotland. The hamlet is on the coast, nine miles south south west of Lerwick, about halfway between there and Sumburgh Head. The parish was merged with Dunrossness and Sandwick in 1891. It is on the A970 road.{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A970|title=A970|publisher=Sabre|accessdate=16 December 2014}} There is a primary school, a marina, a community shop,{{Cite web|title=Mackenzies Farm Shop|url=https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/food-drink/mackenzies-farm-shop|access-date=2021-01-27|website=Shetland.org|language=en-gb}} a public hall, a history centre,{{Cite web|title=Cunningsburgh History Group {{!}} Shetland Heritage Association|url=https://www.shetlandheritageassociation.com/members/south-mainland/cunningsburgh-history-group|access-date=2021-01-26|website=www.shetlandheritageassociation.com}} a touring park,{{Cite web|title=Cunningsburgh Touring Park|url=https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/caravan-camping/cunningsburgh-touring-park|access-date=2021-01-27|website=Shetland.org|language=en-gb}} and a United Free Church of Scotland kirk.
Amongst the settlements in the parish are Aithsetter, Ocraquoy, and Gord.
Cunningsburgh is included in the South Mainland Up Helly Aa fire festival (SMUHA).{{Cite web|title=about|url=http://www.smuha.org/about.html|access-date=2021-01-27|website=www.smuha.org}} SMUHA was the first Up Helly Aa event to have elected a female Guizer Jarl, Lesley Simpson, in 2015.{{Cite web|title=2015|url=http://www.smuha.org/2015.html|access-date=2021-01-27|website=www.smuha.org}}
History
There is a prehistoric steatite quarry site in Catpund, Cunningsburgh.{{Canmore|desc=Catpund |num=924 |access-date=2021-01-27}}
A large sandstone block dated between the 10th and 11th centuries CE was found in a burial ground in Cunningsburgh.{{Cite web|title=National Museums of Scotland - Stone with runic inscription|url=http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-100-043-473-C|access-date=2021-01-26|website=nms.scran.ac.uk}} Old Norse runic inscriptions on the stone suggest it was erected as a memorial. The runestone is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Outsider artist, poet and musician Adam Christie was born in Aith, Cunningsburgh in 1869 and became known for his stone sculptures of human heads.{{Cite web|date=2014-08-31|title=Plaque unveiled for genius Christie|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/08/31/plaque-unveiled-for-genius-christie|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Shetland Times|language=en-GB}} At the age of 32 Christie was committed to Sunnyside Psychiatric Hospital, Montrose, and never returned to Shetland.{{Cite journal|last=McGeachan|first=Cheryl|date=2016|title='The Head Carver': Art Extraordinary and the small spaces of asylum|url= |journal=History of Psychiatry|volume=28|issue=1|pages=58–71|doi=10.1177/0957154X16676693|pmid=27834293|pmc=5302079|via=Sage Journals}} His work has been posthumously exhibited in Montrose and Glasgow.{{Cite web|last=Watt|first=Richard|date=2013-06-22|title=Montrose exhibition celebrates 'outsider art' of Gentle Shetlander Adam Christie|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-mearns/70105/montrose-exhibition-celebrates-outsider-art-of-gentle-shetlander-adam-christie/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Courier|language=en-GB}} There is a memorial to Christie outside the Cunningsburgh History Group's headquarters. The Cunningsburgh memorial was funded by History Scotland and made by one of Christie's living descendants.
On 22 November 1944 a de Havilland Mosquito DZ642 crashed in Royl Field. The Cunningsburgh History Group dedicated a memorial plaque to the crew, which was erected in 2018.
Cunningsburgh Show
The Cunningsburgh Show is an annual agricultural show, held on the second Wednesday of August.{{Cite web|title=Cunningsburgh Show|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Organization/cunningsburghshow/about/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} First held in 1944 as a livestock show,{{Cite web|date=2014-08-13|title=High standards at 70th Cunningsburgh Show|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/08/13/high-standards-at-70th-cunningsburgh-show|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Shetland Times|language=en-GB}} it is now the largest event of its kind in Shetland, attracting around 4,000 people.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-31|title=The Cunningsburgh Show|url=https://www.shetland.org/videos/the-cunningsburgh-show|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Shetland.org|language=en-gb}} Livestock exhibited include cattle, sheep, and poultry, and there are other competitions including baking, jam making, and equestrian events. The 2014 show included over 2,800 individual entries across all categories.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 show was a virtual-only event.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=Cunningsburgh Show goes virtual|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2020/06/30/cunningsburgh-show-goes-virtual|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Shetland Times|language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
This article incorporates text from -
Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone
External links
{{commons category|Cunningsburgh}}
- [http://cunningsburghheritage.com/ Cunningsburgh History Group]
- [http://cunningsburghshow.com/ Cunningsburgh Show]
- [http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/1007/details/glenlea/ Canmore - Glenlea site record]