Gossabrough
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name= Gossabrough
| label_position= left
| country= Scotland
| population=
| static_image_name= Gossabrough - geograph.org.uk - 1129080.jpg
| static_image_caption= Sheep at Gossabrough, with a ruined haa in the background
| os_grid_reference= HU525831
| coordinates = {{coord|60.529|-1.042|display=inline,title}}
| post_town= SHETLAND
| postcode_area= ZE
| postcode_district= ZE2
| dial_code= 01957
| constituency_westminster= Orkney and Shetland
| civil_parish= Yell
| unitary_scotland= Shetland
| lieutenancy_scotland= Shetland
| constituency_scottish_parliament= Shetland
}}
Gossabrough is a coastal hamlet, wick and ness on the southeast side of the island of Yell, Shetland, Scotland. The Wick of Gossabrough lies between the northern extremity of Gossabrough Ness and the Saddle of Swarister.{{cite book|author=United States. Hydrographic Office|title=Sailing directions for the north and east coasts of Scotland: Cape Wrath to Fife Ness and including the Orkney, Shetland and Faeroe Islands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtxHAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1950|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|page=331}} The hamlet is accessed via the B9081 road. The Loch of Hudon lies just to the southwest.
History
File:Wick of Gossabrough, Yell - geograph.org.uk - 809718.jpg
File:Holligarth, Gossabrough - geograph.org.uk - 1058958.jpg
The remains of rectangular structures found in the area indicate that this was a settlement inhabited by early Norse peoples.{{cite book|last=Fojut|first=Noel|title=A guide to prehistoric and Viking Shetland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BxgXAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|date=August 1994|publisher=Shetland Times|isbn=978-0-900662-91-1|page=106}} There is a ruined broch here. In 1924, the "White Lady", known locally as the "Widden Wife", was shipwrecked in the vicinity.{{cite book|last1=Abram|first1=Dave|last2=Dunford|first2=Martin|title=Scotland: the rough guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oHkKAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|date=1 April 1996|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-85828-166-7|page=507}}
In the very early part of the 20th century, there were only three or four houses scattered in the hamlet.{{cite book|title=The Churchman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RnAxAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|date=July 1905|publisher=George S. Mallory}} Now two more houses have been built. A local trading steamer called periodically at Gossabrough.{{cite book|author=United States. Hydrographic Office|title=Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWoPAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1915|pages=150, 188}}
A native of Gossabrough, John Hughson, a warehouse assistant was involved in a notable court case in Dundee around 1940, under the Firearms Act of 1937.{{cite book|title=Scottish Law Review and Sheriff Court Reports|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=erkuAAAAIAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1956|publisher=W. Hodge & Company|page=57}} Gossabrough House was the main house of note here, but the old haa is now in a ruined state;{{cite book|last1=Fenton|first1=Alexander|last2=Walker|first2=Bruce|title=The rural architecture of Scotland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9aZWAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1981|publisher=John Donald|isbn=978-0-85976-020-1|page=72}} it was at one time the seat of Cecil H. Robertson.{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons|title=Sessional Papers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWdBAAAAMAAJ&pg=PR15|accessdate=6 February 2013|edition=Public domain|year=1902|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|pages=15–}}
Geography
Gossabrough is a coastal hamlet on the southeast side of the island of Yell in Shetland. Adjoining settlements are Otterswick and Swarister. The nearest airports are Fetlar 4.4 mi away and Out Skerries Airport 12.8 mi away. Gossabrough is connected to Yell by a side road, the B9081.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shetland.gov.uk/developmentplans/documents/YellCCstatement_000.pdf|format=pdf|title= Yell Community Council Area Statement|accessdate=6 February 2013|publisher=Shetland City Council}} Gossabrough beach is one of the beaches along with others at Hamnavoe, Westsandwick and Breckon, which has earned the award of the “Keep Scotland Beautiful Rural Seaside Award” for Yell.{{Cite news|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/01/21/area-guide-yell |title=Area Guide Yell |accessdate=6 February 2013 |publisher=Scotland Times |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327083332/http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/01/21/area-guide-yell |archivedate=27 March 2012 }} Between Gossabrough Ness and the Quheyin Ness is a bay {{convert|0.75|miles}} wide and {{convert|1.5|miles}} deep; the wicks of Gossabrough and Otters are located here. A rock named Wick Skerry lies about {{convert|0.25|miles}} northeastward of Gossabrough Ness. Upon approaching the southern portion of a ridge named Lamghoga from Gossabrough is the south-western corner of a rock named Ramshorn point.{{cite book|last1=Tudor|first1=J. R.|last2=Horne|first2=John|last3=Fortescue|first3=William Irvine|author4=Benjamin Nieve Peach |author5=Peter White|title=The Orkneys and Shetland: their past and present state|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YHIJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA552|accessdate=6 February 2013|edition=Public domain|year=1883|publisher=Edward Stanford|pages=552–}}
Climate
The climate of the island is cold temperate. The average temperature and rainfall for each month of the year are given in the table below.
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|single line=yes
|metric first=yes
|temperature colour=pastel
|location= Gossabrough, United Kingdom
|Jan high C= 7
|Feb high C= 6
|Mar high C=7
|Apr high C= 7
|May high C= 8
|Jun high C= 13
|Jul high C= 15
|Aug high C= 15
|Sep high C= 13
|Oct high C= 11
|Nov high C= 8
|Dec high C= 7
|year high C =15
|Jan low C=3
|Feb low C= 2
|Mar low C= 3
|Apr low C= 4
|May low C= 6
|Jun low C= 8
|Jul low C= 10
|Aug low C= 11
|Sep low C= 9
|Oct low C= 7
|Nov low C= 5
|Dec low C= 3
|year low C =2
|rain colour= green
|Jan rain mm= 118.3
|Feb rain mm = 92.1
|Mar rain mm = 100.1
|Apr rain mm = 53.3
|May rain mm = 41
|Jun rain mm = 53.6
|Jul rain mm = 41
|Aug rain mm = 58.4
|Sep rain mm = 80.8
|Oct rain mm = 103.7
|Nov rain mm = 118.5
|Dec rain mm = 124.5
Fauna
The Wick of Gossabrough attracts many birds, of note here in particular are the great black-backed gulls.{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=William Reginald|title=Birdwatch around Scotland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMtFAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1983|publisher=R. Hale|isbn=978-0-7090-1248-1|page=109}} In the first decade of the 20th century, it was documented that herring populations had declined.{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Parliament|title=The Parliamentary Debates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qR7sFxMktq8C|accessdate=5 February 2013|year=1907|publisher=Reuter's Telegram Co.}} Anatidae ducks have been reported here and eider duck flocks are common.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundeffects.ch/surround-sound-effects-_e.php?Category=Common%20Eider%20%28Somateria%20Mollissima%2928|title= Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Sound Effects|accessdate=6 February 2013|publisher= BBC, Soundeffects.ch}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Gossabrough}}
- [http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/1365/details/yell+ness+of+gossabrough/ Canmore - Yell, Ness of Gossabrough site record]
- [http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/239420/details/unknown+gossabrough+yell+north+sea/ Canmore - 19th Century Craft, Gossabrough, North Sea site record]
{{Yell, Shetland}}