A street-facing house descends to its own quay and a rare surviving shed built to shelter a horse-drawn gig.
Quick facts
- Date
- Early 19th century with later alterations
- Architect / designer
- Designer unrecorded
- Type
- Waterfront house with rare gig house and private quay
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB41810)
- OS grid reference
- HY 25375 09008
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The two-storey-and-attic house turns a gabled elevation to Victoria Street and a longer entrance front toward a side lane. Behind it, a rubble path reaches a low five-bay gig house and small quay at the water’s edge.
Its story
The property developed in the early nineteenth century, when Stromness houses often combined domestic and maritime functions. Its survival with both the waterside outbuilding and quay gives unusual depth to the narrow plot.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a distinctive waterfront complex and a gig house identified as an exceptional survival in Stromness.
What to notice
- The narrow gabled street elevation.
- The route of the plot descending toward the shore.
- The low gig-house range beside the private quay, viewed only from lawful public space.
Reading the surroundings
This is a private home and the quay is not a public attraction. View discreetly from public streets or routes, and do not enter the lane, outbuilding, garden or waterside plot.
Timeline
- Early 19th century The house, quay and service buildings developed on the narrow waterfront plot.
- 8 December 1971 The complex entered the statutory list at Category B.
- 1997 A designation review recorded the surviving gig house and quay.
- 2026 The property remains part of Stromness’s predominantly residential waterfront.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation records no precise construction year, architect or independently verified present occupancy.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: 112 Victoria Street, Gig House and Quay, LB41810 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Orkney.com: explore Stromness on foot — Current public-route and waterfront context for responsible external exploration.
Location
OS grid reference HY 25375 09008 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.