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Coordinates: 60°10′2″N 1°15′5″W / 60.16722°N 1.25139°W / 60.16722; -1.25139
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==Norse parliament==
==Norse parliament==
The islet is the former location of the Shetland [[Thing (assembly)|Althing]],<ref>[http://move.shetland.org/may-2010-newsletter "May 2010 Newsletter"] move.shetland.org. Retrieved 3 August 2010.</ref><ref name=thing>[http://shetlopedia.com/Thing "Thing"] Shetlopedia. Retrieved 3 August 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1403.html "Law Ting Holm"] Gazetteer of Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> an assembly held during the Middle Ages.<ref>[http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ports/yachting/scalloway.asp "Scalloway"]. Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> These open-air governmental assemblies met annually in the presence of the ''[[Earl of Orkney|jarl]]'' and the meetings were open to virtually all free men. At these sessions decisions were made, laws passed and complaints adjudicated.<ref>[http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/laws.htm "Laws and legal procedures"]. hurstwic.org. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref>
The islet is the former location of the Shetland [[Thing (assembly)|Althing]],<ref name="May 2010 Newsletter">[http://move.shetland.org/may-2010-newsletter "May 2010 Newsletter"] move.shetland.org. Retrieved 3 August 2010.</ref><ref name=thing>[http://shetlopedia.com/Thing "Thing"] Shetlopedia. Retrieved 3 August 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1403.html "Law Ting Holm"] Gazetteer of Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> an assembly held during the Middle Ages.<ref>[http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ports/yachting/scalloway.asp "Scalloway"]. Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> These open-air governmental assemblies met annually in the presence of the ''[[Earl of Orkney|jarl]]'' and the meetings were open to virtually all free men. At these sessions decisions were made, laws passed and complaints adjudicated.<ref>[http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/laws.htm "Laws and legal procedures"]. hurstwic.org. Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref>


As was common with other such meeting places, a mound was made from handfuls of earth from the various local þings represented at the meeting, so that all members could say that they were on their home ground. A small, much eroded mound can still be seen and the remains of a wall were found on the perimeter of the island, suggesting the creation of secluded area for meetings.<ref name=LTH/><ref name=thing/> Locations where the deliberations of the assembly could be seen but not easily overheard are typical of þing sites.<ref>[http://www.archeurope.com/index.php?page=law-ting-holm-shetland "Law Ting Holm, Shetland"]. archeurope.com Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> The stones on which the "Ford" and other officials of the meeting sat, were reportedly removed at some time in the 18th century to improve the grazing potential.<ref name=Canmore/>
As was common with other such meeting places, a mound was made from handfuls of earth from the various local þings represented at the meeting, so that all members could say that they were on their home ground. A small, much eroded mound can still be seen and the remains of a wall were found on the perimeter of the island, suggesting the creation of secluded area for meetings.<ref name=LTH/><ref name=thing/> Locations where the deliberations of the assembly could be seen but not easily overheard are typical of þing sites.<ref>[http://www.archeurope.com/index.php?page=law-ting-holm-shetland "Law Ting Holm, Shetland"]. archeurope.com Retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref> The stones on which the "Ford" and other officials of the meeting sat, were reportedly removed at some time in the 18th century to improve the grazing potential.<ref name=Canmore/>
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In April 2010 delegates of the Thing Project (which is supported by the EU's Northern Periphery Programme) explored the possibility of a transnational World Heritage nomination, based on an expansion of Iceland’s existing World Heritage site [[Þingvellir]]. Shetland Amenity Trust place names officer, Eileen Brooke Freeman, said: “We can identify many of the assembly sites throughout areas of Scandinavian influence by their common ting, thing, ding and fing place names". Examples quoted include [[Gulating]] (Norway), [[Tinganes]] ([[Faroe Islands]]), [[Tingwall, Shetland|Tingwall]] in both Shetland and in Orkney, [[Dingwall]] ([[Highland (council area)|Highland]]) and [[Tynwald]] ([[Isle of Man]]).<ref>[http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2010/April/news/Viking%20assembly%20places%20explored.htm ''The Shetland News''] (15 April 2010) Retrieved 1 August 2010.</ref>
In April 2010 delegates of the Thing Project (which is supported by the EU's Northern Periphery Programme) explored the possibility of a transnational World Heritage nomination, based on an expansion of Iceland’s existing World Heritage site [[Þingvellir]]. Shetland Amenity Trust place names officer, Eileen Brooke Freeman, said: “We can identify many of the assembly sites throughout areas of Scandinavian influence by their common ting, thing, ding and fing place names". Examples quoted include [[Gulating]] (Norway), [[Tinganes]] ([[Faroe Islands]]), [[Tingwall, Shetland|Tingwall]] in both Shetland and in Orkney, [[Dingwall]] ([[Highland (council area)|Highland]]) and [[Tynwald]] ([[Isle of Man]]).<ref>[http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2010/April/news/Viking%20assembly%20places%20explored.htm ''The Shetland News''] (15 April 2010) Retrieved 1 August 2010.</ref>
The following month, the Shetland Islands Council sponsored "Move.Shetland" newsletter publicised the Thing initiative, and in addition to Law Thing Holm listed various Shetland "Thing" districts such as Aithsting, [[Sandsting]], [[Nesting, Shetland|Nesting]], [[Vidlin|Lunnasting]] and and Delting.<ref>[http://move.shetland.org/may-2010-newsletter "May 2010 Newsletter"] move.shetland.org. Retrieved 3 August 2010.</ref>
The following month, the Shetland Islands Council sponsored "Move.Shetland" newsletter publicised the Thing initiative, and in addition to Law Thing Holm listed various Shetland "Thing" districts such as Aithsting, [[Sandsting]], [[Nesting, Shetland|Nesting]], [[Vidlin|Lunnasting]] and Delting.<ref name="May 2010 Newsletter"/>


==Wildlife==
==Wildlife==
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{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{coord|60|10|2|N|1|15|5|W|display=title|region:GB_type:isle}}
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[[Category:Freshwater islands of Scotland]]
[[Category:Freshwater islands of Scotland]]
[[Category:Ting]]
[[Category:Ting]]

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{{Shetland-geo-stub}|

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{{Shetland-geo-stub}}

Revision as of 20:56, 18 August 2010

Law Ting Holm
Old Norse nameLawthing Holm[1]
Meaning of nameflat island of the parliament
Location
OS grid referenceHU416427
Physical geography
Island groupShetland
Area<1 ha [2]
Highest elevation<5 metres (16 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaShetland Islands Council
Lymphad

Law Ting Holm is an islet in the freshwater Loch of Tingwall, itself located on Mainland Shetland, Scotland.[2] This islet is now attached to Mainland Shetland by a stone causeway 1.7 metres (6 ft) wide and 42.7 metres (140 ft) long.[1][3] Loch of Tingwall is west of the town of Lerwick and has one additional island - Holme of Setter.

Law Ting Holm

Norse parliament

The islet is the former location of the Shetland Althing,[4][5][6] an assembly held during the Middle Ages.[7] These open-air governmental assemblies met annually in the presence of the jarl and the meetings were open to virtually all free men. At these sessions decisions were made, laws passed and complaints adjudicated.[8]

As was common with other such meeting places, a mound was made from handfuls of earth from the various local þings represented at the meeting, so that all members could say that they were on their home ground. A small, much eroded mound can still be seen and the remains of a wall were found on the perimeter of the island, suggesting the creation of secluded area for meetings.[1][5] Locations where the deliberations of the assembly could be seen but not easily overheard are typical of þing sites.[9] The stones on which the "Ford" and other officials of the meeting sat, were reportedly removed at some time in the 18th century to improve the grazing potential.[3]

Camps associated with the meetings were set up in the nearby Tingwall valley and access as originally via "briggi-stanes" - stepping stones.[10]

Thing Project

In April 2010 delegates of the Thing Project (which is supported by the EU's Northern Periphery Programme) explored the possibility of a transnational World Heritage nomination, based on an expansion of Iceland’s existing World Heritage site Þingvellir. Shetland Amenity Trust place names officer, Eileen Brooke Freeman, said: “We can identify many of the assembly sites throughout areas of Scandinavian influence by their common ting, thing, ding and fing place names". Examples quoted include Gulating (Norway), Tinganes (Faroe Islands), Tingwall in both Shetland and in Orkney, Dingwall (Highland) and Tynwald (Isle of Man).[11]

The following month, the Shetland Islands Council sponsored "Move.Shetland" newsletter publicised the Thing initiative, and in addition to Law Thing Holm listed various Shetland "Thing" districts such as Aithsting, Sandsting, Nesting, Lunnasting and Delting.[4]

Wildlife

Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and Common and Black-headed Gull frequent the loch, which is also home to Shetland's only Mute Swans.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Law Ting Holm" Shetlopedia. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Get-a-map". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Law Ting Holm". RCAHMS. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b "May 2010 Newsletter" move.shetland.org. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Thing" Shetlopedia. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Law Ting Holm" Gazetteer of Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Scalloway". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  8. ^ "Laws and legal procedures". hurstwic.org. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Law Ting Holm, Shetland". archeurope.com Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Area Guide – Scalloway, Tingwall, Burra & Trondra". (21 May 2010) Lerwick: Shetland Times. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  11. ^ The Shetland News (15 April 2010) Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  12. ^ "Tingwall Central Mainland Law Ting Holm Shetland Parliament". iknow-scotland.co.uk Retrieved 15 August 2010.

60°10′2″N 1°15′5″W / 60.16722°N 1.25139°W / 60.16722; -1.25139 |


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