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Orkney Heritage Society is a charitable body whose objectives are:

•  To stimulate public interest in, and care for, the beauty, history and character of Orkney.
•  To encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity or historic interest.
•  To encourage high standards of architecture and planning in Orkney.

In furtherance of these objectives the Society organises public lectures, conferences and other activities. It also provides support, financial and otherwise, to projects consistent with its purposes. Regular activities include sponsorship of the following awards and prizes:

• The Marjorie Linklater Award for a piece of original writing by school and college students.
• The Fereday Prize for a local history investigation; this is open to second year school pupils.
• The Laura Grimond Awards for architectural projects.  

 The Society was founded in 1967 when Laura Grimond organised a lecture to campaign against the demolition of Papdale House (left). Some years later Lady Grimond, using a bequest from her mother, purchased property in The Strynd (below): this is managed by The Orkney Heritage Property Trust on which the Society is represented.

Membership is open to the public on payment of an annual subscription; life membership is also available. Please click on the link for information about membership. 

 

 

The Society operates according to a constitution that may be consulted by clicking here. The business of the Society is conducted by an executive committee of about a dozen members who are elected at the Annual General Meeting in October or November. Sub-committees deal with the publication of an Annual Newsletter and the New Orkney Antiquarian Journal.

The Society is represented on the Orkney Countryside Committee and contributes to the Orkney Community Plan. In recent years the Society has organised two major conferences; on the Neolthic Age; and the Iron Age. Proceedings of these conferences have been published.  Through a subcommittee, the Society regularly comments on Planning Applications made to Orkney Islands Council, particularly for Listed Buildings and within Conservation Areas. For details of recent Planning Applications made to OIC click here.