Show overview
Rousay Tales has published 6 episodes during 2024. That works out to roughly 2 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 19 min and 23 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1.9 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. Published by Kolekto.
From the publisher
Welcome to Rousay Tales. This podcast series from Orkney, Scotland, will take you around the island of Rousay, exploring life in the past and present. We’ve used the resources of Orkney Library and Archive, Rousay Remembered and the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, together with contemporary recordings, to bring you this series of themed episodes. Rich in archaeology, Rousay is often called the ‘Egypt of the north’. Listen to stories from the archives, islanders and archaeologists woven with discoveries, folklore and places of intrigue. Find out about the houses for the living and the dead, crafts and making, fishing, and farming. Rousay Tales will transport you to this special island. For more information and extra content visit https://archaeologyorkney.com/rousay-tales/
Latest Episodes
Ep 6Making
In this final episode we’ll be finding out about some of the creative folk in Rousay. The island has been a creative place for millennia and we hear about the Neolithic makers and their grooved ware pottery and Bronze Age soapstone carvers. Turn the beautiful Westness brooch-pin over in your hands and discover why Rousay played a part in the opening of the Pier Arts Centre. And be sure to keep rhythm with the music of the island. We hope the music of Rousay remains with you after this, our final episode.Contributors in order of appearance:Narrator: Prof Ingrid Mainland 2024James Yorston 1990Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller 2024Helen Firth 1987Kath Gourlay 1987Max Fletcher 2023Adam Harcus 2023Ceri Biddle 2023Rob Flett 2023‘Whaal’s Rost’ Jimmy Craigie n.d.Eddie Firth 2023‘Jenny’s Tune’ James GrieveEllen Grieve 2023Athol Grieve 2023‘Grandad’ Ellen GrieveFiddle - Hugh Inkster, Guitar - Tommy Mainland n.d.This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).
Ep 5Believing
In this episode we’ll be finding out about the superstitions, folklore and religion in Rousay. Hogboons, trows and fairies come alive in this episode to bring us luck or misfortune. A standing stone walks and a hidden island appears. And remember to make sure it's the dead you are burying. Contributors in order of appearance:Narrator: James Grieve 2024Chris Gee 2024Ernest Marwick 1966Tom Sinclair 1966Edda Mainland n.d.Mrs Clouston 1989Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon 2024Muriel Marwick 2023Alistair Marwick 2023Ingrid Grieve 2024Mrs Wylie 1966Kath Gourlay 1987Helen Firth 1987The Rousay Singers 2022This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).
Ep 4Farming
In this episode we’ll be finding out about farming in Rousay from 5,000 years ago until today. Hear about Neolithic granaries, Norse animal husbandry and the demise of the egg industry. Join the seaweed gatherers and celebrate the harvest at the agricultural show.Contributors in order of appearance:Narrator: Prof Ingrid Mainland 2024Ernest Marwick 1966Tom Sinclair 1966Dan Lee 2024Eddie Firth 2023Angus Findlater n.d.Bill Grieve n.d.Alistair Marwick 2023Athol Grieve 2023Ellen Grieve 2023This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).
Ep 3Fishing
In this episode we’ll be finding out about fishing in Rousay. Discover the diet of Rousay's Vikings, meet some whalers and follow the herring boats. We'll set some creels and drop in on the fish factory and trace the importance of fishing to the islanders past and present.Contributors in order of appearance:Narrator: James Grieve 2024Ernest Marwick 1966Mrs Wylie 1966Dr Jennifer Harland 2024Tom Sinclair 1966Athol Grieve 2023Ellen Grieve 2023Ken Ross 1988-91Hugh Mainland 1988-91Angus Findlater 1988-91Hugh Mainland 2023This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).
Ep 2Travelling
In this episode we’ll be finding out about travelling, on land, and sea. Walk Rousay's circular road with a well-travelled postman, a well-known artist and the fastest man on the island. Hear about shipwrecks and bounties of tea. Hide from the press gangs and travel the peat tracks before you step aboard the steamer and marvel at the arrival of the ro-ro ferry.Contributors in order of appearance:Narrator: Prof Ingrid Mainland 2024Dr Jennifer Harland 2024Athol Grieve 2023Ellen Grieve 2023Alexina Craigie 1966Ernest Marwick 1966Frances Roebuck 2024Chris Gee 2024Mrs Wylie 1966Edda Mainland n.d.Dan Lee 2024Kath Gourlay 1987Helen Firth 1987James Grieve 2024Eddie Firth 2023Tom Sinclair 1966Alistair Marwick 2023Muriel Marwick 2023'Blossom Quarry, Rousay', Ian Hamilton Finlay by kind permission of the estate of Ian Hamilton Finlay.This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).
Ep 1Dwelling
In this episode we’ll be finding out about the houses of the living and the dead. We travel back to Neolithic settlements and meet some of the people involved in digging Rousay's many tombs. Forward through time to brochs, disappearing Norse sites and the only large-scale clearance in Orkney. Visit Trumland and a house with indelible blood stains and call in on Rousay's longest living inhabitant.Contributors in order of appearance: Narrator: James Grieve 2024Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon 2024James Yorston 1990Anne Brundle 1990Martin Carruthers 2024Dan Lee 2024Mrs Clouston 1989Howie Firth c1970sWillie Thomson c1970sKath Gourlay 1987Helen Firth 1987Alexina Craigie 1966Ellen Grieve 2023Athol Grieve 2023Ann Marwick 1990Ernest Marwick n.d.Edda Mainland n.d.Mrs Wylie 1966Chris Gee 2024This podcast series was created using material from Orkney Library & Archive, Rousay Remembered, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and contemporary recordings made with the community of Rousay.Creative team: Produced by Kolekto (Mark Jenkins & Rebecca Marr) and University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute led by Dan Lee.New recordings and editing by Mark Jenkins (Kolekto)New music composed and played by James Watson (Wooden Sole Music)The project has been funded by Orkney Island Council, Rousay Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust (REWDT), Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) and North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).