Skaill House

Skaill House is a historic manor house in Sandwick parish on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The house overlooks the neolithic site, Skara Brae, and the Bay of Skaill.

In 1977, the house was included in the List of Scottish Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

Skaill House is situated near to the site of Skara Brae, and the lands were in use from neolithic times. Various finds from the Bronze- and Iron Ages show continuing use. The name Skaill derives from the Old Norse word for "hall". The names of all the surrounding farms are also derived from that language, and it is presumed that the lands have been permanently settled for over a thousand years.

After the execution of Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney for treason in 1615, the lands were given to the Bishop of Orkney. In 1620, Bishop George Graham constructed a simple manor house, the first part of what is now Skaill House. His son became the laird of the estate, and the property was from that time passed down to succeeding lairds.

Over the years, the building was expanded. In 1997, after six years of restoration work, Skaill House was opened to the public. It can be rented as a holiday home or for receptions and events.

Skaill House is situated near the west coast of Mainland overlooking the Bay of Skaill and Skara Brae, and close to St Peter's Kirk. It is described by Historic Environment Scotland as the "most complete 17th century country mansion in Orkney".

The oldest parts of the building surrounded three sides of a central courtyard, and were constructed in the early 17th century. The building is predominately two storeys, with some three storey sections, and is rendered with harl. Parts of the gables are crow-stepped.

Tere is a stableyard with a brewhouse and harness room, to the north of the main buildings, and a dovecote dating to the 18th century beside the house.The south wing is partially built on an old, pre-Viking burial ground, thought to be Pictish.

Haunted House

Skaill House in Orkney has a number of ghosts. It was built on the remains of an ancient Pictish burial ground and many ghost hunters believe this is one of the reasons for the many hauntings.

Ubby Ghost

In the nearby Skaill Loch sits a small island. Local legend has it that a man called Ubby would row out to the middle of Skaill Loch and drop off stones each day. He continued to throw overboard these stones and boulders until a small island was formed. Ubby died on the island on Skaill Loch and his ghost haunts the nearby building of Skaill House. Ubby has never been seen but his presence has been felt and heard. People have reported ghostly footsteps and others have seen or felt someone sitting down on the edge of their bed whilst they slept or laid in bed.

One person who has heard Ubby walking about was Major Malcolm Robert Scarth Macrae who became the Laird of Breckness in 1991. He was working in the apartments around the Skaill House courtyard at night in the same year. In the corridor outside he heard footsteps, though no-one was there. The Laird had his dog with him and it started to growl and bark before running away. The Laird later told this story to a relative who then told him the tale of Ubby and his ghost.

Ghost Woman In A Shawl

One summer morning the cleaners were in the courtyard of Skaill House when they witnessed an old woman standing just inside the doorway to the apartment. She had a shawl over her head. The cleaners had thought that the apartment was empty but assumed she must have been a guest so continued with their work. They later learnt that the apartment was empty and the guest had left earlier to go to Orkney. They had seen the ghost woman in a shawl.