Sanday Heritage Centre
Sanday Heritage Centre offers a warm, community‑driven window into the island’s past, capturing centuries of everyday life shaped by farming, fishing and the sea. Located in Lady Village, the centre is known for its rich collection of artefacts donated by local families, making it one of Orkney’s most personal heritage museums. An interesting fact is that Sanday’s archaeological record stretches back over 5,000 years, and the centre preserves finds from several important digs across the island. Inside, you’ll discover domestic objects, tools and clothing that trace how islanders lived from the 19th century through to the mid‑20th century. The agricultural displays include horse harnesses, hand tools and equipment once used on Sanday’s crofts, illustrating the island’s long tradition of mixed farming. A section devoted to fishing and maritime life showcases nets, buoys and boat fragments, reflecting Sanday’s deep connection to the North Sea. The centre also features archaeological exhibits, including pottery, bone tools and items uncovered at sites such as Scar and Pool. Photographs and oral histories add depth, preserving stories of island traditions, schooldays and community events.
Sanday Scotland
Sanday Heritage Centre is a charming local museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich social, maritime, and agricultural history of the island of Sanday. Housed in the old Temperance Hall in Lady Village. Visitors can explore displays on traditional crofting, local wildlife and natural history, island life during the First and Second World Wars, and the island's deep maritime heritage, alongside seasonal temporary exhibitions showcasing local art and community archives.The heritage centre is located at Temperance Hall, Lady Village, Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BW, Scotland, United Kingdom. It sits just outside the main settlement of Lady Village on the island of Sanday. Because of its position on Sanday, visiting the heritage centre puts you within reach of several unique historic sites and natural landmarks across the island. Just a short distance away lies the ancient Quoyness Chambered Cairn, an impressive Neolithic tomb with a long entrance passage and central chamber. You can also explore the Stone of Setter, a striking standing stone that rises over four meters high, or head toward Vinquoy Hill to discover the Vinquoy Chambered Cairn. Elsewhere on the island, you can visit the historic Start Point Lighthouse with its distinctive vertical stripes, view the tidal remains of the World War I destroyer wreck at Lopness, or see the site of the famous Scar Viking Boat Burial.