“Although stories of sea serpents and mythical sea-dwellers abound in Orkney, there have actually been a surprising number of documented historical “sightings” that have now entered the lore of the islands.
Perhaps the most famous of these encounters took place in Stronsay.
There, in 1808, the first, and perhaps best-known, of a series of episodes relating to the carcasses of what appeared to be long-necked sea creatures were washed ashore.”
Two sketches of the Orkney Beast- the first done by Sir Alexander Gibson in 1808, and the second drawn in 1808, showing very similar features.
“Its flesh was described as being like ‘coarse, ill-coloured beef, entirely covered with fat and tallow and without the least resemblance or affinity to fish’. The skin, which was grey coloured and had an elastic texture was said to be about two inches thick in parts.”
Account of the Stronsay Beast as reported in The Orcadian newspaper.
