An historic barometer which has provided weather guidance to sailors at an Orkney port for more than 150 years has been given a new lease of life.
The Fitzroy fisheries barometer at Stromness – one of fewer than 100 in the UK – had been looking distinctly under the weather until local man Mark Shiner stepped in.
He has restored the device, which is situated on a wall near the town’s Church of Scotland, with the support of the Stromness Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).
Information has also been installed in its case to help people appreciate the history and significance of the piece.
Fishery barometers were designed in 1857 by Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy and laid the foundations for modern weather forecasting.
The devices were used to communicate weather observations to the local community and to Fitzroy’s London office by telegraph.
If bad weather was imminent, a storm cone would be raised on the pier to warn the ships in port and at sea.
Stromness THI project officer, Amy Esslemont, said: “The barometer was integral to the sea-going lives of generations of mariners in the town and we are delighted to be able to support its restoration.”
The Stromness THI has been operating in the town’s conservation area since July 2009, and will finish in June 2014.
Work worth £4.8million has been awarded to local businesses, and more than 55 property grants have been awarded.