Fair Isle

Fair Isle, a solitary Shetland island, 24 miles SSW. of Sumburgh Head. It is 3 miles long by 2 broad, and 3 sq. m. in area, with high rocky cliffs and promontories, rising in the Sheep Craig to a height of 480 feet. Pop. (1861) 380; (1891) 223, chiefly engaged in fishing, or knitting woollen articles. There are a public school and a Church of Scotland mission here. At Stromceiler Creek was wrecked, in 1588, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, admiral of the Spanish Armada. He escaped with a few of his crew; and from these shipwrecked Spaniards the natives of Fair Isle are said to have acquired their knowledge of the art of knitting parti-coloured woollen articles.