Hello listers I have tracked my wife's ancestors to the Orkneys and I am somewhat confused with place names and names of the individual islands and parishes etc. I am hoping some kind soul can tell me what catagory the following names fall into and if they still exist. The names have been found in records from the mid-nineteenth century. Some of the spelling may be suspect NETHERTOWN Holm CREARHOU Holm LITTLEHONS Holm VIGGIE or VIGGY(Census District of Eday & Pharey) BLACKBRAE Eday NEW LONDON Eday ESSONQUOY Eday GARTH Shapinsay Just to clarify my definitions. My understanding is a "hamlet" is a small settlement which has no church; a "village" is a small settlement usually bigger than a hamlet but always with a Church. I"m afraid that in Australia after "cities" we have "big towns" "little towns" and "whistle stops" so I am unfamiliar with the British let alone Orkney definitions. Any information about any or all of the above would be much appreciatted particularly as they may have been about 1850 and if they still exist in 2000 TIA Chris