Twatt, Orkney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Twatt |
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 Road sign pointing to Twatt |
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 Twatt
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| OS grid reference | HY270242 |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ORKNEY |
| Postcode district | KW17 |
| Dialling code | 01856 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Twatt is a small village located in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It is found on the main island within the area of Birsay. Twatt is easy to find because it sits right where two main roads, the A986 and the A967, meet.
During World War II, Twatt was home to a Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) called RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern). This air base was active from 1940 to 1949.
What Does Twatt Mean?
The name "Twatt" comes from an old language called Old Norse. The original word was þveit, which means 'a small piece of land' or 'a small field'.
You might see similar names in England, like "Thwaite." These names also come from the same Old Norse word. It shows how the Norse language influenced place names in Scotland and England a long time ago.
Past Services in Twatt
Twatt used to have its own post office. This post office first opened its doors on November 1, 1879. It served the local community for many years. However, the post office eventually closed down on April 10, 2002.
