What is "kirkwall"

Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of Orkney, an archipelago of Scotland that lies off the north coast of Great Britain. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty. In 1486, King James III of Scotland elevated Kirkwall to the status of a royal burgh; modern roadsigns still indicate "The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall".

The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvagr (Church Bay), which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall.

Kirkwall in Orkney was a royal burgh that returned one commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland and to the Convention of Estates.

After the Acts of Union 1707, Kirkwall, Dingwall, Dornoch, Tain and Wick formed the Tain district of burghs, returning one member between them to the House of Commons of Great Britain.