Wyre's history is still very apparent, and it has two ancient monuments maintained by
Historic Scotland, Cubbie Roo's Castle and St. Mary's Chapel. Bishop Bjarni grew up on Wyre, and was the son of
Kolbeinn Hrúga (see Cubbie Roo's Castle below).
Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland says that Bjarni The poet
Edwin Muir (1887–1959), known for his prominent part in the
Scottish Renaissance, born in
Deerness on
Mainland, Orkney, spent much of his childhood on Wyre. In his autobiography he said of himself: "I'm an Orkneyman, a good
Scandinavian", and commented that some of his happiest childhood years were spent here.
St Mary's Chapel In the centre of the island is the roofless, but largely complete, twelfth-century
St Mary's Chapel. It is thought to have been built by a Norse chieftain, Kolbeinn hrúga or his son, Bjarni Kolbeinsson, Bishop of Orkney. The Romanesque style building was originally constructed of local rubble and lime mortar. During the late 19th century, the building was restored. ==Geography and geology==