2011
HU4039 : Scalloway: earth tides inscriptions in New Street
taken 14 years ago, near to Scalloway, Mainland, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Scalloway: earth tides inscriptions in New Street
This peculiar set of inscriptions was etched into the front of a house in New Street in 1910 by local stonemason and amateur scientist William Johnson. It is seen towards the right in this picture of the neighbouring cottages: HU4039 : Scalloway: pastel cottages in New Street
The largest stone reads:
This diagram illustrates the cause of the so called Earth Tides. Also each alternate Ocean Flood, the cause of which has never yet been understood. [below ridge] RE EARTH TIDES: we are told that the Moon raises the solid surface of the Earth under it about 8 inches and raises the OPPOSITE SIDE 8 [inches]. This I hold to be impossible. The phenomenon called EARTH TIDE IS CAUSED BY E-H's [(Earth's)] WEIGHT PULLING ... [The remainder of the stone has worn but I understand that it ended: AGAINST THE SUN'S ATTRACTION]
The circular white inset reads:
Section at EQUATOR of EARTH. GERMAN THEORIES CONTROVERTED. GERMANS Are Not The Favoured of Heaven.
(with 'ATTRACTION FLOOD' written around the arched top and 'BALANCE FLOOD' around the bottom)
The lower, grey stone is inscribed:
The water flows back when att'n [attraction] over & forms a heap on opposite side of E. [Earth] to balance att'n flood. There is no ... [and here the inscription ends, perhaps having been deliberately obliterated judging by the good quality of the extant inscription]
The largest stone reads:
This diagram illustrates the cause of the so called Earth Tides. Also each alternate Ocean Flood, the cause of which has never yet been understood. [below ridge] RE EARTH TIDES: we are told that the Moon raises the solid surface of the Earth under it about 8 inches and raises the OPPOSITE SIDE 8 [inches]. This I hold to be impossible. The phenomenon called EARTH TIDE IS CAUSED BY E-H's [(Earth's)] WEIGHT PULLING ... [The remainder of the stone has worn but I understand that it ended: AGAINST THE SUN'S ATTRACTION]
The circular white inset reads:
Section at EQUATOR of EARTH. GERMAN THEORIES CONTROVERTED. GERMANS Are Not The Favoured of Heaven.
(with 'ATTRACTION FLOOD' written around the arched top and 'BALANCE FLOOD' around the bottom)
The lower, grey stone is inscribed:
The water flows back when att'n [attraction] over & forms a heap on opposite side of E. [Earth] to balance att'n flood. There is no ... [and here the inscription ends, perhaps having been deliberately obliterated judging by the good quality of the extant inscription]