Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

SLATER'S
DIRECTORY
LERWICK, SCALLOWAY, &c,
AND THE NORTH ISLES.
LERWICK, the principal tows in Shetland, is (by steam) 272 miles
from Edinburgh, 165 from Peterhead (Aberdeenshire), 126 from
Wick, and 95 from Kirkwall, situate on the east coast of Mainland,
or the largest island of the group. It bears the name of the bay
upon whose margin it is built; and that, in its turn, derives its
name from a long, narrow inlet on the opposite shore of the Island
of Bressay, called Lera-voe, and remarkable for its extensive deposit
of clay and mad ; a projecting point at the entrance to Lera-voe is
called Lera-ness; and the whole bay, including the roadstead of
Bressay sound, is named Lerwick, which signifies the " bay of clay,"
or " mud"— compounded of Icelandic leir, Oanish leir (clay mud),
and Suio-Gothic wife, Danish vig, viig (an arm of the sea, an
anchorage). The site of the town, comprising a lunated segment of
the sea shore of nearly half a mile in length, and becoming gradually
more elevated as it recedes from the const line, presents the
appearance of a perfect amphitheatre, and when viewed from the
opposite anchorage the effect is singu'arly picturesque. The
principal street extends through the whole length of the town,
following the curvature of the sea shore, and numerous lanes and
closes, constructed at right angles with it, lead to a spacious road
on the eminence above the town. The houses are built of a species
of grey sandstone, which abounds in the immediate vicinity, and
which is both of considerable beauty and great durability, and iu
general they are far superior to those of the sister town of Kirkwall,
in Orkney; but here, as in Kirkwall, the houses (with the exception
of those very recently erected), seem to have dropped by accident
into their respective localities, their owners apparently being
indifferent whether fronts or backs, gables or corners, were planLed
towards the street ; in several places, also, the buildings project so
far into the main street that there is scarcely room for a carriage to
pass. The more offensive of these obstructions are, however, being
gradually removed. A new Town Hall has been erected at the cost uf
about £5,500, the foundation stone of which was bud by the Duke of
Edinburgh, 24th January, 1882; it was opened on the 12th of
August, 1883. It is built in th« Gothic and Scottish baronial styles
of architecture, with Orknny freestone dressings. The architect
was Mr. Alexander Ross, Inverness. The other principal public
buildings are the Town and County buildings, Fort Charlotte, the
parish and other churches, and Subscription Rooms. Fort Charlotte
stands on a rocky eminence at the northern extremity of the town;
its guns command the whole range of the anchorage, from the south
to the north entrance of the harbour. It was originally built in the
reign of Charles II., but having been dismantled and allowed to
fall into a state of dilapidation, it was rebuilt iu 1781, and received
the name it now bears in honour of the consort of George III.
It is at present used as a training establishment for the Royal
Naval Reserve. The parish church stands above the town, towards
its southern extremity; it is a substantial building, with a Doric
front of hewn stone ; but in consequence of the flatness of ils roof,
and the want of a spire, its external appearance is somewhat
ponderous; internally, however, it is tastefully and commodiously
fitted up. The Free church is a handsome modern bnildiug, neatly
arranged. There are several other places of worship, substantial
and commodious structures, of which a list, with their ministers,
is appended. Lerwick is a burgh of barony, having its municipal
government vested in three bailies and twelve councillors, with a
separate board of police, all of whom are elected by the burgessos.
A sheriff small debt court is held every Thursday, and a bailie court
is held as occasiou requires. The justices of the peace, the com-
missioners of supply, and the provincial synod of Shetland also hold
their meetings in Lerwick. The trade of this town is much more
extensive than the amount of population would indicate. There
are shops on both sides of the principal street ; and the mercantile
business which is transacted in some of the establishments here
would be considered important in many a city in the kingdom.
Almost the whole produce of Shetland, consisting of salted fish,
beef, oil, butter and hosiery, passes to market through the merchants
of Lerwick; and, in like manner, by them nre imported nearly all
the groceries, spirits and manufactured goods used throughout the
islands. The harbour of Lerwick (or Bressay sound, as it is
frequently called) is one of the most spacious, secura and com-
modious havens in the British Empire. It is bounded on the east
by tho island of Bressay, and on the weBt by Mainland, having an
entrance from the south aud another from the north. Its extent
may be inferred from the fact that, on more than oue occasion, a
fleet of upwards of ninety sail of war ships has ancliored in it.
Branches of the Commercial, Union, & North of Scotland Banks are
established here. The population of Lerwick in 1831 was 4.581, and
of the various parishes as follows:— Bressay, Burray aud Quaiff,
1,768; Delting, 1,654; Duurossness, Saudwick, Cunniusburgh and
Fair Isle, 4,126 ; Fettar, 431 ; Foula, 2i>7 ; Nesting ana Luunasting,
1,599; Northmavine, 2,279 ; Papa Stour, 253; Sandstiug and Aith-
sting, 2,694; Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale, 2,348; Walls and
Sandness, 1,727; Whalsay and Out Skerries, 1,027; Unst, 2,181;
Yell, 2,529. .
SciLLOwAY is a seaport village in the parish of Tingwall, eight
miles from Lerwick, situated on the north side of a flue bay on the
west side of Mainland. Anciently this was the capital of Shetland.
Near the village are the ruins of Scallow Castle, erected in 1600, by
Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney and Shetland. The inhabitants
chiefly subsist by the herriog fishery, and for facilitating the pur-
suit of this branch there is a large quay and extensive warehouse,
cooperage, die. In the spring of the year " ha;*f " fishing for cod and
ling is al30 successfully resorted to. The men of Scalloway are of
a very fearless character, and frequently put to sea in such boisterous
and stormy weather as would deter the most experienced and
intrepid seamen of other quarters. They are also a very industrious
and persevering race ; some have feued ground, and have erected
houses for themselves. The parish church stands three miles from
the village, at the head of a fine fresh water loch; and there is a
neat chapel of ease in the village, erected by the late Rev. John
Turnball. On the west shore is a spring of very excellent water,
the flow from which is uninfluenced by the seasons, being constant
aud abundant; it is covered by the sea at high water. Not far dis-
taut is ** Gallows Hill," so called from its having formerly been the
place of execution. The last who suffered on tho spot are said to
liave been two unfortunate females, who fell a sacrifice to super-
stition in the seventeenth century for the alleged crime of witchcraft.
The parish of Tingwall numbers 2,385 inhabitants.
POST OFFICE, Commercial Street, Lerwick, Robert Stout, Post Matter.— Letters from the South arrive on Wednesday and
Saturday during Winter, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during summer, and are despatched thereto on Sunday and Wednesday
during winter, and on Monday, Thursday and Saturday during Bummer. Letters are despatched to all parts of the Mainland and North
Isles twice a week during winter, and three times a week during summer. Honey Order and Telegraph 0jfi.ee and Savings Bank.
POST OFFICES IN SHETLAND.
Marked thus * are Money Order Offices, and thus + are Telegraph Offices.
♦^-BALTASOUND Thomas J. Sandison.
BISTER George Johnston.
B RAE — Inkster.
BRESSAY William Hunter.
BRIDGE OF WALLS J. A. Johnston
BURRA William E. Morrison.
BUKRAVOE William Henderson.
tCULLIVOE Peter M. Sandison.
CUNNINGSBTJRGH Gilbert Irvine.
DALSETTER Mrs. Hoseason.
*tDUNROSSNESS Henry Isbister.
EAST YELL A. D. Mathieson.
FAIR ISLE J. R. Laurence.
FETLAR Charles Thomason.
FOULA P. Peterson.
GARDERHOUSE Andrew Arthur.
GUTCHER James Hoseason.
HAROLDSWICK John Spence.
HILLSWICK John Anderson.
LEVEN WICK Alexander Sinclair;
♦tMID YELL A. Sandison.
fMOSSBANK Charles Hoseason.
NORTH ROE J. G. Inkster.
OLLABERRY Mrs. Robertson.
PAPA STOUR D. J. Robertson.
+RERWICK Alexander Inkster.
SANDNESS J. R. Jamieson.
+SANDWICK Thomas Tulloch.
*tSCALLO WAY Ogilvy Jamieson.
SULLOM A. Jamieson.
TINGWALL C. C. Beatton.
TRESTA A. U. Johnson.
+ULSTA William HughsoD.
+UYEASOUND Alexander Sandison.
VI KKIE Gilbert Gilbertson.
fVOE Thomas M. Addie.
WALLS Mrs. Nicoleon.
WEISDALE D. InRlis.
WHALSAY J. S. Nicolson.
WHITENESS A. Abernethy.
NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY.
Adie Thomas M. Esq. j.p. Belle Vne, Voe,
Delting
Adie William J. Esq. Bank House, Lerwick
Aitken Mr. John M. Summerside House
Allan Rev. J. H. Yell
Anderson Gideon, Esq; Ollaberry
Anderson John, Esq. j.p. Hillswick
Anderson Mr. John B. Anderson pi
Bannatyne Mrs. Margaret, Mounthooly st
Barclay Rev. James, The Manse, Lusetter,
Mid Yell
Bayne Rev. Alexander, The Manse, Tingorall
Bell Robert, Esq. j.p. Lunna
Bell Robert, jun. Esq. j.p. Lunna
Bicket Rev. John, North Yell
Brand Rev. William G. Delting [ness
Brand Rev. William, The Manse, Dunross-
Bruce Mrs. — , Symbister, Lerwick [Lodge
Bruce John, Esq. j.p. (of Sumburgh), Sand
Bruce John, jun. Esq. j.p. of Sumburgh
Bruce William A. Esq. Havera
Budge Mrs. S. Seafield
Cameron Major Thomas M. j.p. (of Garth),
Annsbrae House, Lerwick
Campbell Rev. J. A. Fetlar
Clark Rev. George, Cunningsburgh
Craig Rev. John, d.d. Sandwick
Edmonton David, Esq. j.p. Unst
Fraser Rev. L. Walls
Galloway James K. Esq. Twagios House
Garriock James, Esq. j.p. of StapneBS
Garriock Lewis F. U. Esq. j.p, Gibleston
Scalloway
Gifford Thomas Esq. j.p. (factor for the
Busta estate), Delting
Good Rev. William, Walls
Gordan Rev. William, b. a. Whiteness
Gray Rev. D. Burra [sound
Greig Archibald Forbes, Esq. j.p. of Sand-
Grierson Andrew J. Esq. j.p., d.l. (of Quen-
dale), Lerwick [Lerwick
Harrison Arthur H. Esq. Craigielea House,
Harrison John, Esq. Craigielea Housa
Hay A. C. Esq. Kveldsro, Lerwick
Hay Arthur J. Esq. j.p. Kveldsro, Lerwick
Hay G. H. B. Esq. j.p. (of Hayfield), Ler.
wick
975