Lerwick
Encyclopedia
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands
, Scotland
, located more than 100 miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Scotland
on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland
. Lerwick is about 210 miles (338 km) north of Aberdeen
, 230 miles (370.1 km) west of Bergen
in Norway
and 230 miles (370.1 km) south east of Tórshavn
in the Faroe Islands
.
Lerwick, Shetland's only burgh
, had a population of about 7,500 residents in 2010 and is the most northerly and most easterly town
in Scotland (there are other large settlements more northerly in Shetland, most notable the village of Brae
).
One of the UK's coastal weather stations is located at Lerwick.
, which was spoken in Shetland until the mid-19th century. The name "Lerwick" means bay of clay. The corresponding Norwegian name is Leirvik, leir meaning clay
and vik meaning "bay" or "inlet". Towns with similar names
exist in south western Norway (Leirvik) and on the Faroe Islands as well.
Evidence of human settlement in the Lerwick area dates back 3,000 years, centred around the Broch of Clickimin, which was constructed in the first century BC.
The first settlement to be known as Lerwick was founded in the 17th century as a herring
and white fish seaport to trade with the Dutch fishing fleet. This settlement was on the mainland (west) side of Bressay Sound, a natural harbour with south and north entrances between the Shetland mainland and the island of Bressay
.
This collection of wooden huts was burned to the ground twice: in the 17th century by residents of Scalloway
, then the capital of Shetland, who disapproved of the immoral and drunken activities of the assembled fishermen and sailors; and again in 1702 by the French fleet.
Fort Charlotte was built in the mid 17th Century on Lerwick’s waterfront, and permanent stone-built buildings began to be erected around the fort and along the shoreline. The principal concentration of buildings was in the "lanes" area: a steep hillside stretching from the shoreline to Hillhead at the top.
Lerwick became capital of Shetland Islands in 1708. When Lerwick became more prosperous through sea trade and the fishing industry during the 19th century, the town expanded to the west of Hillhead. Lerwick Town Hall
was built during this period of expansion.
The next period of significant expansion was during the North Sea oil
boom of the 1970s when large housing developments were built to the north of Staney Hill (located in Lerwick) and to the south (Nederdale and Sandveien).
like the rest of the British Isles
with cool to cold temperatures all year long. This is particularly pronounced by virtue of Lerwick being on a small isolated island, so even extreme temperature records are subdued; the record high stands at just 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) (July 1991) and the record low just -8.9 C (January 1952 & 1959). Lerwick is also a very cloudy town averaging only 1065 sunshine hours annually.
and ferry
port. The harbour also services vessels supporting the offshore oil
industry.
, the Böd of Gremista
, Shetland Museum and Archives and Clickimin Broch
.
located a few miles away and Sumburgh Airport
that is further south and flies all year to some Scotland destinations.
Northlink Ferries
operate a daily overnight ferry service between Lerwick and Aberdeen
, regularly calling in to Kirkwall
in the Orkney Islands
.
The Shetland Islands Council
operate a ro-ro ferry service to Out Skerries and Bressay
from a terminal in the centre of the town.
The local bus service is provided by the Regional Transport Partnership ZetTrans and operated by a number of different local bus service operators.
.
Shetland College
, a constituent partner institution of the University of the Highlands and Islands, is also based in the town, offering degree-level education (among other further education courses) to locals who unsurprisingly find it difficult to study further afield (the next closest university-level institution is the University of Aberdeen
, a twelve-hour boat journey away).
provides secondary care services to all of Shetland. The Lerwick Health Centre is situated across the South Road from the hospital.
broadcasts daily from a studio in Market Street. BBC Radio Shetland
, a BBC Radio Scotland
regional opt out, has its studios in Pitt Lane. The Shetland Times, a weekly local newspaper, has its premises in Gremista on the northern outskirts of Lerwick. Millgaet Media Group, a multi-media production company that includes Shetland Television, is based at the North Ness Business Park.
in Norway), and this is reflected in the street names of Lerwick (e.g. King Harald Street, King Haakon Street).
Recently there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour due to local uptake of British yob
culture as well as an influx of troublemakers from elsewhere including drug traffickers. These people (mainly youths) have caused an upsurge in crime in the area that shows no signs of going away.
fire festivals.
Shetland Islands
Shetland is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north and east of mainland Great Britain. The islands lie some to the northeast of Orkney and southeast of the Faroe Islands and form part of the division between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east. The total...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, located more than 100 miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland
Shetland Mainland
The Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's ferry and air connections....
. Lerwick is about 210 miles (338 km) north of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, 230 miles (370.1 km) west of Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and 230 miles (370.1 km) south east of Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
.
Lerwick, Shetland's only burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
, had a population of about 7,500 residents in 2010 and is the most northerly and most easterly town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Scotland (there are other large settlements more northerly in Shetland, most notable the village of Brae
Brae
Brae is a settlement on the mainland of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is located at the northeast end of Busta Voe, on the narrow isthmus that separates the mainland from Northmavine...
).
One of the UK's coastal weather stations is located at Lerwick.
History
Lerwick is a name with roots in Old Norse and its local descendant, NornNorn language
Norn is an extinct North Germanic language that was spoken in Shetland and Orkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland, and in Caithness. After the islands were pledged to Scotland by Norway in the 15th century, it was gradually replaced by Scots and on the mainland by Scottish...
, which was spoken in Shetland until the mid-19th century. The name "Lerwick" means bay of clay. The corresponding Norwegian name is Leirvik, leir meaning clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and vik meaning "bay" or "inlet". Towns with similar names
Leirvík
Leirvík is a town on the Faroe Islands and was an important regional ferry harbour at the east coast of the second largest island Eysturoy. Leirvík has 867 inhabitants...
exist in south western Norway (Leirvik) and on the Faroe Islands as well.
Evidence of human settlement in the Lerwick area dates back 3,000 years, centred around the Broch of Clickimin, which was constructed in the first century BC.
The first settlement to be known as Lerwick was founded in the 17th century as a herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
and white fish seaport to trade with the Dutch fishing fleet. This settlement was on the mainland (west) side of Bressay Sound, a natural harbour with south and north entrances between the Shetland mainland and the island of Bressay
Bressay
-Geography and geology:Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of Noss, and north of Mousa. At , it is the fifth largest island in Shetland. The population is around 400 people, concentrated in the middle of the west coast, around Glebe, Fullaburn and Maryfield....
.
This collection of wooden huts was burned to the ground twice: in the 17th century by residents of Scalloway
Scalloway
Scalloway is the largest settlement on the North Atlantic coast of Mainland, Shetland with a population of approximately 812, at the 2001 census...
, then the capital of Shetland, who disapproved of the immoral and drunken activities of the assembled fishermen and sailors; and again in 1702 by the French fleet.
Fort Charlotte was built in the mid 17th Century on Lerwick’s waterfront, and permanent stone-built buildings began to be erected around the fort and along the shoreline. The principal concentration of buildings was in the "lanes" area: a steep hillside stretching from the shoreline to Hillhead at the top.
Lerwick became capital of Shetland Islands in 1708. When Lerwick became more prosperous through sea trade and the fishing industry during the 19th century, the town expanded to the west of Hillhead. Lerwick Town Hall
Lerwick Town Hall
Lerwick Town Hall is located in central Lerwick, Shetland. It was completed in 1884 during a period of expansion in Lerwick due to the wealth the herring industry brought...
was built during this period of expansion.
The next period of significant expansion was during the North Sea oil
North Sea oil
North Sea oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising liquid oil and natural gas, produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea.In the oil industry, the term "North Sea" often includes areas such as the Norwegian Sea and the area known as "West of Shetland", "the Atlantic Frontier" or "the...
boom of the 1970s when large housing developments were built to the north of Staney Hill (located in Lerwick) and to the south (Nederdale and Sandveien).
Climate
Lerwick has an oceanic climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
like the rest of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
with cool to cold temperatures all year long. This is particularly pronounced by virtue of Lerwick being on a small isolated island, so even extreme temperature records are subdued; the record high stands at just 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) (July 1991) and the record low just -8.9 C (January 1952 & 1959). Lerwick is also a very cloudy town averaging only 1065 sunshine hours annually.
Industry and economy
Lerwick is a busy fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
port. The harbour also services vessels supporting the offshore oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
industry.
Notable buildings
Significant buildings in Lerwick include Fort Charlotte, Lerwick Town HallLerwick Town Hall
Lerwick Town Hall is located in central Lerwick, Shetland. It was completed in 1884 during a period of expansion in Lerwick due to the wealth the herring industry brought...
, the Böd of Gremista
Böd of Gremista
The Böd of Gremista, situated at the north end of Lerwick, Shetland, is a typical 18th century Shetland fishing booth . It is protected as a category B listed building.-History:...
, Shetland Museum and Archives and Clickimin Broch
Clickimin broch
right|200px|thumb|The approach to Clickimin brochThe Broch of Clickimin broch is a large and well preserved, though somewhat 'restored' broch near the town of Lerwick in Shetland, Scotland. Originally built on an island in a small loch , approached by a stone causeway, the structure contains a...
.
Churches
There are several churches in Lerwick, including:- Adam Clarke Memorial Methodist Church (a congregation of the Methodist Church of Great BritainMethodist Church of Great BritainThe Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
). - Assemblies of God.
- Baptist Church, Clairmont Place. http://www.lerwickbaptist.org.uk/
- Congregational Church.
- Emmanuel Christian Fellowship. http://www.emmanuel-shetland.co.uk/
- St. Columba's Church – one of three buildings of Lerwick and Bressay Parish ChurchLerwick and Bressay Parish ChurchLerwick and Bressay Parish Church is the largest Church of Scotland congregation in the Shetland Islands, serving the Island's capital Lerwick and the surrounding area.There are three regular places of worship:...
(part of the Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
). http://www.shetlandcommunities.org/lbpc/ - St. Magnus' Church, Greenfield Place (part of the Scottish Episcopal ChurchScottish Episcopal ChurchThe Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
). http://www.stmagnus.org.uk/ - Eben Ezer Gospel Hall, Bretheren Church
- St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church.
Transportation
Lerwick is served by the Tingwall AirportTingwall Airport
Tingwall Airport , also known as Lerwick/Tingwall Airport, is located in the Tingwall valley, near the village of Gott, northwest of Lerwick on the mainland island of the Shetland, Scotland....
located a few miles away and Sumburgh Airport
Sumburgh Airport
-Other tenants:*Maritime and Coastguard Agency *Bristow Helicopters*Bond Helicopters -Incidents and accidents:...
that is further south and flies all year to some Scotland destinations.
Northlink Ferries
Northlink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:...
operate a daily overnight ferry service between Lerwick and Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, regularly calling in to Kirkwall
Kirkwall
Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. 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 the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
.
The Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council
The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council...
operate a ro-ro ferry service to Out Skerries and Bressay
Bressay
-Geography and geology:Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of Noss, and north of Mousa. At , it is the fifth largest island in Shetland. The population is around 400 people, concentrated in the middle of the west coast, around Glebe, Fullaburn and Maryfield....
from a terminal in the centre of the town.
The local bus service is provided by the Regional Transport Partnership ZetTrans and operated by a number of different local bus service operators.
Schools and education
Lerwick has three schools; Bell's Brae Primary School, Sound Primary School and Anderson High SchoolAnderson High School (Shetland)
The Anderson High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Lerwick, Shetland.The A.H.S. is the largest school in Shetland with about 752 pupils from age 11 to 18....
.
Shetland College
Shetland College
Shetland College is a further and higher education college in Lerwick, Shetland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.The main campus is located at Gremista, on the outskirts of Lerwick. There are also dedicated premises in Lerwick for teaching Hospitality, at Anderson High...
, a constituent partner institution of the University of the Highlands and Islands, is also based in the town, offering degree-level education (among other further education courses) to locals who unsurprisingly find it difficult to study further afield (the next closest university-level institution is the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, a twelve-hour boat journey away).
Hospitals and healthcare
The Gilbert Bain HospitalGilbert Bain Hospital
The Gilbert Bain Hosptial is a rural general hospital in the burgh of Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland. It is one of two hospitals in Lerwick run by NHS Shetland....
provides secondary care services to all of Shetland. The Lerwick Health Centre is situated across the South Road from the hospital.
Media
Local independent radio station SIBCSIBC
SIBC is a local independent commercial radio station that broadcasts to Shetland Islands. It is located at Market Street, Lerwick and broadcasts in FM on 96.2 MHz and 102.2 MHz, additionally in Lerwick...
broadcasts daily from a studio in Market Street. BBC Radio Shetland
BBC Radio Shetland
BBC Radio Shetland is an opt-out service of BBC Radio Scotland, covering the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The station airs from studios located in Pitt Lane, Lerwick.- Programming :...
, a BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
regional opt out, has its studios in Pitt Lane. The Shetland Times, a weekly local newspaper, has its premises in Gremista on the northern outskirts of Lerwick. Millgaet Media Group, a multi-media production company that includes Shetland Television, is based at the North Ness Business Park.
Culture
Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway (Lerwick has a friendship agreement with MåløyMåløy
is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Vågsøy in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Måløy is located on the southeastern side of the island of Vågsøy, about northeast of the village of Holvik and about south of Raudeberg. The Måløybrua connects the town to the village of...
in Norway), and this is reflected in the street names of Lerwick (e.g. King Harald Street, King Haakon Street).
Recently there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour due to local uptake of British yob
Yobbo
Yobbo or yob is a slang term for an uncouth or thuggish working-class person. The word derives from a back slang reading of the word "boy" .-Britain:Dr. C. T...
culture as well as an influx of troublemakers from elsewhere including drug traffickers. These people (mainly youths) have caused an upsurge in crime in the area that shows no signs of going away.
Events
Lerwick is the focus of most events in Shetland, including the largest of the annual Up Helly-AaUp Helly-Aa
Up Helly Aa refers to any of a variety of fire festivals held in Shetland, in Scotland, annually in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season...
fire festivals.
See also
- LeirvikLeirvikLeirvik is a town and the administrative centre of Stord municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Leirvik is the regional centre of Sunnhordland, and has many public services and offices such as the regional court and Sunnhordland Museum, as well as shops and restaurants...
– a town on the island of StordStordStord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Stord is sometimes called "Norway in miniature" - as it has such a variety of landscapes: coastline, fjords, forests, agricultural land, and mountain areas....
in NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... - LeirvíkLeirvíkLeirvík is a town on the Faroe Islands and was an important regional ferry harbour at the east coast of the second largest island Eysturoy. Leirvík has 867 inhabitants...
– a village on the island of EysturoyEysturoyEysturoy means East island and is the second-largest of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, both in size and population. It is separated by a narrow sound from the main island of Streymoy. Eysturoy is extremely rugged, with some 66 separate mountain peaks, including Slættaratindur, the...
, one of the Faroe IslandsFaroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
External links
- Shetlopedia.com – Lerwick Pages
- Listen to recordings of a speaker of Lerwick Scots
- Weir's Way visits Lerwick
- Shetland in Statistics, published by Shetland Islands Council 2006
- Bell's Brae Primary School
- Sound Primary School
- Anderson High School
- SIBC – Official Website
- Northlink Ferries – Official Website
- Smyril Line – Official Website