19. The Chief Towns and Villages of Shetland

(The figures in brackets after each name give the population in 1911, and those at the end of each section are references to pages in the text.)

Balta Sound is a fishing port on the east of Unst. It was formerly a prosperous centre for herrings. (pp.[123], [142].)

Hillswick is a seaport in Northmavine parish in the north-west of Mainland. Hillswick Voe affords sheltered anchorage for vessels. (pp. [125], [156], [157].)

Lerwick, N. (top)

Lerwick, S. (bottom)

Lerwick (4664), the capital and the only burgh of the county, and the most northerly town in Britain, lies on the west side of Bressay Sound, which forms a safe and commodious harbour. During the Dutch War, Cromwell built and garrisoned the fort. This may be taken as the beginning of the town. In 1781 the fort was put into a state of defence, and named Fort Charlotte in honour of George III’s Queen. It is now a Coast Guard Station and Royal Naval Reserve Headquarters. The Old Town, built on the side of a hill facing the harbour, has one narrow and irregular street running parallel to the shore, with numerous lanes branching off at right angles. Some of the houses at the south end of the town are built right into the sea; but elsewhere, the shore has been reclaimed, and an esplanade and wharves take the place of the “Lodberries” of former times. Victoria Pier (erected in 1888), Alexandra Wharf with the Fish Market, and the Boat Harbour, are among the latest harbour improvements. The New Town, which lies on the landward side of the hill, has wide streets and modern houses, the Central School being the principal building; while near by is the Gilbert Bain Hospital. The Docks are situated at the north end of the town, and here also are boat-building sheds, saw-mills and barrel factories. Adjoining the

Anderson Institute is a Hostel for country girl-bursars attending the Institute. This handsome building, the gift of Robert H. Bruce, Esq., of Sumburgh, is the first building of its kind in Scotland. Lerwick has two weekly newspapers—The Shetland Times and The Shetland News. At Sound, in the vicinity, is a Government wireless station. (pp. [103], [118], [120], [139], [140], [155].)

Scalloway.

Scalloway (824), an ancient village, was at one time the capital. It is the chief port of call for steamers on the west, and is a centre for herring and white fishing. The Castle is the chief object of interest. (pp. [108], [110], [126], [139], [140], [153], [156].)

Sandwick, in Dunrossness, is a busy fishing centre. (pp. [117], [142].)

Fig. 1. Area of Orkney and of Shetland compared with that of Scotland

Fig. 2. Population of Orkney and Shetland compared with that of Scotland

Fig. 3. Comparative density of Population to the square mile

(Each dot represents 10 persons)

Fig. 4. Proportionate areas of Corn and other Cultivations

Fig. 5. Proportionate areas of Chief Cereals

Fig. 6. Proportionate areas of land—Orkney

Fig 7. Proportionate areas of land—Shetland

Fig. 8. Proportionate numbers of Live Stock

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF SHETLAND
Click[ here] for larger map

Parishes in Shetland: 1 Unst 2 Fetlar 3 Yell 4 Northmavine 5 Delting 6 Walls 7 Sandsting 8 Nesting 9 Tingwall 10 Lerwick 11 Bressay 12 Dunrossness

GEOLOGICAL MAP OF ORKNEY
Click[ here] for larger map

Parishes in Orkney: 1 Papa Westray 1b. Westray & Papa Westray 2 Cross & Burness 3 Lady 4 Stronsay 5 Rowsay & Egilshay 6 Evie & Rendall 7 Harray & Birsay 8 Sandwick 9 Stromness 10 Firth 11 Orphir 12 Kirkwall & St. Ola 13 Shapinshay 14 Deerness & St. Andrews 15 Holm 16 Hoy & Graemsay 17 Walls & Flotta 18 South Ronaldshay 19 Stenness 20 Eday & Pharay

The Cambridge University Press

Copyright. George Philip & Son Ltd.

[Transcriber’s Note]

There are a number of variant spellings of place names which have been left unchanged, for example: Rowsay - Rousay; Shapinsay - Shapinshay; Egilsay - Egilshay.

Some illustrations have been moved to the nearest paragraph break therefore they are not exactly linking with the Lists of Illustrations page numbers. The page numbers in the Lists of Illustrations refer to the original positions.

In the Latin plant list starting page 24, the ” in the original book have been replaced with the actual words.

[Page 159]: The name Gilbertston Park has been left as spelt. It appears that today the spelling is Gilbertson but as this book was written around 100 years ago, Gilbertston could have been the spelling at that time.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained.

Minor changes have been made to punctuation; other changes that have been made are listed below:

[Page 15]: changed ‘seaboard’ to ‘sea-board’.

[Page 42]: changed ‘does’ to ‘do’ - do follow with.

[Page 42]: changed ‘crofter fishermen’ to ‘crofter-fishermen’.

[Page 100]: changed ‘acssss’ to ‘assess’ - to assess the village of Stromness.

[Page 107]: added the word ‘the’ - opposite direction for the other six hours.

[Page 116]: changed ‘coast-line’ to ‘coastline’.

[Page 119]: changed ‘coast-line’ to ‘coastline’.

[Page 138]: changed ‘may’ to ‘way’ - wending their way homeward.

[Page 161]: changed ‘northwest’ to ‘north-west’.