Difference between revisions of "Lerwick"

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'''Lerwick''' is the chief town of the Shetland archipelago and the most northerly town in Great Britain. The name comes from Old Norse Leirvík, meaning 'muddy bay'. The town is situated on a fine natural harbour on Bressay Sound on the eastern coast of Shetland Mainland. The town is nearly equidistant from Torshavn/Faroe Islands to the west (356km), and Bergen/Norway to the east (356km). Aberdeen (some 350km) to the south on the Scottish Mainland is the port of call for the Shetland lifeline ferry service.
 
'''Lerwick''' is the chief town of the Shetland archipelago and the most northerly town in Great Britain. The name comes from Old Norse Leirvík, meaning 'muddy bay'. The town is situated on a fine natural harbour on Bressay Sound on the eastern coast of Shetland Mainland. The town is nearly equidistant from Torshavn/Faroe Islands to the west (356km), and Bergen/Norway to the east (356km). Aberdeen (some 350km) to the south on the Scottish Mainland is the port of call for the Shetland lifeline ferry service.
 
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[[Image:Lerwick seen from the Town Hall.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Lerwick in 1910 viewed from the [[Town Hall]]. The large building in the centre of the photograph is [[Isleburgh]], a school at the time.]]
 
Lerwick scarcely existed until the early 17th century. The ness on which it stands belonged to the proprietors of the large township of Soond to the south of it. They used it for grazing. A few huts sprang up there when Dutch fisherman began to come to Bressay Sound in the late 16th century. On two occasions the court at Scalloway moved to suppress the new settlement. The building of Fort Charlotte in its first incarnation gave a boost to Lerwick, and by the end of the century a good few merchants were based there.
 
Lerwick scarcely existed until the early 17th century. The ness on which it stands belonged to the proprietors of the large township of Soond to the south of it. They used it for grazing. A few huts sprang up there when Dutch fisherman began to come to Bressay Sound in the late 16th century. On two occasions the court at Scalloway moved to suppress the new settlement. The building of Fort Charlotte in its first incarnation gave a boost to Lerwick, and by the end of the century a good few merchants were based there.
  
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Parallel to the town itself the harbour businesses developed from the piers and jetties of "old Lerwick" to the north: from North Ness to Hay's Dock and further on thus integrating the formerly independent places like Holmsgarth and Gremista into the modern town and its economy. The Lerwick Harbour Improvements Act 1877 and the constitution of the "Lerwick Harbour Trust" (now Lerwick Port Authority) were important marker stones for further economic growth within the harbour and the town of Lerwick. Today Lerwick is home to one of Europe's largest pelagic fish factories, Shetland Catch, and it frequently sees many cruise liners during the summer season.  
 
Parallel to the town itself the harbour businesses developed from the piers and jetties of "old Lerwick" to the north: from North Ness to Hay's Dock and further on thus integrating the formerly independent places like Holmsgarth and Gremista into the modern town and its economy. The Lerwick Harbour Improvements Act 1877 and the constitution of the "Lerwick Harbour Trust" (now Lerwick Port Authority) were important marker stones for further economic growth within the harbour and the town of Lerwick. Today Lerwick is home to one of Europe's largest pelagic fish factories, Shetland Catch, and it frequently sees many cruise liners during the summer season.  
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===More information about Lerwick===
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{|width="100%" class="nonwhite"
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|-valign="top"
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|style="padding:5px;border: 2px solid #8E99CF;background-color:#EAEAFC;" colspan="3"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:140%">Lerwick Online</div>
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<center>[[Image:PicLerwickBanner2.jpg|600px]]</center>
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<center><sup>''Lerwick seen from [[Bressay]]''</sup></center>
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<center>
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*[[Lerwick Harbour]] - Find out more about Lerwick's economic heart.
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Streets and Roads|Lerwick's Streets and Roads]] - The most comprehensive description so far
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*[[Pictures - Lerwick|Pictures of Lerwick]] – The Lerwick picture collection on Shetlopedia
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*[[:Category:Lerwick|All about Lerwick]] - The complete list of Lerwick related pages on Shetlopedia
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or have a look at
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*[http://www.visitshetland.com/lerwick_2/ Lerwick Webcam - Market Cross Webcam] – The webcam in Lerwick's town center.
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</center>
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|-valign="top"
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|style="height:1px;border:0;" colspan="3"|
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|-valign="top"
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{|-valign="top"
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|style="height:1px;border:0;" colspan="3"|
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|-valign="top"
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #CAC95E;background-color:#F1FDD3;" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">Lerwick Accommodation</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:Fort Charlotte Guest House - Lerwick - Shetland - Shetlopedia.JPG|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''[[Fort Charlotte Guest House]]''</sup></center>
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|}
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Lerwick offers a wide range of accommodation. Follow these links to find more details:
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Hotels|Lerwick Hotels]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Luxury or family run ...</div>
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Guest Houses|Guest Houses]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Best to meet the people</div>
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Self Catering|Self Catering]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Your choice for a longer stay</div>
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*Camp Sites<br><div style="font-size:80%">... survival of the fittest</div>
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|style="border:0" width="1px"|
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #B9F1F0;background-color:#E7FBFF;" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">Places Of Interest</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:Shetlopedia.com Shetland Town Hall.JPG|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''[[Lerwick Town Hall]]''</sup></center>
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|}
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*[[Lerwick Lifeboat]] Station<br><div style="font-size:80%">[http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/LerwickShetland Visit their Website]</div>
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*[[Clickimin Broch]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Lerwick's oldest building</div>
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*[[Fort Charlotte]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Built to protect the old town and its harbour</div>
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*[[Böd of Gremista]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">[[Arthur Anderson|A. Anderson's]] birthplace. <br>[http://www.shetland-museum.org.uk/bod/index.htm Visit their Website]</div>
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*[[Lerwick Town Hall]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">The building, its history and all about its stained glass windows</div>
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #FCFA5C;background-color:#FEFEE0" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">Lerwick Businesses</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:The Shetland Fudge Company - Lerwick - Shetland - Shetlopedia.JPG|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''[[The Shetland Fudge Company]]''</sup></center>
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|}
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For details of the various [[:Category:Lerwick Businesses|businesses]] in Lerwick, follow these links:
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Shops|Lerwick Shops]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Support your local shops!</div>
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Cafe's|Lerwick Cafe's]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Take a break from shopping.</div>
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Restaurants|Lerwick Restaurants]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Local and international cuisine.</div>
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*[[:Category:Lerwick Pubs and Bars|Pubs and Bars]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Where to meet your friends for a 'peerie dram' ...</div>
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|style="border:0" width="1px"|
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #90EE90;background-color:#F0FFF0" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">Notable Lerwick Residents Past & Present</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:PicIsItAndersonHomes.jpg|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''The Knowe'' with ''Anderson'' <br>or [[Widows Homes]] behind</sup></center>
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|}
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*[[Rhoda Bulter]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Poet</div>
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*[[Dennis Coutts]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Photographer</div>
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*[[James W. Irvine]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Prolific author</div>
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*[[Peerie Willie Johnson]]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Legendary guitar player</div>
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*[[Arthur Anderson]] <br><div style="font-size:80%">Co-founded P&O, and funded building of [[Anderson High School]], and [[Widows Homes]].</div>
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #FDA339;background-color:#FFD7CB" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">Travel Links</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:Steamers Pier pre 1900 Shetlopedia.com Shetland.JPG|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''[[Lerwick Harbour]], a busy place ...''</sup></center>
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|}
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*[http://www.visitshetland.com Your first stop ...]<br><div style="font-size:80%">... our local '''Tourist Office'''</div>
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*[http://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/ Lerwick Port Authority]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Lerwick harbour information</div>
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*[http://www.lerwickboatingclub.co.uk/ Lerwick Boating Club]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Welcome visiting yachtsmen!</div>
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*[http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g190781-Lerwick_Mainland_Shetland_Islands_Scotland-Hotels.html Trip Advisor]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Hotel search for Lerwick</div>
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*[http://www.directferries.co.uk/lerwick.htm Lerwick Ferry Port]<br><div style="font-size:80%">Information about the new ferry port / terminal</div>
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*[http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/ North Link Ferries]<br><div style="font-size:80%">The Shetland ferry life line operator. Aberdeen & Kirkwall services</div>
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|style="border:0" width="1px"|
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|style="padding:5px;border:2px solid #8F8F8F;background-color:#E2E0DE" width="50%"|
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<div style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:130%">More Information About Lerwick</div>
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<br>
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{|class="floatright"
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|-
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|[[Image:King_Harald_Street_Shetlopedia.com_Shetland.JPG|200px]]
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|-
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|<center><sup>''[[Islesburgh Community Centre]]<br> in [[King Harald Street]].''</sup></center>
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|}
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*[http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/brochures/area_pages/lerwick/lerwick.htm Shetland Heritage]<br><div style="font-size:80%">... get their brochures</div>
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*[http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,RGN449vs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html Lerwick Up Helly Aa]<br><div style="font-size:80%">... from the VisitScotland website</div>
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*[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/shetland/lerwick/index.html Tourist Information]<br><div style="font-size:80%">... on UndiscoveredScotland</div>
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*[http://www.intermagnet.org/imos/imoler_e.html The unknown Lerwick]<br><div style="font-size:80%">The Geomagnetic Observatory</div>
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lerwick Wikipedia's Lerwick]<br><div style="font-size:80%">... if it helps!?</div>
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[[Category:Lerwick]]
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[[Category:Shetland Attractions]]
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[[Category:Shetland Settlements]]
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[[Category:Shetland Settlements]]
 
[[Category:Shetland Settlements]]

Latest revision as of 13:07, 16 October 2016

Lerwick panorama 2.jpg
Lerwick and Bressay looking south east from Staney Hill

Lerwick is the chief town of the Shetland archipelago and the most northerly town in Great Britain. The name comes from Old Norse Leirvík, meaning 'muddy bay'. The town is situated on a fine natural harbour on Bressay Sound on the eastern coast of Shetland Mainland. The town is nearly equidistant from Torshavn/Faroe Islands to the west (356km), and Bergen/Norway to the east (356km). Aberdeen (some 350km) to the south on the Scottish Mainland is the port of call for the Shetland lifeline ferry service.

Lerwick in 1910 viewed from the Town Hall. The large building in the centre of the photograph is Isleburgh, a school at the time.

Lerwick scarcely existed until the early 17th century. The ness on which it stands belonged to the proprietors of the large township of Soond to the south of it. They used it for grazing. A few huts sprang up there when Dutch fisherman began to come to Bressay Sound in the late 16th century. On two occasions the court at Scalloway moved to suppress the new settlement. The building of Fort Charlotte in its first incarnation gave a boost to Lerwick, and by the end of the century a good few merchants were based there.

Lerwick continued as a fishing village to the beginning of the 19th century, when the Napoleonic Wars resulted in another building spurt. Until then the settlement stretched mainly along its front road (today's Commercial Street) which runs from north to south, from Fort Charlotte via Market Cross onto The Lodberries a group of Lerwick's oldest buildings. In 1818 Lerwick became a Burgh of Barony and in 1833 a Police Burgh. Both events and the resulting status as a kind of self governing local authority laid the foundation of the prosperous development of the modern town of Lerwick.

The following years showed a rapid development along Lerwick's back roads such as Hillhead and other roads running more or less parallel to Lerwick's main road which then developed into Lerwick's shopping street. The building of the new Town Hall since 1882 highlights Lerwick's new role as Shetland's modern capital.

Parallel to the town itself the harbour businesses developed from the piers and jetties of "old Lerwick" to the north: from North Ness to Hay's Dock and further on thus integrating the formerly independent places like Holmsgarth and Gremista into the modern town and its economy. The Lerwick Harbour Improvements Act 1877 and the constitution of the "Lerwick Harbour Trust" (now Lerwick Port Authority) were important marker stones for further economic growth within the harbour and the town of Lerwick. Today Lerwick is home to one of Europe's largest pelagic fish factories, Shetland Catch, and it frequently sees many cruise liners during the summer season.

More information about Lerwick

Lerwick Online
PicLerwickBanner2.jpg
Lerwick seen from Bressay

or have a look at

Lerwick Accommodation


200px
Fort Charlotte Guest House

Lerwick offers a wide range of accommodation. Follow these links to find more details:

Places Of Interest


200px
Lerwick Town Hall
Lerwick Businesses


200px
The Shetland Fudge Company

For details of the various businesses in Lerwick, follow these links:

Notable Lerwick Residents Past & Present


200px
The Knowe with Anderson
or Widows Homes behind
Travel Links


200px
Lerwick Harbour, a busy place ...
More Information About Lerwick


200px
Islesburgh Community Centre
in King Harald Street.