Lerwick

2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: British Cities; Great Britain

Lerwick
Lerwick shown within Scotland
Population	6830
OS grid reference
Council area	Shetland
Lieutenancy area	Shetland
Constituent country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SHETLAND
Postcode district	ZE1
Dialling code	01595
Police	Northern
Fire	Highlands and Islands
Ambulance	Scottish
European Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Orkney and Shetland
Scottish Parliament	Shetland
List of places: UK • Scotland

Coordinates:

Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, found more than 100  miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Lerwick has a population (2001) of approximately 6,830 residents and is by far the northernmost town in Scotland, as well as in the entirety of the United Kingdom. Lerwick is about 210 miles from Aberdeen and 230 miles from both Bergen in Norway and Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.

Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring and white fish seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port. The harbour is also busy with vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.

Ferries from Lerwick sail to Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, Aberdeen, Fair Isle, Out Skerries and Bressay.

Lerwick is the focus of most events in Shetland, including the largest of the annual Up Helly-Aa fire festivals. Significant buildings in Lerwick include Fort Charlotte, Lerwick Town Hall, the Böd of Gremista and Clickimin Broch.

Local independent radio station SIBC broadcasts daily from Lerwick. Shetland College, a constituent partner institution of the University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) Millennium Institute, is also based in the town, offering degree-level education (amongst several other courses) to locals who unsurprisingly find it difficult to study further afield. In the village of Scalloway, another UHI institution, the North Atlantic Fisheries College, offers courses with a marine bias. The next closest university-level institution is the University of Aberdeen, a twelve hour boat journey away. The Gilbert Bain Hospital provides secondary care services to all of Shetland.

Lerwick is a name with roots in Old Norse and its local descendant, Norn that was spoken in Shetland until the mid-19th century. The words Ler Wick mean Bay of Mud. The corresponding Norwegian name is Leirvik. Leir means Mud and vik means bay or inlet.

Lerwick has a friendship agreement with Måløy in Norway.

Churches

There are several churches in Lerwick, including:

• Adam Clarke Memorial Methodist Church (a congregation of the Methodist Church of Great Britain).
• Assemblies of God.
• Baptist Church, Clairmont Place.
• Congregational Church.
• Emmanuel Christian Fellowship.
• St. Columba's Church - one of three buildings of Lerwick and Bressay Parish Church (part of the Church of Scotland).
• St. Magnus Church, Greenfield Place (part of the Scottish Episcopal Church).
• St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church.