Editing Lerwick

{{Short description|Town in Shetland, Scotland}}
{{For-multi|the aircraft|Saro Lerwick|the Norwegian towns|Larvik|and|Lervik}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Lerwick
| scots_name = Lerook
| gaelic_name = Liùrabhaig
| static_image_name = File:The waterside of the houses on Twageos Road, Lerwick - geograph.org.uk - 6015394.jpg
| static_image_caption = Lodberries, Lerwick
| static_image_width = 270px
| label_position = left
| country = Scotland
| population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Lerwick}}
| population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 3.15<!--area ancient parish, because the population figure of 6958 does not include Cunningsburg, Quarff, Burra-->
| area_footnotes =<ref name="Gazetteers">{{Cite web |url=http://digital.nls.uk/gazetteers-of-scotland-1803-1901/pageturner.cfm?id=97406026&mode=transcription |title=1901 – Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland (1065) Page 1057 |access-date=19 June 2017 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027204350/https://digital.nls.uk/archive/assets/skins/da3/assets/backgrounds/97491608/background.css |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_density = 
| os_grid_reference = HU474414
| edinburgh_distance = {{convert|300|mi}}
| london_distance = {{convert|600|mi}}
| coordinates = {{coord|60.155|-1.145|display=inline,title}}
| historic_county = 
| post_town = SHETLAND
| postcode_area = ZE
| postcode_district = ZE1
| dial_code = 01595
| constituency_westminster = [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]]
| civil_parish = Lerwick
| unitary_scotland = [[Shetland]]
| lieutenancy_scotland = [[Shetland]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Shetland]]
| website = 
}}

'''Lerwick''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɛ|r|ᵻ|k}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɜː|r|w|ᵻ|k}}; {{langx|non|Leirvik}}; {{langx|nrn|Larvik}}) is the main town and port of the [[Shetland]] [[archipelago]], Scotland. Shetland's only [[burgh]], Lerwick had a population of about 7,000 residents in 2010.<ref name=Population>{{cite web|url=http://visit.shetland.org/lerwick|title=Visit.Shetland.org|work=Visit Shetland|access-date=25 December 2010|archive-date=22 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722122259/http://visit.shetland.org/lerwick|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the northernmost major settlement within the [[United Kingdom]].

Centred {{convert|123|mi|-1}} off the north coast of the Scottish mainland and on the east coast of the [[Shetland Mainland]], Lerwick lies {{convert|211|mi|km}} [[boxing the compass|north-by-northeast]] of [[Aberdeen]]; {{convert|222|mi|km}} west of the similarly sheltered port of [[Bergen]] in Norway; and {{convert|228|mi|km}} south east of [[Tórshavn]] in the [[Faroe Islands]].{{refn|group=n|All of these distances are greater by sea as there are varying amounts of intervening land.}} One of the [[list of coastal weather stations of the United Kingdom|UK's coastal weather stations]] is situated there, with [[Lerwick#Climate|the local climate]] having small seasonal variation due to the maritime influence. Being located further north than [[Saint Petersburg]] and three of the four mainland [[Scandinavia|Nordic]] capitals, and on the same latitude as [[Anchorage, Alaska]], Lerwick's nights in the middle of summer only get dark twilight and winters have below six hours of complete daylight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/lerwick?month=6&year=2022|title=Sunrise and sunset times for Lerwick (Shetland Islands), June 2022|publisher=Timeanddate.com|accessdate=11 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/lerwick?month=12|title=Sunrise and sunset times for Lerwick (Shetland Islands), December 2022|publisher=Timeanddate.com|accessdate=11 January 2022}}</ref>

==History==
Lerwick is a name with roots in [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] and its local descendant, [[Norn language|Norn]], which was spoken in Shetland until the mid-19th century. The name "Lerwick" means ''bay of clay''. The corresponding Norwegian name is {{lang|no|Leirvik}}, {{wikt-lang|no|leir}} meaning [[clay]] and {{wikt-lang|no|vik}} meaning "bay" or "inlet". Towns with similar names exist in southwestern Norway ({{lang|no|[[Leirvik]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|no|[[Lervik]]|italic=no}}) and on the Faroe Islands ({{lang|fo|[[Leirvík]]|italic=no}}).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Leirvik 'Bonhústoftin' and the Early Christianity of the Faroe Islands, and beyond.|first1=J. |last1=Sheehan|first2= S. S. |last2=Hansen|year= 2006|publisher=University College Cork (Department of Archaeology)|s2cid=56364631 }}</ref> 

Evidence of human settlement in the Lerwick area dates back to the [[Neolithic]] (4000–2500 BC) and the [[Bronze Age]] (2500–800 BC) known from paleoenvironmental records for human activity and the recovery of artefacts, including a stone axe head submerged in Bressay Sound. [[Iron Age]] (800 BC – AD 800) settlement is known at the [[Broch of Clickimin]], which was constructed as early as 400 BC.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Edwards|first1=Kevin J.|last2=Whittington|first2=Graeme|last3=Robinson|first3=Marie|last4=Richter|first4=Daniela|date=2005-12-01|title=Palaeoenvironments, the archaeological record and cereal pollen detection at Clickimin, Shetland, Scotland|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440305001299|journal=Journal of Archaeological Science|volume=32|issue=12|pages=1741–1756|doi=10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.004|bibcode=2005JArSc..32.1741E |issn=0305-4403|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411085510/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440305001299|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The first settlement to be known as Lerwick was founded in the 17th century as a [[herring]] and [[white fish (fisheries term)|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]]. Its collection of wooden huts was burned to the ground twice: once in the 17th century by the residents of [[Scalloway]] on the western side of Mainland, then the capital of Shetland, who disapproved of the immoral and drunken activities of the assembled fishermen and sailors; again in 1702 by the French fleet.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKRnAAAAMAAJ|title=Orkney and Shetland: An Historical, Geographical, Social and Scenic Survey|first= Eric|last= Linklater|publisher=Hale|year=1971|page=181|isbn=9780709117544 }}</ref>

[[Fort Charlotte, Shetland|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 the Shetland Islands in 1708, taking over the function from Scalloway. The [[civil parishes in Scotland|civil parish]] of Lerwick had been in 1701 created from a small part of the parish of [[Tingwall, Shetland|Tingwall]], to which Scalloway still belongs. When Lerwick became more prosperous through sea trade and the fishing industry during the 19th century, the town expanded in 1891 to the west of Hillhead, thereby including the former civil parishes of [[Gulberwick]] and [[Quarff]], as well as the islands parish of [[Burra, Shetland|Burra]]. [[Lerwick Town Hall]] was built during this period of expansion.<ref name=townhall>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB37256|desc=Lerwick Town hall, Hillhead and Charlotte Street, Including Lamp Standards, Gatepiers, Boundary Walls and Railings, Lerwick|cat=A|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref>

Lerwick war memorial dates from 1923 and was designed by Sir [[Robert Lorimer]].<ref>Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shetland.gov.uk/downloads/file/1958/north-staneyhill-development-framework-book-1|title=North Stanley Hill Masterplan|publisher=Shetland Council |page=27|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

===Provosts of Lerwick===
The '''Provost of Lerwick''' was the head of the Lerwick Town Council. Provosts were elected by the council and served not only as the chairman of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire town. They were equivalent in many ways to the institution of mayor. The council was established in 1818 and abolished in 1975, when it merged with the Zetland County Council to become the [[Shetland Islands Council]].

{| class="wikitable"
!Years
!Name
!Title
!Occupation
|-
|1818&ndash;1823 || [[Arthur Edmondston]] || Senior Bailie || Doctor
|-
|1823&ndash;1827 || Charles Ogilvy Snr || Senior Bailie || Merchant
|-
|1827&ndash;1829 || William Spence || Junior Bailie<br>''Acting as Senior Bailie'' || Royal Navy staff-surgeon
|-
|1829&ndash;1832 || William Spence || Senior Bailie || Royal Navy staff-surgeon
|-
|1832&ndash;1844 || Charles Ogilvy Jr || Senior Bailie || Merchant
|-
|1844&ndash;1847 || Joseph Leask || Junior Bailie<br>''Acting as Senior Bailie'' || Merchant
|-
|1847&ndash;1856 || William Sievwright Snr || Senior Bailie || Solicitor
|-
|1856&ndash;1862 || Charles Gilbert Duncan || Senior Bailie || Solicitor, Bank Agent
|-
|1862&ndash;1865 || Joseph Leask || Senior Bailie || Merchant
|-
|1865&ndash;1874 || Charles Gilbert Duncan || Senior Bailie || Solicitor, Bank Agent
|-
|1874&ndash;1876 || William Sievwright Jr || Senior Bailie || Solicitor
|-
|1876&ndash;1883 || Major Thomas Cameron || Chief Magistrates || Military officer
|-
|1883&ndash;1890 || John Robertson || Chief Magistrates || Merchant
|-
|1890&ndash;1895 || Charles Robertson || Provost/Chief Magistrate || Merchant
|-
|1895&ndash;1904 || John Leisk || Provost || Merchant
|-
|1904&ndash;1907 || James Mouat Goudie || Provost || Ironworks merchant
|-
|1907&ndash;1910 || Arthur Porteous || Provost || Chemist
|-
|1910&ndash;1913 || Arthur Laing || Provost || Pharmacist
|-
|1913&ndash;1915 || Robert Stout || Provost || Postmaster
|-
|1915&ndash;1920 || Peter Scott Goodlad || Provost || Shoemaker
|-
|1920&ndash;1924 || Robert D. Ganson || Provost || Motor dealer 
|-
|1924&ndash;1927 || James Laing || Provost || Stonemason
|-
|1927&ndash;1930 || John T. J. Sinclair || Provost || Fisheries merchant
|-
|1930&ndash;1933 || William Sinclair || Provost || Baker
|-
|1933&ndash;1936 || Robert Ollason || Provost || Stationer
|-
|1936&ndash;1941 || James A. Smith || Provost || Merchant
|-
|1941&ndash;1946 || Magnus Shearer || Provost || Wholesale merchant
|-
|1946&ndash;1950 || James Aitken || Provost || Insurance agent
|-
|1950&ndash;1953 || Robert A. Anderson || Provost || Oil depot surveyor
|-
|1953&ndash;1956 || George Burgess<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/blog/the-coronation|title=The Coronation|date=May 4, 2023|website=Shetland Museum & Archives}}</ref> || Provost || Wholesale grocer
|-
|1956&ndash;1959 || William Conochie || Provost || Stationer
|-
|1959&ndash;1962 || Robert Blance || Provost || Post Office clerk
|-
|1962&ndash;1965 || Harry Gray || Provost ||
|-
|1965&ndash;1967 || Andrew Nicolson || Provost || Post Office clerk
|-
|1967&ndash;1971 || Eric Gray || Provost || Draper
|-
|1971&ndash;1974 || William 'Bill' Smith || Provost || Post Office engineer
|-
|1974&ndash;1975 || James Taylor || Provost || Merchant
|}

==Climate==
[[File:Lerwick, Shetland, August 2010.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Lerwick in August 2010]]
Lerwick has recently transitioned from a [[subpolar oceanic climate]] (''Cfc'') to a [[oceanic climate|maritime]] climate (''Cfb'', yet closely bordering on ''Cfc''), with cool to cold temperatures all year long. The lack of trees is mostly due to man clearing the islands for grazing and agriculture thousands of years ago.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.shetland.org/blog/story-of-shetlands-trees | title=Root and branch – the story of Shetland's trees | date=19 April 2021 }}</ref>

Lerwick is a very cloudy town, averaging only 1,110 sunshine hours annually (about 13 percent of a year). February is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging around {{convert|5.8|C|F}}. In August, the warmest month, average high temperatures are {{convert|14.7|C|F}}. This produces an extremely narrow difference for an area north of the [[60th parallel north|60th parallel]]. In average monthly precipitation, October to January are the year's wettest months, with over {{convert|130|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation each month; May and June are the driest months, with average monthly precipitation less than {{convert|60|mm|abbr=on}} each. Snowfall can occur, primarily from December to March, but snow accumulation is rarely heavy and usually short-lived. The exposed North Atlantic location and proximity to autumn and winter storm tracks means high winds are a regular occurrence, alongside high levels of cloudiness and precipitation. Temperatures are likely to be slightly milder in the town centre at sea level, as the weather station is at an elevation of {{convert|82|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gfxnj5fx4|title=Lerwick climate information|publisher=Lerwick climate information|access-date=9 August 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910210248/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gfxnj5fx4|url-status=live}}</ref>

Owing to its northerly location, winter months are extremely dark in Lerwick. On the day of the winter solstice it gets only 5 hours and 49 minutes of daylight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/lerwick/2015/december|title=Lerwick sunrise and sunset – December|publisher=Sunrise and Sunset|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230722/http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/lerwick/2015/december|url-status=live}}</ref> In sharp contrast daylight lasts 18 hours and 55 minutes on the day of the summer solstice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/lerwick/2015/june|title=Sunrise and sunset for Lerwick – June|publisher=Sunrise and Sunset|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230821/http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/lerwick/2015/june|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, nights never get completely dark for a period of time in summer, with dark blue elements remaining in the sky. The maritime influence tempers the climate effects of these swings in daylight, but in many areas of the world this latitude has hostile winters. Farther north in the world, only the [[Faroe Islands]] and a few places in Norway like [[Kinn]] have such high January averages as Lerwick and fellow Shetland station at [[Baltasound]] – with the warm Atlantic currents preventing ice formation. Only when temperatures in continental areas are record cold does Lerwick experience some cold as was the case in December 2010 during the severe cold wave affecting the [[Winter of 2010–11 in Great Britain and Ireland|British Isles]] and [[Winter of 2010–11 in Europe|Europe]] that covered much of mainland UK in snow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/stationdata/lerwickdata.txt|title=Met Office Station Data for Lerwick|publisher=Met Office|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161221/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/stationdata/lerwickdata.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> Even so, average highs remained above {{convert|3|C|F}} and frosts were light. Mild summers are also rare with the warmest recorded month being July 2006 at an average high of {{convert|16|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/stationdata/lerwickdata.txt|title=Met Office Station Data for Lerwick|publisher=Met Office|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161221/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/stationdata/lerwickdata.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Lerwick (S. Screen){{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|1.7|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Lerwick port centre.}}<br>[[Location identifier#WMO station identifiers|WMO ID]]: 03005; coordinates {{coord|60.13893|N|1.18491|W|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Lerwick (S. Screen)|format=dms}}; elevation {{convert|82|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}; 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 12.8
|Feb record high C = 11.7
|Mar record high C = 13.3
|Apr record high C = 16.1
|May record high C = 20.7
|Jun record high C = 22.2
|Jul record high C = 23.4
|Aug record high C = 22.1
|Sep record high C = 20.7
|Oct record high C = 17.2
|Nov record high C = 13.9
|Dec record high C = 12.6
|Jan avg record high C = 9.1
|Feb avg record high C = 8.9
|Mar avg record high C = 9.9
|Apr avg record high C = 11.9
|May avg record high C = 15.1
|Jun avg record high C = 16.2
|Jul avg record high C = 17.8
|Aug avg record high C = 17.8
|Sep avg record high C = 16.1
|Oct avg record high C = 13.4
|Nov avg record high C = 11.1
|Dec avg record high C = 10.2
|year avg record high C = 18.8
|Jan high C = 6.1
|Feb high C = 5.8
|Mar high C = 6.7
|Apr high C = 8.3
|May high C = 10.6
|Jun high C = 12.6
|Jul high C = 14.4
|Aug high C = 14.7
|Sep high C = 13.0
|Oct high C = 10.4
|Nov high C = 8.1
|Dec high C = 6.6
|year high C = 9.8
|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 3.8
|Mar mean C = 4.6
|Apr mean C = 6.1
|May mean C = 8.1
|Jun mean C = 10.3
|Jul mean C = 12.2
|Aug mean C = 12.6
|Sep mean C = 11.1
|Oct mean C = 8.5
|Nov mean C = 6.2
|Dec mean C = 4.5
|year mean C = 7.7
|Jan low C = 2.2
|Feb low C = 1.8
|Mar low C = 2.4
|Apr low C = 3.8
|May low C = 5.6
|Jun low C = 8.1
|Jul low C = 10.1
|Aug low C = 10.5
|Sep low C = 9.1
|Oct low C = 6.6
|Nov low C = 4.3
|Dec low C = 2.5
|year low C = 5.3
|Jan avg record low C = -2.3
|Feb avg record low C = -3.2
|Mar avg record low C = -2.6
|Apr avg record low C = -0.7
|May avg record low C = 1.1
|Jun avg record low C = 4.3
|Jul avg record low C = 6.8
|Aug avg record low C = 6.8
|Sep avg record low C = 5.0
|Oct avg record low C = 1.8
|Nov avg record low C = -0.5
|Dec avg record low C = -2.7
|year avg record low C = -4.3
|Jan record low C = -8.9
|Feb record low C = -7.4
|Mar record low C = -8.3
|Apr record low C = -5.7
|May record low C = -2.2
|Jun record low C = -0.6
|Jul record low C = 3.5
|Aug record low C = 2.8
|Aug record low F = 37.0
|Sep record low C = -0.6
|Oct record low C = -3.3
|Nov record low C = -5.7
|Dec record low C = -8.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 150.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 122.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 109.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.8
|May precipitation mm = 56.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 59.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 67.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 88.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 105.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 130.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 143.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 149.7
|year precipitation mm = 1252.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 22.0
|Feb precipitation days = 19.2
|Mar precipitation days = 19.3
|Apr precipitation days = 14.7
|May precipitation days = 11.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.5
|Jul precipitation days = 12.1
|Aug precipitation days = 13.1
|Sep precipitation days = 16.1
|Oct precipitation days = 20.3
|Nov precipitation days = 21.5
|Dec precipitation days = 22.6
|year precipitation days = 204.1
|Jan snow days = 10
|Feb snow days = 9
|Mar snow days = 9
|Apr snow days = 5
|May snow days = 1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 1
|Nov snow days = 5
|Dec snow days = 8
|year snow days = 48
|Jan humidity = 87
|Feb humidity = 86
|Mar humidity = 86
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 88
|Jun humidity = 89
|Jul humidity = 90
|Aug humidity = 91
|Sep humidity = 90
|Oct humidity = 89
|Nov humidity = 87
|Dec humidity = 87
|year humidity = 89
|Jan sun = 27.4
|Feb sun = 57.6
|Mar sun = 97.7
|Apr sun = 141.2
|May sun = 191.9
|Jun sun = 147.7
|Jul sun = 128.6
|Aug sun = 132.4
|Sep sun = 99.5
|Oct sun = 75.1
|Nov sun = 38.3
|Dec sun = 20.6
|year sun = 1158.0
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name ="Met Averages">{{cite web
| url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gfxnj5fx4
| title = Lerwick (S. Screen) (Shetland Islands) UK climate averages
| publisher = Met Office
| access-date = 1 January 2022}}</ref> [[NOAA]] (relative humidity and snow days 1961–1990)<ref name="NOAA">{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/UK/03005.TXT
| server = NOAA
| title = Lerwick 1961–1990
| access-date = 30 January 2016}}</ref> Infoclimat<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/lerwick/valeurs/03005.html|title=Climatologie de l'année à Lerwick|publisher=Infoclimat|language=fr|access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web| url =http://eca.knmi.nl/indicesextremes/customquerytimeseriesplots.php| title =Manchester ringway extreme values| access-date =30 January 2016| publisher =[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]]| archive-date =2 February 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180202192334/http://eca.knmi.nl/indicesextremes/customquerytimeseriesplots.php| url-status =dead}}</ref>

}}
{{notelist}}

{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Colspan=14|Climate data for Lerwick
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C 
|style="background:#9090FF;color:#000000;"|9.3<br />
|style="background:#8484FF;color:#000000;"|8.8<br />
|style="background:#7E7EFF;color:#000000;"|8.6<br />
|style="background:#8888FF;color:#000000;"|8.8<br />
|style="background:#9C9CFF;color:#000000;"|9.9<br />
|style="background:#B8B8FF;color:#000000;"|11.5<br />
|style="background:#D3D3FF;color:#000000;"|13.0<br />
|style="background:#DFDFFF;color:#000000;"|13.4<br />
|style="background:#DEDEFF;color:#000000;"|12.8<br />
|style="background:#D3D3FF;color:#000000;"|11.9<br />
|style="background:#C4C4FF;color:#000000;"|11.4<br />
|style="background:#A9A9FF;color:#000000;"|10.3<br />
|style="background:#B0B0FF;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|10.8<br />
|-
!Mean daily daylight hours
|style="background:#E2E200;color:#000000;"|7.0
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;"|12.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF77;color:#000000;"|17.0
|style="background:#FFFF88;color:#000000;"|19.0
|style="background:#FFFF77;color:#000000;"|17.0
|style="background:#FFFF66;color:#000000;"|15.0
|style="background:#FFFF44;color:#000000;"|13.0
|style="background:#F7F722;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#E9E900;color:#000000;"|8.0
|style="background:#E2E200;color:#000000;"|6.0
|style="background:#FFFF3A;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|12.4
|-
!Average [[Ultraviolet index]]
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|1
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|2
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|5
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|5
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|1
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#289400;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|2.4
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source: Weather Atlas<ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/scotland/lerwick-climate |title=Lerwick, Scotland – Monthly weather forecast and Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027204350/https://www.weather-atlas.com/porpoiseant/army.gif?orig=0&sts=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 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

{{notelist}}

==Demography==
Lerwick has 6,958 residents, as of 2011. It is 97.0% White (83.3% White Scottish, 8.9% White Other British, 2.6% White Other, 1.4% White [[Polish people|Polish]], 0.8% White Irish), 2.2% Asian or Asian Scottish or [[British Asian]], and 0.8% other ethnic groups. Lerwick's residents are 2.5% unemployed, 17.3% are part-time employees, and 50.3% are full-time employees.<ref name=cen>[http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/area.html Scotland's Census 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820140720/http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/area.html |date=20 August 2018 }}, [[National Records of Scotland]], 2011.</ref>

==Industry and economy==
Lerwick is a busy fishing and ferry port. The harbour also services vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/sectors/oil-and-gas|title=Oil and Gas|publisher=Lerwick Port Authority|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

==Power supply==

Main power supply is from [[Lerwick Power Station]] located in Gremista.<ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst9849.html "Lerwick Power Station"]. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 30 December 2014.</ref>

==Notable buildings==
[[File:GB-lerwick-rathaus.jpg|thumb|[[Lerwick Town Hall]]]]
Significant buildings in Lerwick include [[Fort Charlotte, Shetland|Fort Charlotte]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,SIG49191Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html |title=Visitscotland Fort Charlotte, Lerwick Lerwick Fort Welcome |accessdate=2008-12-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821180135/http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,SIG49191Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html |archivedate=21 August 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Lerwick Town Hall]],<ref name=townhall/> the [[Böd of Gremista]],<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB37258|desc=Gremista Road, The Bod of Gremista|cat=B|access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref> [[Shetland Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|title=New Shetland Museum & Archives|url=http://www.woodawards.com/new-shetland-museum-archives/|work=The Wood Awards|accessdate=23 April 2012}}</ref> and [[Broch of Clickimin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/clickimin-broch/ |title= Clickimin Broch|publisher=[[Historic Scotland]] |accessdate=1 Sep 2013}}</ref>

Because of the historic nature of the area, some scenes from BBC's ''[[Shetland (TV series)|Shetland]]'' were filmed in Lerwick.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 April 2015 |title=Street Closed for Filming Television Crime Series |url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2015/04/09/street-closed-for-television-crime-series-filming |newspaper=Shetland Times |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417000223/http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2015/04/09/street-closed-for-television-crime-series-filming |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Lerwick is served by the [[Tingwall Airport]] located a few miles away and [[Sumburgh Airport]] that is further south and flies all year to some Scotland destinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hial.co.uk/sumburgh-airport|title= Sumburgh Airport|publisher=Highlands and Islands Airports Limited|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

[[NorthLink Ferries]] operate a daily overnight ferry service  between Lerwick and [[Aberdeen]], regularly calling in to [[Kirkwall]] in the [[Orkney Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/the-journey/lerwick/lerwick-ferry-terminal-accessibility-information/|title=Accessibility information for the NorthLink Ferries Lerwick Ferry Terminal|publisher=NorthLink Ferries| access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

The [[Shetland Islands Council]] operate a [[ro-ro]] ferry service to [[Out Skerries]] and [[Bressay]] from a terminal in the centre of the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Routes and destinations|url=http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/mapofservices.asp|website=Shetland.gov|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=26 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026004829/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/mapofservices.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

The local bus service is provided by the [[Transport Scotland#Regional Transport Partnerships|Regional Transport Partnership]] ([[ZetTrans]]) and operated by a number of different local bus service operators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zettrans.org.uk |title=Shetland's Transport Partnership Website |access-date=27 October 2011 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023130150/http://www.zettrans.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The town has a bus station, [[Viking bus station]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Viking Bus Station, Lerwick |url=https://photos.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/view-item?i=35471&WINID=1623612384584 |publisher=Shetland Museum and Archives |access-date=2021-06-13}}</ref>

==Schools and education==
Lerwick's secondary school is [[Anderson High School, Lerwick|Anderson High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=17 February 2019|title=The entrepreneur who went from fish curing to smuggling diplomats|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17437520.entreprenuer-went-fish-curing-smuggling-diplomats/|access-date=|website=The National}}</ref>

[[Shetland College]], a constituent partner institution of the [[University of the Highlands and Islands]], is also based in the town, offering degree-level education (along with further education courses) to locals who may have difficulty travelling further afield to study.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/01/10/positive-report-for-shetland-college-hailed/ |title=Positive report for Shetland College hailed | work=[[Shetland Times]] |last=Johnson |first=Peter |date=10 January 2014 |accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref>

==Hospitals and healthcare==
The [[Gilbert Bain Hospital]] provides [[secondary care]] services to all of Shetland. The [[Montfield Hospital]], a few hundred metres away, is an older hospital than the Gilbert Bain, but has become a secondary health care service for the people of Lerwick over time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historic-hospitals.com/gazetteer/orkney-and-shetland/|title=Orkney and Shetland|date=19 May 2015 |publisher=Historic Hospitals|accessdate=8 March 2020}}</ref>

==Cafés and Food==
There are many cafés in Lerwick -- namely, [[Magno's Café]] and [[Teamore]].

==Sport==
[[File:Lerwick drone photograph 4.jpg|thumb|Central playground]]
The town is home to four [[association football|football]] teams: Lerwick Spurs, Lerwick Thistle, Lerwick Celtic and Lerwick Rangers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/shetlcuphist.html|title=Shetland Islands – List of cup winners|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> The Clickimin Leisure Complex provides sports facilities for the town such as a swimming pool and open court.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clickimin Leisure Complex|url=https://www.srt.org.uk/centres/clickimin|website=Clickimin Leisure Complex|access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref>

==Media==
Television signals are received from the [[Bressay transmitting station|Bressay]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bressay|title= Full Freeview on the Bressay transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=9 October 2023}}</ref> Local independent radio station [[SIBC]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007033830/http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/about|archive-date=2014-10-07|title=About|website=The Shetland Times}}</ref> Millgaet Media Group, a multi-media production company, is based at the North Ness Business Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2008/07/04/public-money-handed-over-to-millgaet-media|title=Public money handed over to Millgaet Media|date=4 July 2008|newspaper=Shetland Times|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

==Culture==
Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway (Lerwick has a friendship agreement with [[Måløy]] in Norway).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=4589|title=Norway's Centenary Celebrations|date=8 June 2005|publisher=Scottish Parliament|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

==Events==
Lerwick is the focus of most events in Shetland, including the largest of the annual [[Up Helly Aa]] fire festivals which takes place on the last Tuesday of January every year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shetland.org/things/events/up-helly-aa/lerwick-up-helly-aa|title=Lerwick Up Helly Aa|website=Shetland.org|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref>

==Places of worship==
There are several churches in Lerwick, including:
* Adam Clarke Memorial Methodist Church (a congregation of the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/adam-clarke-memorial-methodist-church-lerwick/|title= Adam Clarke Memorial Methodist Church, Lerwick|date= 8 May 2017|publisher= Scotland's Churches Trust|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>
* Baptist Church, Clairmont Place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lerwickbaptist.org.uk/about/|title=About|publisher=Lerwick Baptist Church|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207064858/http://lerwickbaptist.org.uk/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* St. Columba's Church – one of three buildings of [[Lerwick and Bressay Parish Church]] (part of the [[Church of Scotland]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shetlandcommunities.org/lbpc/|title=Related pages|archive-date=21 August 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080821104404/http://www.shetlandcommunities.org/lbpc/}}</ref>
* St. Magnus' Church, Greenfield Place (part of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://episcopalshetland.org.uk/st-magnus-lerwick/|title=St Magnus', Lerwick|publisher=St Magnus' Episcopal Church, Lerwick, and St Colman's Episcopal Church, Burravoe|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020304/http://episcopalshetland.org.uk/st-magnus-lerwick/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicshetland.scot/|title=Lerwick RC Parish Church|publisher=Catholic Scotland|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

In the 19th century there were more churches in Lerwick, including a [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church]] on South Hill Head.<ref>{{cite web|title=25 inch 1892–1949|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=60.1518&lon=-1.1444&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=30 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130162106/http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=60.1518&lon=-1.1444&layers=168&b=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

While there is not currently a Muslim place of worship in Lerwick, there are plans to refurbish the old Lochside Stores building into a mosque.<ref>{{cite web|title=Plans for mosque|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2022/06/20/plans-lodged-to-convert-former-shop-into-place-of-worship-for-muslim-community|website=The Shetland Times|date=20 June 2022 |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Lerwick drone photograph 3.jpg|Jubilee Park, King Harald St and Southern Lerwick toward Lower Sound
Image:Lerwick Harbour.jpg|Lerwick Harbour
Image:Lerwickbressay.jpg|View of Lerwick from [[Bressay]]
Image:Commercial Street Lerwick.jpg|Commercial Street
Image:Lerwick town hall.jpg|[[Lerwick Town Hall]]
Image:Lerwick Ft Charlotte.jpg|Lerwick from [[Fort Charlotte, Shetland|Fort Charlotte]]
</gallery>

==Notes and references==
;Notes
{{reflist|group=n}}
;References
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
{{commons|Lerwick}}
{{wikivoyage|Lerwick}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Lerwick  |volume=16 |pages=485–486 |short=x}}
* [https://www.shetland.org/plan/areas/lerwick Lerwick tourist profile published by the Shetland Islands Council]
* [http://www.shetland.gov.uk/council/documents/sins2006.pdf Shetland in Statistics, published by the Shetland Islands Council in 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001160304/http://www.shetland.gov.uk/council/documents/sins2006.pdf |date=1 October 2020 }}

{{Shetland}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Lerwick| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 17th century]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Scotland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Scotland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in Scotland]]
[[Category:County towns in Scotland]]
[[Category:Towns on Scottish islands]]
[[Category:17th-century establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Shetland]]
[[Category:Parishes of Shetland]]
[[Category:Mainland, Shetland]]
[[Category:Towns in Shetland]]