Lerwick, seaport town, police burgh, par., and capital of the Shetland Islands, on E. coast of Mainland, on Bressay Sound - par., 5653 ac., pop. 4772; police burgh, pop. 3854; town, pop. 4045; P.O., T. O., 3 Banks, 1 newspaper. Lerwick possesses a fine harbour, with easy access both from the N. and S., and has steam communication with Kirkwall, Wick, Aberdeen, and Leith. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) On Bressay island, E. side of entrance to Lerwick, is a lighthouse 53 ft. high, with revolving light (Bressay) 105 ft. above high water and seen 16 miles. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the fisheries. New harbour works (pier, esplanade, and wharves) were opened, June 1886.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))