Bressay Parish through time

Bressay Parish

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.

Alternative names

The following alternate names exist for this unit:

Name	Status	Language	Start	End	Authority
BRESSAY BURRA AND QUARFF	Official	English		1891	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
BRESSAY	Preferred	English	1891		1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
BRESSAY	Alternate	English		1891	Local Government Board for Scotland, Local Government Board for Scotland Annual Report (H.M.S.O.)

Higher level units

This unit was part of the following units:

Name	Type	Start	End	Authority
ORKNEY AND SHETLAND	Scottish County			1831 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
SHETLAND	Scottish County	1845	1975	1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
SHETLAND	Scottish Poor Law Combination			Higginbotham, History of the Workhouse

Boundaries and changes

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date	Type of change	Other unit involved	Area transferred	Authority
1891	was reduced to enlarge	LERWICK	Detached portions of Bressay Burra and Quarff.	H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892), p. 3.

Base layer:

Show boundary:

If the boundaries of the Scottish Parish changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Bressay Parish through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10146264

Date accessed: 08th April 2026