LERWICK, police burgh and burgh of barony, Shetland, Scot land, the most northerly town in the British Isles. Pop. (1931) 4,221. It is situated on Bressay Sound, a fine natural harbour on the east coast of the island calle'd Mainland, 115 m. N.E. of Kirkwall, in Orkney, and 34o m. from Leith by steamer. The town dates from the beginning of the r 7th century, and the older part consists of' a flagged causeway called Commercial Street, running for I m. parallel with the sea (in which the gable ends of several of the quaint-looking houses stand), and so narrow in places as not to allow of two vehicles passing each other. At right angles to this street lanes ascend the hill-side to Hillhead, where the more modern houses and buildings stand. At the north end stands Fort Charlotte, erected by Cromwell, repaired by Charles II. and altered by George III., after whose queen it was named. It is now used as a depot for the Naval Reserve. The
Anderson Institute, at the south end, was constructed as a sec ondary school in 1862 by Arthur Anderson, a native, who also presented the Widows' Asylum in the same quarter. The town hall, built in 1881, contains several stained-glass windows. Ler wick's main industries are connected with the fisheries, of which it is an important centre. There are docks, wharves, piers, curing stations, warehouses and an esplanade, along the front. The town is also the chief distributing centre for the islands, and carries on some business in knitted woollen goods. The Uphellya mumming festival, still held in January, is of ancient origin. One mile west of Lerwick is Clickimin Loch, separated from the sea by a nar row strip of land. On an islet in the lake stands a ruined "broch" or round tower.