In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Whalsey like this:
Whalsey, an island of Nesting parish, Shetland, 1¾ mile E of the nearest point of the Mainland, and 13½ miles NNE of Lerwick, under which it has a post office. With a rocky coast, it measures 55/8 miles from NE to SW, has a maximum breadth of 21/8 miles, consists almost entirely of gneiss, is studded with ten little fresh-water lochs, rises to 393 feet at the Ward of Clett, contains one sheep farm, and has a free light soil, capable of considerable cultivation, but in many places severely ` scalped.' Symbister House, a stately mansion of Aberdeenshire granite, built half a century since at a cost of £20, 000, is the property of William Arthur Bruce, Esq. ...
(b. 1863; suc. 1873), who holds 25,180 acres, valued at £2354 per annum. The Established church was raised to quoad sacra status in 1869, its minister's stipend being £135, and the parish including the Out Skerries, etc.; and there are public schools of Brough and Livister. Pop. of island (1841) 628, (1861) 728, (1871) 854, (1881) 870; of q. s. parish (1881) 1027.
Whalsey through time
Whalsey is now part of Shetland Islands district. Click here for graphs and data of how Shetland Islands has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Whalsey itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Whalsey in Shetland Islands | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/21920
Date accessed: 08th May 2024
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