Scalloway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scalloway |
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 Scalloway harbour, castle and village |
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 Scalloway
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| Population | 1,170 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | HU399393 |
| • Edinburgh | 297 mi (478 km) |
| • London | 598 mi (962 km) |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHETLAND |
| Postcode district | ZE1, ZE2 |
| Dialling code | 01595 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Scalloway is a lively village located on the west coast of the Mainland island in the Shetlands, Scotland. Its name comes from the Old Norse word Skálavágr, which means "bay of houses". About 900 people lived here in 2011. Today, Scalloway is an important fishing port. It was once the capital of the Shetland Islands until 1708, when Lerwick took over. The village is home to Scalloway Castle, built in 1600, which is one of only two castles in Shetland. The nearby Scalloway Islands are named after the village.
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A Look into Scalloway's Past
Scalloway has a long and interesting history. The most famous building is Scalloway Castle, which was built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney. This castle was once surrounded by water, but over time, the land around it has been built up. You can find the castle near the harbour. If you want to see inside, you can borrow a key from the Scalloway Hotel or the Scalloway Museum nearby.
Boat Building and Trade
For a long time, Norwegian boatbuilders from areas like Bergen in Hordaland helped build boats in Scalloway. From the 1500s, they would send special small wooden boats called yoals from Norway. These boats were taken apart and "flat-packed" for shipping to Scalloway. Instead of sending complicated instructions, the boatbuilders themselves came to Shetland to put them back together. Many of these builders stayed for years, and some even married and settled there.
Scalloway was also a busy trading spot. Merchants from the Hanseatic League, a group of trading cities in Europe, knew Scalloway as Schaldewage. They saw it as a safe and sheltered harbour on their way to Hillswick.
Important Events and People
Sadly, Scalloway was also the place where the last people accused of being witches in Shetland were executed. Barbara Tulloch and her daughter Ellen were executed on Gallow Hill, which overlooks the village. The Scalloway Public Hall, a community building, was finished in 1902.
During the Second World War, Scalloway played a secret and important role. It was the main base for the Shetland Bus, a brave operation that helped the Norwegian resistance against the German occupation. Small boats sailed from Scalloway to Norway, carrying supplies and people. Buildings like Norway House and the Prince Olav Pier were key parts of this secret base and are still there today. You can learn more about the Shetland Bus at the Scalloway Museum.
After the war, Scalloway was a ferry port for a while, connecting Shetland and Orkney. Later, when oil was found off the west coast of Shetland, Scalloway became a service base for the oil industry.
Learning and Education
Scalloway is a great place for learning, especially about the sea. It is home to the North Atlantic Fisheries College, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Here, students can study things like fishing science, how to raise fish (aquaculture), marine engineering, and how to manage coastal areas. There is also a Centre for Nordic Studies in Scalloway. The NAFC Marine Centre at Ness of Westshore offers courses in "nautical studies, marine science and technology, and seafood quality".
The village also has a swimming pool and a primary school for younger children. The secondary school, Scalloway Junior High School, closed in 2011.
Getting Around Scalloway
You can easily get to and from Scalloway by bus. The Service 4 bus runs from Lerwick many times a day, from Monday to Saturday, and also on Sundays. There is also Service 5, which connects Scalloway to the islands of Tronda and Burra.
See also
In Spanish: Scalloway para niños
