Lerwick antiques

I am doing a bit of research on that stone pillar that stands in the centre of the Lerwick market cross. I have found this out so far - Around 1870 it had a stone urn on top, then around 1900 the urn was removed and replaced by a gas light, then around the 1930s the gas light was removed and was fitted with a iron top with a round white glass shade on top which housed an electric light fitting. It's a grade C listed monument. It has a tube barometer and thermometer inside which was probably fitted around c1880s - 1910. There is a theory that this piller was originally located in Scalloway and was then moved to Lerwick when Lerwick became the capital of Shetland. But however, I have not managed to come across any reliable source that supports this theory. Can this pillar really be from the 1600s - 1700s? If this is true, then why is this not common knowledge? You would think that something that is still standing with so much history would be well documented and would have a plaque errected on it or some where near by for the cruse ship passangers and visitors, after all they have several plaques fixed around fort charlotte, picts castle, etc, etc. What is your thoughts? Also if you can guide me to a reference that supports this theory then I would be most interested.

The Shetland Times has changed a lot over the years. There used to be two weekly Shetland news papers, the Shetland Times that came out on Fridays and The Shetland News that came out on a Tuesday if I mind right which stopped in the mid to late 1960s. There are very little news in the Shetland Times now and the classifieds are basically non existent. Despite the lack of news in it, the Shetland Times has suddenly gone from £1.30 to £1.50, that is £6 per month if buying one every week. Suppose the lack of classifieds and adds have left the paper hard to pay for it's self so the team has to keep the cost of the paper going up.

Can't get on to the classifieds or my messages. Any ideas how I can? or is Shetlink still undergoing changes and not ready yet? Only thing I can get on is the forums.

I totally agree with you brochbuilder. But we now live in a world where folk won't walk to a shop unless they can get parked near as possible. What tends to happen is folk drives around trying to find somewhere to park their car close by, if they can't find somewhere to park then they go else were.

This just shows what like SLAP/SIC are. HNP should have been left alone, but no, they were basically bullied out of their premises, for what? absolutely nothing. Shame on SLAP/SIC and anyone else involved in nearly destroying a well established local business and nearly losing folk their jobs.

Do you honestly think it will attract more shoppers to da street? I have a awful feeling it will be the end for da street. It's bad enough at the moment with folk not going to da street due to lack of parking and folk not wanting or not able to walk from their car to da street. It looks like it will have a bad effect on the post office as folk wants to stop out side the RBS to post parcels, they will just go to Freefield post office instade. Is it legal to ban blue badge holders? somehow I don't think it is.

I see there is a half page article in today's Shetland Times about the SIC plans to ban all cars from da street including blue badge holders. This is apparently going to happen next year. Will this be the final nail in the coffin for Commercial street?

He said "do you want to keep your dog" twice. If he was meaning something else or not, who knows, my mother is not a mind reader, but that was his exact words. The small dog about the size of a cat was on a lead, harness and in her arms so wasn't going anywhere near him or the meter. She was asked on the phone about dogs and she said she had one, the woman on the phone said long as the dog is restrained. Which the dog was. So he should not have made any remarks about the dog and showed some respect, after all he is in someones home.

Wonder what training these Hydro workers get from their boss? Clearly manners and people skills are not included in their training.

The point is that the dog was on a lead/harness and in her arms (it's just a small dog) so the dog was not going anywhere. Why should a dog be locked in another room? long as the dog can't get to the meter or the man. What does "do you want to keep your dog" mean. Sounds like a threat. The hydro should maybe think about employing folk that doesn't have a bad attitude towards dogs. After all the dog lives in the house, the meter man is a visitor and should show some respect.

Mother got a letter and a call about getting her meter changed from a card meter to a key meter. The time was arranged today from 2pm - 4pm. She got a call around 2pm from this man asking where Lochside is at, as he didn't know. Anyway he arrived, she went down to the door with her small dog in her arms on a lead and harness, he said "do you want to keep your dog" she told him that he is on is lead and harness and he asked again "do you want to keep your dog" What does "do you want to keep your dog" mean, was he issuing a threat towards the animal? or what? I totally understand that some folk are afraid of dogs, but he didn't appear to be. She asked him for identity and he showed her a clip card on his trousers. He claimed he has lived in Shetland for 8 years, but he was very poor english and didn't know where Lochside is. So if you are getting a meter changed and you have a dog, beware. She says she is going to make a complaint to the Hydro about this.

HMP should have been left alone where they were.

I started counting all the cafes and eateries in Lerwick. The results are as follows 17x cafes/eateries 3x chip shops 8x Indian/Chinese restaurants 4x hotels which has dining facilities for the public 2x cafe vans/trailers It's an awful lot of places for one small town.

I have thought for many years that fireworks should only be available to responsible organizations to set off a display like what they used to hold at Clickimin. Personally have no interest in it and struggle to see what other folk find so attractive with it. Hold a half hour firework display on the 5th Nov and that is all that is needed. Mind the old folk used to tape up the letter boxes incase a prankster decided to put a lighted firework through their letter box for a "laugh" Mind many years ago someone decided it would be a laugh to tie a firework to a cats collar and light it. Fire works are very dangerous in the "wrong hands" I saw today that a certain shop in town has big banners out side advertising fireworks for sale, but business is business. Whats wrong with a bon fire in the back garden? Long as folk has a grain of wit and responsible then you can get toasted marshmallows and a good way of getting clear of a old shed, broken furniture etc Can't recall anyone getting injured with a bon fire but recall a few folk getting their hands etc burned with playing with fireworks.

I think on the whole da street has improved a lot this year with a few new places opening up. The chocolate shop is moving into where the chemist was at the cross and there is supposed to be a barber opening up in the place where the chocolate shop was. Some shops have also had a revamp, so things seem to be looking up. Hopefully it will attract more folk to da street on a more regular basis. Us shop keepers are trying and will welcome you.