Lerwick Museums

I also decided to check out the museums in Lerwick. I started with the Shetland Textile Museum in Böd of Gremista, A Böd is a building from the 18th Century. This particular one was built in 1780 and was used for fish curing. The family lived upstairs. 

The museum has three rooms of displays. The main room on the first floor and then the two bedrooms upstairs. 

Sweater boards used for drying the sweaters so that they didn't shrink after being washed

Frame used to make large pieces of lace 

Shetland tweed

Then it was on to the Shetland Museum and Archives. This is a new, purpose built building and houses some terrific displays on the history and importance of Shetland in the economic world as well as a strategic location during both world wars. 

Thrashing machine for thrashing oats and barley

to separate grain from straw

Salted fish hanging to dry 

During the "off" season, it was common for fishermen to use their upturned boats as a roof for their sheds. 

Sixareens were the common fishing boats in Shetland. So called because they were driven using 6 oars. The sixareens were used for fishing far from shore, often up to 40 miles out. Because of their construction and open design, many lives (and boats) were lost to storms. The worst disaster for Shetland was in Yell in 1832 when 10 boats and 58 men, mostly from Gloup, Yell were lost to a violent storm.