Hoswick
Encyclopedia
Hoswick is a village in the south mainland of Shetland, to the West of Sandwick
.
's claim for a third share of the profits which was customary under Udal Law
(the catch was traditionally split three ways, one for the 'admiral', one for those who drove the whales ashore and one for the owner of the land on which the animals were beached)
The case was heard at the Court of Session
in Edinburgh (Bruce v Smith) and in July 1889 Sheriff MacKenzie found in the Hoswick residents' favour. The court refused to recognise Bruce's claim, saying it wasn't ‘sufficiently inveterate, uniform, or uninterrupted’.
Bruce appealed the decision in 1890 but lost, and no further claims were made by Shetland landowners.
Notable buildings=
Hoswick contains many examples of the traditional two-story, two or three-bay croft houses that are particularly associated with the district.
Sandwick, Shetland
Sandwick is a township in the Shetland Islands, situated 13 miles south of Lerwick in the South Mainland. It comprises a number of distinct settlements in very close proximity to each other, each remaining distinct through being separated by agricultural land...
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The "Hoswick Whale Case"
The residents of Hoswick are known for a legal case following the annual whale drive when, in 1888, they drove around 340 whales ashore. They then resisted the landowner, John Bruce Jnr of SumburghSumburgh
Sumburgh may refer to various places near the southern extremity of mainland Shetland in Scotland:* Sumburgh Head, a headland* Sumburgh Airport, the islands' main air terminal* Sumburgh, Shetland, a small settlement...
's claim for a third share of the profits which was customary under Udal Law
Udal Law
Udal law is a near-defunct Norse derived legal system, which is found in Shetland and Orkney, Scotland and in Manx law at the Isle of Man. It is closely related to Odelsrett....
(the catch was traditionally split three ways, one for the 'admiral', one for those who drove the whales ashore and one for the owner of the land on which the animals were beached)
The case was heard at the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in Edinburgh (Bruce v Smith) and in July 1889 Sheriff MacKenzie found in the Hoswick residents' favour. The court refused to recognise Bruce's claim, saying it wasn't ‘sufficiently inveterate, uniform, or uninterrupted’.
Bruce appealed the decision in 1890 but lost, and no further claims were made by Shetland landowners.
Notable buildings=
- Hoswick Visitor Centre - contains a cafe, gift shop, weaving exhibits, interpretative local history displays and a large collection of vintage radios. The building is a former Shetland Tweed weaving shed
- Hoswick Woollen Mill - a working factory and shop which houses Laurance Odie Knitwear. The company was started by Laurence Odie in early 2004 following the closure of Laurence J. Smith Ltd which was based in the same premises.
- Neilanell Design Studio - boutique and design studio owned by Hoswick resident and textile designer Neila Nell
- Orca Country Inn (formerly the Barclay Arms Hotel)- a three star guest house
Hoswick contains many examples of the traditional two-story, two or three-bay croft houses that are particularly associated with the district.