The assize was held at a small holm in the loch of Tingwall, where an appeal was admitted from the other courts, which were all regulated by the law called Gula Thing; and the final sentence was executed on criminals upon a hill in the vicinity. This superior court was removed to Scalloway when the islands were ceded to Scotland.
The PARISH is situated in the Mainland, and washed on the north, south, and west by the sea. Tingwall is from twelve to fourteen miles in length, from north to south; Whiteness, on the west of Tingwall, between five and six miles in length; and Weesdale, to the northwest of Whiteness, from six to seven miles in length; the three comprising together upwards of 20,000 acres, about 2500 of which are under tillage. In general the shore is similar to that of other parts of the islands; but this district is superior on account of its excellent harbours, formed by arms of the sea. The principal of these are. Deals voe, Laxfirth voe, Wadbister voe, and Catfrith voe, on the north; Weesdale voe, Binnaness voe, and Whiteness voe, on the west; and Cliff sound and Scalloway voe on the south. To the west of the last mentioned inlet, is a cluster of islands, contributing to afford fine anchorage in the waters towards the interior. The surface comprehends much variety. A number of valleys parallel with each other run through the district from north-east to south-west; and on the sides of these, rise hills, for the most part barren, and unfit for tillage, but serviceable for the pasturage of cattle and sheep, and lor the supply of peat, which constitutes the chief fuel. Among the numerous lakes, most of which are well stocked with fish, the principal are, the lakes of Tingwall, Asta, and Girlsta, in Tingwall; and that of Strom, in Whiteness. At Strom are the remains of a small fort which, according to tradition, was inhabited by a son of one of the ancient Earls of Orkney, who was slain at the Standingstone of Tingwall by order of his father.
In some places the soil is a light brown earth, in others a dark loam, and frequently moorish. The produce consists of almost every variety. Wheat and rye seldom arrive at maturity for want of sun; but barley, oats, and turnips thrive well, and Lerwick and Scalloway are usually supplied with potatoes from this parish. Grass- seeds, hay, peas, and pasture-grass are cultivated; and an improved system being practised here, founded on a regular rotation of crops, the district has advanced in husbandry far beyond most others in the Shetland Isles. The land in many parts is prepared by the spade; but ploughs are also much used, generally drawn by horses, but often by horses and o.ven together. Shell-marl, of which there is a good supply, is found highly beneficial as manure. Draining has recently been carried on to a considerable extent. Much waste land, also, has been reclaimed; but a large proportion of open common of the best quality is destroyed by the practice of cutting up the turf for various purposes, and carrying it to the respective farms. On many of the high grounds, too, especially those on the east side of Tingwall, which appear capable of cultivation, the moss has been so deeply cut out in places as to leave nothing but the rugged substratum of clay-slate and micaceous schistus, with stones of coarse granite and gneiss. The progress of agricultural improvement is much obstructed by the nature of the subsoil in some lands, and of the substratum in others. A bed of fine blue slate was lately discovered on the north-east of Tingwall, which is very superior to the grey slate commonly quarried, and was for a time wrought. Sienite is found on the shores, and hornblende on some of the hills, where there is also a considerable quantity of quartz. The annual value of real property in the parish is £957. The only village is Scalloway {which see). Traffic is carried on by carts in the Tingwall district, where there are roads, which are now in very superior order compared with their former condition: there are no roads in the two other districts.
Here, as in the Shetland Isles generally, the principal article of trade is fish, the taking of which constitutes the main occupation of the inhabitants. The first fishing in the year, which is that of cod and ling, begins early in the spring, and is carried on in open boats; the produce is very considerable, and is exported partly to Leith and Liverpool, and partly to Spain. The " summer" fishery begins about the end of April, and is carried on in sloops of twenty tons' burthen, which bring home large freights of ling, saith, tusk, and other fish. That of herrings commences about the beginning of August, and there is now an early herring-fishery in June: the herring-fishery is often a source of great profit to the inhabitants, who, however, by its failure at times, as well as by failure of the agricultural crops, are occasionally reduced to great distress. Cattle and ponies, with several articles common to the islands, are exported to England; and oatmeal, tobacco, coffee, tea, and spirits are imported for the use of the inhabitants.
Ecclesiastically this parish is in the presbytery of Lerwick, synod of Shetland, and in the patronage of the Earl of Zetland: the minister's stipend is £263, exclusive of a manse, and a glebe of the annual value of £20. The church at Tingwall was built in 1788, and contains 570 sittings, but when full can accommodate 700 persons. A church has been built in Whiteness (in place of an old church dedicated to St. Ola) for the use of the districts of Whiteness and Weesdale; and a missionary officiates, who is supported by the Royal Bounty. A church has also been erected at Scalloway, for the benefit of the village and its neighbourhood. There is a small place of worship for Independents. The parochial school is situated at Tingwall; the master has a salary of £35 a year, a dwelling-house built in 1799, and £8 fees. In addition are a school in Weesdale, another in Whiteness, and a third at Scalloway, all supported by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. In the island of Trondray, also, and at Laxfirth, schools are maintained by the General Assembly. The principal antiquities are, the remains of numerous chapels, and the fine ruin of a castle near Scalloway. There are several tumuli, originally used as places of sepulture by the Scandinavians, in which urns containing calcined bones have been discovered; and arrow-heads, and steinbartes, or stone axes, here called thunderbolts, have been frequently found. A church formerly existed at Weesdale, dedicated to Our Lady, whose shrine is still visited by persons from various parts of Shetland, in the expectation of obtaining relief from trouble.
