Hoswick is a village in the south mainland of Shetland, Scotland, on the west of the ancient parish of Sandwick. It is separated from the rest of Sandwick by the Hoswick burn and from Channerwick in the south by the hill on which the village is situated.
History
The settlement most probably grew as a fishing island in its own right, drying and curing fish on Hoswick beach, then many residents subsequently worked from the nearby fishing station on the mainland at Broonie's Taing which was at its height in the early 1900s but had declined by the late 1930s. Hoswick isle was also home to a Shetland tweed weaving industry post WW2, but this came to an end in the 1980s and the Visitor Centre is housed in one of the former weaving sheds. The tweed industry was developed by LJ Smith, who also built up a substantial knitwear industry based on home knitters but served from premises in Hoswick. According to John Stewart the name derives from the Old Norse Hausvík and means "skull" in light of the steep hills adjacent in the area.
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 Sumburgh's claim for a third share of the profits which was customary under Udal Law. The case was heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh and in July 1889 Sheriff MacKenzie found in the Hoswick residents' favour. The court refused to recognise Bruce's claim, saying it was not 'sufficiently inveterate, uniform, or uninterrupted'. Bruce appealed the decision in 1890 but lost, and no further claims were made by Shetland landowners.
2003 Flood
Heavy rains in the early morning of 19 September 2003 caused extensive flash flood damage to the village with many buildings affected, the Hoswick bridge destroyed, a large section of the beach swept away and fresh water supplies cut off.
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 and is home to the Sandwick History Group
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.
