About Home Furnishing of Lerwick Ltd.

Our History

Home Furnishing began under the management of Andrew and Laurence Anderson along with Mrs. L. C. Thomson in October 1946. When Mrs. Thomson later left, the business was joined by Mrs. J. C. Anderson. The business started operations from two lock-up garages which had previously been used as storage by Thomson's Garage which was located where Thulecraft is today on the Esplanade. Subsequently the nearby Aitkens Building was acquired and still remains in use today but is no longer open to the public. Buildings adjacent to the Malakoff shop at the North Ness were also used for many years, initially for carpets and then as storage.

For a short period buildings at Holmsgarth were used mainly for the sale of second-hand furniture, in these early post war years new furniture was not readily available and beyond the budget of most. The building at Holmsgarth became fondly known locally as The "Crystal Palace", deriving it's name from the central glass roof section.

The current building at 27 Commercial Road was built on the site of the original lock-ups. The shop was constructed by William Tawse of Aberdeen in 1960 who had been in Shetland to carry out the third phase of harbour extension work, at north Esplanade. During this construction phase trading continued from Aitkens Building and the North Ness. Later 31 Commercial Road was acquired to house the floor coverings department which was subsequently moved to a purpose built extension at the south end of the new shop.

Staff members proudly display the Distributive Training Award (below-left):Andrew Anderson and Mrs. J.C. Anderson inspect the glassware on display (below-centre): Shop staff take time out for an informal photograph (below-right).