Law Ting Holm

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

The Law Ting Holm is situated at the North end of the Loch of Tingwall and is connected by a landbridge, 6 feet wide and 140 feet long which connects the Lawthing to the shore. This was the seat of the Lawthing, the Norse Parliament in Shetland, where a group of select representatives would meet with the Earl on a yearly basis.

The Lawthing was found, at the begining of the century, to contain the remains of a wall, which was facing the loch to the east. The wall no longer exists, but the fact there was a wall suggests that originally there were two others facing the lochside, creating a secluded open topped area for deliberation. This therefore was to have the effect of controlling access into the Lawthing.