A memorial located at Victoria Pier in Lerwick has been granted listed status. The Diana fountain, which was constructed in 1890, has now been classified as a C-listed “building” by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) following a public consultation.
This memorial honors the crew of the whaling ship Diana, which was based in Hull and included many crew members from the Shetland Islands. In 1866, the vessel became trapped in ice in Baffin Bay for over six months, resulting in the deaths of some crew members. Others suffered from malnutrition and returned to Ronas Voe in 1867 in poor health.
Originally, the memorial featured a drinking fountain, which has since been replaced by a chalice. In 2023, a request was submitted to HES to assess the site for potential designation, highlighting its significance to the 19th-century whaling industry in both Scotland and England, particularly in the Shetland Islands and Kingston upon Hull, where whaling was a vital part of the local economy.
HES noted that the fountain met the criteria for “special architectural or historic interest” for several reasons, including its social and historical significance related to the whaling industry. The organization also praised the quality of its construction and the integrity of its historic setting.
In their report, HES acknowledged that while the Diana memorial fountain is not a rare example from its time, it is among a limited number of designated sites that symbolize the whaling industry in Scotland. During the recent consultation, eight members of the public provided feedback, all supporting the decision for listed status. One respondent remarked, “The fountain is a piece of Shetland history, and so much of the area”s history has been lost. It is time to maintain the history of Shetland and honor the memory of these men.”
However, the landowner, Lerwick Port Authority, informed HES that the memorial might need to be relocated in the future due to ongoing developments at the port. The authority also indicated that the memorial has been moved previously. In response, HES stated that any future repairs or relocations will likely require listed building consent.
In its assessment, HES reiterated that the memorial fulfills the criteria for special architectural or historic interest due to its construction with high-quality materials, its largely unchanged historic setting at Victoria Pier, and its significant social and commemorative associations with the ill-fated voyage of the whaling ship Diana and its role in Arctic whaling.
Designations from HES include listed building status and scheduled monuments, aimed at protecting and preserving features of historic or architectural importance. An application for the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick was submitted by an architectural heritage charity a couple of years ago, but HES determined that the building should not be listed.
