To the Hanseatic merchants from Bremen and Hamburg, Scalloway was known as Schaldewage, and as a good sheltered harbour on the route to Hillswick.

Barbara Tulloch[4] and her daughter Ellen – probably the last witches to be burned in Shetland – were executed on Gallow Hill, overlooking the village in 1690.

[5] During the Second World War, Scalloway was the home base for, and housed for some time the headquarters of the Shetland Bus, part of the Norwegian resistance against the German occupation.

[6] The Norway House and the Prince Olav Pier / slipway, which formed major parts of the base are still existing.

After the opening of the Schiehallion oilfield off the west coast of Shetland, Scalloway took over some functions as a service base for the oil business.

Scalloway Junior High School, the secondary department, was closed by the Shetland Islands Council in July 2011.