Hay’s Dock forms part of the Shetland Museum and Archive in Lerwick and is one of the most significant surviving elements of Shetland’s maritime infrastructure. Constructed in 1815 by the trading firm Hay and Ogilvy, the dock represents a rare and early example of industrial harbour engineering in the Northern Isles.

The project involved the repair and conservation of the dock basin, the timber finger pier, surrounding quayside, and the adjoining nineteenth-century boat-building shed. As the oldest surviving man-made dock in Shetland, the works required a careful balance of technical repair and heritage sensitivity. Traditional materials and methods were used throughout, including lime-based mortars, timber carpentry and hand-forged wrought iron fixings, ensuring compatibility with the original fabric and long-term durability in the exposed coastal environment.

The conservation of the boat shed and dock infrastructure formed an integral part of the wider Shetland Museum development, re-establishing Hay’s Dock as a working waterfront and a focal point for education, boatbuilding and cultural events. The project was delivered with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, Shetland Islands Council and other stakeholders, reflecting its regional importance and the collective effort to preserve Shetland’s maritime heritage.

Today, Hay’s Dock continues to serve as both a functional harbour and a public space, linking past and present through active use and careful stewardship.