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Belmont
House, Island of Unst, Shetland
See
our Christmas newsletter here.
The
last year!
Site progress
Work is progressing steadily on site with completion
still being July 2010. All of the first fix electrics
and plumbing are in place and the new and damaged
walls have been lathe and plastered. Traditional
lime plastering has started after a trial panel
was approved of our architect. We continue to be
delighted that the craftsmanship and skills amongst
our Unst workforce means that almost all the specialist
work at Belmont is carried out locally.
Fundraising—the
final appeal.
Phase 2.2 is fully funded and we also have funding to
allow us to do the garden infrastructure. However the
rear porch still needs funding as does the substantial
cost of furnishing the house. We are aware that the economic
climate is affecting funding bodies but for our final
phase of funding we are making a special appeal to assist
us in completing the project—any donations are
welcome and can be for specific items in the house.

Our Christmas card picture was painted by Mike Finnie
in October when the corn on the Belmont farm was being
taken in. Thanks to Derek for reintroducing traditional
corn harvesting, despite the geese.
Belmont
is a small but perfect Georgian house built in 1775
and set in a designed
landscape overlooking a vista on
three
sides
- sea,
sky and islands.
It
is classically symmetric with quadrant walls, twin
pavilions and formal gardens, and it retains the original
interior
mouldings and paint colours.
A
house of this sophistication,
set in an incomparably
beautiful natural setting, would be memorable
anywhere; it is now being reinstated by the Belmont
Trust as one of Shetland's most important
buildings.
Phase
1 of the restoration was completed
in May 2006 and the first part of phase 2 in September
2007. The second part of phase 2 is now on site and
due for completion in July 2010.

An early drawing
of Belmont clearly showing the planned walled
policies and the farmstead
behind. Undated c.1830
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